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Birmingham’s
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Festival Celebrates It’s
10th Anniversary On 13th March
By
Carmel Girling
One
of the largest celebrations of its kind to be seen anywhere in
the world, the Birmingham St. Patrick's Day festival has the
warmth and humour of a close community having the craic, as they
say in Ireland, (music, singing, dancing and talking).
From the heart thumping spectacle of Irish pipes and drums to
the hundreds of dancers in their dazzling costumes, ingenious
floats, proud County associations and walking groups, horses
dogs and donkeys, the day is a dizzying experience that doesn’t
stop from early morning ‘til evening....More
Dancing
In The Depot
By
Enda Mullen
Six coach drivers from Birmingham taking to the
stage as professional Irish dancers might seem the unlikeliest
of scenarios - but as the old saying goes ‘truth is
sometimes stranger than fiction’.
That is just what happened when six National Express workers
based in Digbeth donned their dancing shoes to take part
in the ITV1 documentary Dancing In The Depot....More
Visit
to Donegal Gaeltacht
By Brendan Mulvey
In
the January edition of “The Harp” I took you on
a mini tour of Donegal, recently I have had the pleasure of
driving a group of students from Poland and Romania on an educational
tour of the Donegal Gaeltacht and I would like to share the
experience of trip with you....More
Government
Officials on Fact Finding Tour
By
Patrick McCool
Irish
Government Officials paid a visit to Birmingham recently on a
fact finding mission to discover the needs of the Irish community
in the region. They had already visited London with the same
aim in mind.
Representatives of the Oikeachas Foreign Affairs Committee were
keen to hear the views of various voluntary organisations and
they were given a clear message that more needs to be done to
address the requirements of the Irish in both Birmingham and,
indeed, the UK....More
Chicago
- Here We Come?
By
Enda Mullen
Birmingham's
booming Irish Quarter could benefit from a further tourism boost
if a daily flight between Chicago and Birmingham International airport
is re-introduced.
The service was initially launched in 1995 in a blaze of glory by
American Airlines, providing a link between Birmingham and one of
its twin cities....More |
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Eu
Free Up Firework Sales
Plans
by the European Union to free up the sale of fireworks across
member states will result in increased injuries in Ireland
according to a senior civil servant. An EU directive could
come into force within eighteen months which will allow the
free sale of fireworks across member states. The effect of
loosening up regulations on the sale of fireworks will increase
the chance of accidents according to Tom Lynch from the Department
of Justice.
Currently Ireland has some of the most stringent laws in
EU regarding fireworks and only allows them to be used in
major displays. Ireland and Greece hold similar views on
firework sales and have the lowest recorded rates of accidents
in the EU. |
Have
Shamrock - Will Travel
Ministers and Ministers of State are making a mass exodus
to shower shamrock on the four corners of the world. The
Taoiseach will be representing the national trefoil to
President Bush who will wear a green tie for the White
House occasion. President George Bush has Irish roots claiming
direct descendents from both Diarmuid McMurough and Strongbow.
Other ministers will be reviewing parades and boosting
Irelands profile from Dubai to Moscow and Estonia to Argentina. |
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