THE month of March will once again see great celebrations of Ireland and Irishness up and down the country (above).
From the high profile events such as the two major festivals in Glasgow and Coatbridge and the celebrations of the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh to the scores of locally run festivities bringing together Irish communities around Scotland, everywhere there are pockets of Irish—big and small—will have events of their own.
In Glasgow, the efforts of the St Patrick’s Day Festival Committee have once again delivered an exciting programme of events—this time also featuring the long-overdue appearance at the festival of an official parade.
Running from March 4-16, the festival will centre on Saturday March 8, with the St Patrick’s Day Mass being celebrated in St Andrew’s Cathedral, while the St Patrick’s Day Parade—led by the St Roch’s Marching Band—will lead the Irish community through the streets of Glasgow to the Family Fun Day, taking place in Merchant Square.
Among the highlights of the festival are trad music sessions, film screenings, a Derry Girls quiz night, pop-up Gaeltachts and Irish Family History events, with much more. Those interested in attending the festival are encouraged to pay attention to the social media channels and official website for details.
In Coatbridge meanwhile, events will culminate with the Family Street Festival—now a much-loved tradition in the town—on March 15, but before that, running from March 3, a range of events will bring out the Coatbridge Irish to celebrate their identity.
One highly-anticipated event is the Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Night, a free event led by renowned genealogist Chris Paton, which will take place in the Mayo Suite of St Patrick’s Hall on March 3.
Other firm favourites of the festival—such as the Fr Ted Quiz (March 15, Mayo Suite, St Patrick’s Hall) and Annual Irish Quiz Night (March 7, Columba Club, Coatbridge)—will take place, along with the Annual Lecture, which will be delivered on Sunday March 9 in St Patrick’s Hall.
In Edinburgh, celebrations will be led both by the Consulate of Ireland and the Emerald Irish Social Group, who will host a St Patrick’s Day Celebration in the Gilmerton Miners’ Social Club on March 16, an event which will also showcase the selection of the Edinburgh Mary for the Mary From Dungloe 2025 festival.
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