St Patrick’s Day celebrations continue to grow

WHILE the March edition of The Irish Voice covered a vast number of the events surrounding St Patrick’s Day throughout the country, such are the growing celebrations of Irish culture and heritage around this time of year that there were even more events that we still have to share with our readers.

The annual St Patrick’s Day Mass held at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow, was a beautiful and vibrant celebration, led by Archbishop William Nolan and illuminated by the musicians from St James the Great CCÉ and dancers from the McLaughlin School of Irish Dancing. Guests, including the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Jacqueline McLaren and representatives from Celtic FC were led into the Mass by an Irish piper and enjoyed the singing of cantor Clare O’Neil.

Staying in Glasgow, there was a capacity attendance in Grace’s Glasgow Irish Centre for Dr Martin Mitchell’s captivating and engaging lecture on Irish Immigration to Scotland 1800-1939. The event was jointly hosted by the 1916 Rising Centenary Committee (Scotland) and Glasgow St Patrick’s Festival Committee.

Dr Mitchell covered the following topics: numbers and settlement patterns; reasons for emigration to Scotland; employment; the Catholic Irish; the Irish and the Catholic Church; Catholic Irish community; the Protestant Irish; responses and reactions to the Irish in Scotland. Dr Mitchell shared recent research findings and acknowledged that the Irish in Scotland is an under researched subject, especially the experiences of Irish women. A thought-provoking question and answer session followed.

Stephen Coyle—who chaired proceedings—concluded by thanking Dr Mitchell for a most enlightening presentation, the audience for attending, and Grace’s Glasgow Irish Centre for providing a first-class venue for the event.

In Coatbridge, the celebrations were still going strong too, not least for the aptly named winners of the annual Fr Ted Quiz—Nuns Reverse—who made it four-in-a-row at the event in the Columba Club, which celebrated its 18th year in 2026. The Cleland lads were delighted to be taking home the George Watters Memorial Fr Ted Quiz Trophy yet again.

Also in the town, the eagerly anticipated festival football challenge match delivered in style, as two of Coatbridge’s well-known sides—Burnbank FC and Milan FC—served up a cracking local derby in The Jim McCue Cup at Riverbank Park.

It was Milan FC who just edged it in the end, finding the decisive goal to secure a narrow 3–2 victory in what was a terrific advert for youth football in Coatbridge.

A special moment followed at full time, as Sean McCue, son of Mary and Jim, was in attendance alongside his daughters. They had the honour of presenting the Jim McCue Cup to the victorious Milan side. Festival chairman, Tom Nolan duly presented medals to both the winners and the gallant runners-up, Burnbank FC.

The organisers wished to thank everyone who turned out to support the match and helped create such a fantastic atmosphere. They also extended sincere gratitude to Coatbridge St James CSC for their generous sponsorship of the match and trophy.

It promises to become a firm favourite in the St Patrick’s Festival Coatbridge calendar for years to come.

The celebrations in Coatbridge concluded with a Family Céilí at the Bank Social Club—a true highlight of the St Patrick’s Day Festival. The traditional music and lively dancing on show was provided by the Comhaltas family—featuring the talents of St Patrick’s CCÉ Coatbridge, Irish Minstrels CCÉ and the Johnny Doherty CCÉ musicians and dancers.

A special word of thanks from the committee was offered to St Patrick’s CCÉ Coatbridge for their hard work and dedication in organising such an enjoyable event with the ‘Irish County’ fundraising raffle proving particularly popular.

In the capital, the Edinburgh Emerald Irish Social Group held its annual St Patrick’s Day celebration at Gilmerton Miners Club.

Quigley’s Point kept the hands clapping and the feet stamping with the Áine Hay Academy Irish dancers putting on a fantastic set too. Organisers were delighted to present a cheque to the dancers on the night to support their efforts at the World Championships and funds were also raised for the Edinburgh nominee for this year’s Mary From Dungloe Festival.

Jerry O’Donovan, Irish Consul General of Ireland in Scotland was in attendance to sample the atmosphere, the local Guinness and meet the dedicated members of the group too.

The Irish Consulate also played host to more than 300 members of the Irish community, friends of Ireland and key stakeholders from across Scotland at its annual St Patrick’s Day reception at the Assembly Rooms. Guests at the event were treated to exceptional music from the Little Ireland Arts Collective and dancing from the Siamsoir Irish dancers. The talented dancers were kept busy throughout last month performing in a number of the city’s Irish bars as well as a performance at Edinburgh University’s Annual Dance in the Pleasance Theatre.