THE Irish community of Glasgow and beyond are being invited to come along and witness an historic first in terms of a St Patrick’s Day Parade being held in the city.
The celebration—the first St Patrick's Day Parade in the city to be led by a marching band—will take place on Saturday the March 8 and will coincide with the St Patrick’s Festival Family Day taking place in the Merchant City.
It will begin at 11am from Blythswood Square West before proceeding down West George Street, Nelson Mandela Place and George Square before turning right down Morrison street towards the Merchant City.
This momentous parade promises to be a celebration of Irish heritage and culture and a truly proud day for the Irish diaspora of Glasgow, but also the rest of Scotland. Some of the bigger cities around Britain have been organising parades for many years such as: London (above), Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol, so it is amazing that Glasgow has its own in 2025.
Considering the number of Irish immigrants who came to Glasgow in search of work and a better life, it is fitting that their descendants get the opportunity to celebrate this fact and have a St Patrick’s Day parade of their own.
The parade and subsequent family day will offer a wonderful family friendly celebration of Irish culture, music, sport, language and history within our community in the Greater Glasgow are. Organisers have been delighted to have secured the full cooperation of Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland who have helped facilitate road closures, route and timings, which should all help in making it an enjoyable and pleasant parade.
Organisers have also received the full support of the Irish Government in Scotland via the Consul General, Jerry O’Donovan who has been invited to join the parade on the day.
The parade will be also be led by newly crowned All-Ireland Marching Band Champions, St Roch’s who won the title at the Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford in August 2024. They became the first band outside of Ireland ever to win this coveted title and so it goes without saying that they are truly honoured and privileged to lead this St Patrick’s Day parade in Glasgow.
One of the band members and Parade Organiser, Danny Boyle, spoke about the significance of this historic first.
“It has been a convergence of two key things,” he said. “One, Glasgow has needed a St Patrick’s Parade for a long time. Our community has contributed immensely to Glasgow and it is important that we recognise and celebrate this.
“Secondly, with St Roch’s Marching Band winning the All-Ireland it felt like the perfect time to organise it. All-Ireland medals do not come about often and our achievement is worth celebrating in our home city.
“We are delighted that so many other Irish community organisations have agreed to join us on the day. The parade is a day of celebration in Glasgow of the Irish community and anybody who wants to enjoy the music and craic at the family day later in the Merchant City. This is a festival for everyone in Glasgow to enjoy”
The marching band will also be accompanied by other members of the Irish Minstrels CCÉ branch. Also in attendance will be musicians from St James the Great CCÉ, members of Gaelic Football Clubs, Tír Conaill Harps and Glasgow Gaels, Govanhill Irish History Group and Ceann Creige Hurling and Camogie Club whose Camogs who reached the All-Ireland Final last year.
It’s is hoped that this St Patrick’s Day parades will become an annual event in Glasgow, so the organisers have extended an open invitation to everyone and encouraged participants to ‘wear your shamrock with pride’ and enjoy the music, the atmosphere and the craic.
The route and timing information is available via the following link: https://onlineservices.glasgow.gov.uk/forms/futureprocessions/FutureProcessions.aspx
Comments