Guide GUIDE

6 DAYS OF IDIOSYNCRATIC IRISHNESS SUPPORTING

Parade EMERALD
fringe EVENTS
Day 2010
throughout
digbeth ++Friday 12 MARCH++
MIDDAY TO 7PM
PARADE LAUNCH
sun 15 March AT THE IRISH CENTRE

THE PARADE
Midday – 2pm
CAMP HILL TO alcester street ST PATROCKS With so much more happening each year
++SATurday 13 MARCH++
MARCH REEL AROUND EDGBASTON STREET
2.30PM-6.30PM
we can only refer to overall activity as The
Fringe. A pick of fringe activity includes:

PREPARE FOR A DAY OFF THE RICHTER OUTDOOR STAGE ++For Kids++
SCALE IN TERMS OF SCALE AND SPECTACLE Wolly the Clown, Kris Krendo The magician,

south ++Monday 15 MARCH++

kids disco from 2pm. Old Library Custard
Factory, FREE

12 pipe and drum bands, sINGIN’ i’M NO A BILLY, HE’S A TIM

birmingham ++Sport For All++
2 samba bands, college
Being World Cup year, football is on everyone’s
mind. Over at Stoneyard and Birchall Street
THE PARAGON 7.30PM, FREE
Irish Bollywood dancers, behind the Irish Centre, Nam the Man, the World
Champion freestyle footballer from Dublin, will
vintage motorbikes, classic cars, A storming success last year, ST PATROCKS
is returning to make use of the exceptional
be demonstrating his extraordinary skills, along
with remarkable freestyle basketballer Tommy.

Images: The Black Apples (this page) and basketball freestyler Tommy Baker (opposite page)
American civil war re-enactors, GAA clubs,
++TUEsday 16 march++
facilities at South Birmingham College. Look out for stands from Birmingham City and

film star re-enactors, Aston Villa as well.

2 brand new events

2.30 pm THE carpels
Free style footballers,
Small Heath boxing gym won’t be letting the
Indie-punk dance quintet
footballers have it all their own sporting way
decorated floats, massed singing, 3.15 pm THE teds
and, of course, this being St Patrick’s festival, the
GAA will be well represented with star players irish film night at the spotted dog,
traditional dancers, Chinese lions, The Festival folk favourites
Warwick Street 7pm FREE
showing off some off their quintessential skills.
2 dholblasters bands, Rustin’ Brass Marching Jazz Band,
4.00 pm the black apples
Willie Finnegan and the vintage Ferguson Flyers, Everlasting Piece, The Informer and Dancing at Lughnasa
Garage boogie n blues trio ++Massed Bands and
BBC WM. HEART FM, BRMB, Busker stops, Mass Sing Song++
County Associations and more idiosyncratic
Irishness than you could wave a serpent driving staff at.
4.45 pm VELVET TEXAS CANNONBALL
Psych-rock electric blues
Many do not realise that at the end of the parade irish literary festival,
each year ALL the pipe and drum bands reform The Old Crown Inn, Heathmill Lane 7pm FREE
at Alcester Street and then march down to the
Irish Centre before turning around and marching
back – this is a real highlight of parade day. This

“ The Irish Community is important to

year, after the massed bands have finished, there
Turn to PAGE 26 will be mass singing of Molly Malone, led by
Birmingham and the festival remains a key event excellent contemporary choir, Notorious.
to see the in the city’s calendar. We’re also proud to have ++BALLOON RACE++ ++monday 17 march++
parade map representation from other ethnic communities.” Watch 1000’s of ballons take to the sky Irish Storyteller 7pm The Irish Centre FREE
from The Dubliner car park. Next stop The
O L I V I A M C M E N A M I N , C H A I R S T P AT R I C K ’ S D AY F E S T I V A L Brummie in Dublin.

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