St Patrick’s Day is more than just an excuse to mainline Guinness into your bloodstream at an Irish pub – it’s a chance to celebrate the culture of the Emerald Isle. Parades in cities worldwide are often attended by tens of thousands of people keen to paint the town green.
This March, one of the world’s biggest celebrations won’t be going ahead. Birmingham’s St Patrick’s parade has been cancelled off this year amid safety concerns, leaving Brummy revellers disappointed.
Begun in 1952 by members of the Irish community in Birmingham, the parade has historically attracted up to 80,000 people to the city, making it potentially the third biggest St Patrick’s Day event in the world behind Dublin and New York. Those numbers make it the most attended St Patrick’s parade in the UK.
Originally intended to take place on Sunday 16 March in Digbeth, the event has been axed due to worries that it would not be safe, though the reasons for these concerns have not been shared publicly.
The parade took place for the 50th time last year, having been cancelled three years in a row thanks to Covid, city regeneration and roadworks. It usually features dancers from both the Irish and Caribbean communities, as well as Chinese dragons, celebrating Birmingham’s multicultural community.
The organisers stated that they were grateful to volunteers, West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council for their support, and that they were working on plans to ‘ensure the St. Patrick's Festival remains a vibrant and cherished celebration in our community’.
Maurice Malone, Chief Executive at Birmingham Irish Association and head of the Parade organising team, said: ‘Despite countless hours of planning and the unwavering dedication of our volunteers, partners, and supporters, the gap between what we can deliver with the resources and finances available and the requirements to host a safe and successful parade has proven too wide to bridge at this time.
‘We are committed to keeping the celebration of the parade alive in our city and look forward to celebrating with you all in the near future.’
If you’re heading to the capital this St Patrick’s Day, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s parade.
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