Sun comes out in Digbeth for Birmingham St Patrick's Day Parade - News - Birmingham Mail

Thousands flocked to Birmingham for the annual St Patrick's Day Parade IT WAS the luck of the Irish as the sun came out just in time for Birmingham’s St Patrick’s Day Parade. Around 80,000 people lined the streets of Digbeth dressed in green and orange and waving flags ready to join in the celebration of Ireland’s patron saint in a party thought to be the third largest in the world. Lead by six champion Irish dancers, the parade kicked off at Camp Hill before following Digbeth High Street past traditional Irish pubs, ending on Alcester Street. Olivia McMenamen, chair of the festival board of directors, said: “The festival and parade celebrates our Irish culture and heritage within a wonderful multicultural city. “We always aim to make each year’s celebrations bigger and better than before and this year is no exception.” As well as beautifully decorated floats, vintage motorbikes, classic cars and steam engines all wowed the crowds, alongside Bernese pulling groups, American civil war re-enactors and Willie ‘fergus’ Finnegan’s famous massed tractors. Among the crowd were 63-year-old Dennis Horgan and wife Rose, 64. Rose said: “We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It’s always a fantastic day out and it’s so nice the weather has improved.” Dennis added: “We’re particularly looking forward to seeing all of the floats, listening to the music, watching the parade go past and enjoying ourselves now the sun is shining.” Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/2011/03/14/sun-comes-out-in-digbeth-for-birmingham-s-st-patrick-s-day-parade-97319-28329371/#ixzz1GZGWIuQ3