page reads:
This year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Luton will kick-off with a Gaelic football match between St Patrick’s Boys Band visiting form Portarlington and the local St. Dympna’s junior team.
The March 16 event is being organised by the GAA Hearts County Board and the throw-in will take place at 4pm at St Joseph’s Field Gardenia Avenue.
This evening sees the annual Sean O’Riada Mass with the Luton Irish Forum choir performing hymns in Gaelic.
The festival will be formally opened afterwards by the Mayor of Luton in St Joseph’s Parish Centre.
St Patrick’s Day will commence with the annual church service at Our Lady Help of Christians a=on Castle Street.
From 10am Manor Road will become alive as the parade participants tune up. This year’s theme is a pageant of The Life of St Patrick.
In preparation for the big parade Luton Irish Forum has been giving storytelling workshops on the life of St Patrick across primary schools.
The result will be a flamboyant display of costumes, choreography and Celtic images which will be accompanied by a collaboration of traditional Irish Musicians and steel pans.
It promises to be the most spectacular pageant yet.
Adding to the excitement will be a host of colourful floats, walking troupes and bands flying their banners.
Another highlight is Luton Irish Forum’s Emerald Pipe Band’s debut performance during the presentation of the shamrock to local dignitaries.
Alongside the parade the Arndale Centre will vibrate to the sound to traditional song and dance melodies from the harp and violin and the tap of feet from local dancing schools.
At Market Hill there will be an outdoor stage offering music and dance alongside an Irish market with various goods.
Other festival events include three consecutive nights of entertainment at The Library Theatre with The Wind That Shakes The Barley showing on March 21 followed the next day by an evening of Irish music from The Fabulous Duffy Brothers.
The festival finishes with a concert by the London Irish Symphony Orchestra.