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Promoting Culture

Luton’s 9th St Patrick’s Festival 2008
(14th -18th March)
The idea of the festival was born with the foundation of the Luton Irish Forum. Celebration of St Patrick’s Day always been very special for the Irish abroad, and the Luton Diaspora felt that the Millennium was the ideal time to commence the tradition in the eastern region. An Eastern Region Millenium Lottery grant of £5,000 gave us the financial boost to start things moving.
The St Patrick’s Committee has been our inspiration for the continuation of the Festival ever since. Funding is of course a perennial problem and year after year, the committee sets to work about 8 months in advance of the 17th March to ensure that a Festival, that has become part of Luton life, will continue and prosper. I extend our gratitude to that Committee, most of whom have been volunteering their services for all of the past nine years.

Again, this year we presented storytelling workshops at a number of schools and a group on ‘The Life of Saint Patrick’ to children from the Irish and other communities, including St Joseph’s infant and junior schools, St Margaret’s of Scotland’s Infants and Junior Schools and the Polish Integration Society Drama Group.

St Patrick’s Festival 2008 launch evening began with the annual Sean O’Riada Mass, featuring LIF’s own Choir, performing hymns in Garlic. St Patrick’s on the 15th March, commenced with the annual church service at Our Lady Help of Christians (Castle Street). This year had added cultural dimension; with the collaboration of the local Polish community. This group of 6 to 11 year olds complimented the talents of the Choir, which had grown in strength since the Festival first came of Luton. This year the parade through the town centre was once again one of the highlights of the Festival, and the sun shone graciously on a beautiful spring day. We had the usual colourful display of floats, and flags of the 32 counties. A group of well loved Irish Molly Malone, Saint Bridget, Biddy Earley, Grace O’Malley turned out in flamboyant costume. Saint Patrick himself graced the scene with humour and a blessing! Bedford University Pipe Band led the parade in its own immaculate style, providing the heart- warming swirl of the pipes, supported by the Harpenden Pipe Band and the forum’s own Emerald Pipe Band. This year due to a last minute change in plans, the focal point for the parade, the main stage, and the Irish street market was St George’s Square in place of Market  Hill. Despite some doubt’s the change in venue turned out to be a great success.

In the Arndale Shopping Centre, shoppers were treated to a celebration of Irish music, song and dance on Saturday the 15th and again on Monday the 17th (St Patrick’s Day). Local traditional Irish talent got the opportunity to bring a bit of gaiety and life to the centre and we are delighted to be able to give them that opportunity. By all accounts it was much appreciated. I wish to thank the Arndale Management for their cooperation.

Included in the festival programme were two nights of entertainment at the Library Theatre. The highlight, of course, was the annual concert on Sunday 16th which was a sell-out! The Duffy family, including the Mum and Dad all the way from Mayo, provided the backbone of a marvellous musical evening’s entertainment. They were supported by the excellent John Brookes School of Irish dancing, and a group of traditional Irish musicians. This was an evening to remember!

To round up the Festival, cinemagoers were treated to a double feature film night “Hear my Song” based on the life of famed Irish tenor Josef Locke, and an Irish musical “Once”, set in Dublin.

Helping to finance the festival, once again, was the Irish Government Agency Dion and Luton Borough Council to whom we are very grateful. A regular fund-raising feature over the past 9 years has been the production of the festival brochure. Not only does it serve as a memento for the year, but it has also helped considerably to finance the festival over the years, as well as publishing entertaining articles, poems etc. Thanks also to the many companies who continue to support us through purchasing advertising space. Finally, I wish to extend our appreciation to our printer, Noel Blackwell of Noirwell who produced a beautiful full colour and promotional leaflets.

Frank Horan
Secretary

The Emerald Pipe Band
Gee Jay at the St Patrick’s Festival.