St Patrick's Parade returns to 'traditional home'

Birmingham's St Patrick's Day Parade will return to its "traditional home" this spring for the first time in six years, its organiser said.

The parade will take place on the high street in Digbeth, a neighbourhood known as the city's Irish Quarter, from midday on 16 March.

The annual event was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, and was not held for the subsequent three years due to roadworks and regeneration in Digbeth.

The parade returned last year but was held on a smaller road in Digbeth, due to ongoing work on the high street.

"We're delighted this year that we're able to bring our parade back home," said Maurice Malone, CEO of the Birmingham Irish Association, which organises the parade.

"The high street has always been the home of the St Patrick's Parade, so we're just buzzing that we've managed to get it back there this year."

The Birmingham event dates back to 1952 and last year's event was the 50th parade to take place in the city.

Mr Malone said the parade was open to all communities, adding that last year's event involved more than 40 floats, a Peaky Blinders walking group, and a samba group from Brazil.

"It's a mass of flags and colour and noise and celebration," he told BBC Radio WM.

"The Irish community are well-known for their partying and celebrating, and St Patrick's Day is their day to show off and showcase what we can do."

Mr Malone said this year's parade would start at the top of Digbeth's high street, in Camp Hill, before going towards the city centre and finishing just before the Selfridges building.

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