IT was a toss-up between doing a Mother’s Day round-up or a St Patrick’s. In the end the latter won out because we couldn’t resist using this picture of two Irishmen of the old school sitting out a Riverdance session.
Let’s face it, Paddy’s Day in Manchester, beyond the Sunday parade then a roast, reels and a few stouts in the Irish World Heritage Centre’s Wild Geese Bar, is often not the most authentic celebration of the Emerald Isle’s patron saint. Still you’ve got to give it to The Printworks for trying with its own parade of fun homages…
• Please check here and at all other venues if these events are in the wake of Boris Johnson's 'don't go to the pub' directive.
At Irish theme bar Waxy O’Connor’s the staff are already getting into the spirit (above). On St Patrick’s Day itself (Tuesday, March 17) there’s live music there all day and across the Parade weekend it comes from the Velvet Tinkers, headed by Ronan Keating’s guitarist, Jimmy Docherty. A choice of set menus is named after Galway, Tipperary and the like with chicken wings, nachos and the like. We say go for the £24.95 a head Sligo Menu, which offers Clare island smoked salmon, Clonakilty black pudding, crock of Coney Island mussels and ricotta and spinach tortellini, none of which have any Sligo affiliations, least of all the last.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Hard Rock® brings back Paddy faves Boozy St. Paddy’s Shake (Absolut® Vanilla vodka, creamy vanilla ice cream, Oreo® cookies, a touch of mint and homemade white chocolate whipped cream) and Guinness & Bacon Jam Cheeseburger, all part of the ShamRock N’ Roll Menu, available March 13 to March 18. Plus any guests named Patrick or Patricia who visit on the 17th itself will be rewarded a free Guinness & Bacon Jam Cheeseburger.
Elsewhere in the Shudehill fun palace Bierkeller offers live Irish bands across the weekend plus an Irish Pie and Guinness deal for £10 – book via [email protected]; from the 13th-17th O’Neill’s provide Guinness shields (aka fashionably green ponchos) on the house and Guinness at £2.49 a go, bettered by Yates and Walkabout, where the black stuff is down to just £1.99 from the 16th to the 19th.
Over at the Great Northern All Star Lanes has devised a twist on the Espresso Martini called the ‘Shelby Shamrock’ because, Guinness-style, it has the national sprig printed on the surface. It’s available from March 9-22.
Serious cocktail haunt Mojo has created two Paddy’s Day concoctions in collaboration with Jamiesons whiskey. Celebrating from Saturday March 14, the Bridge Street bar is offering Irish Coffee – Jameson’s Caskmates Stout Edition, featuring dark sugar syrup, fresh coffee with whipped cream and chocolate curls (£7) and Gaelic Penicillin – Jameson Whiskey, shaken with honey ginger syrup and lemon juice and topped with Peated Irish Malt (£9).
A tot for Paddy’s Day is in the spotlight, too, over at 20 Stories. On Wednesday, March 18 the glamorous venue is presenting Whiskey Tales hosted by the Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey team. It kicks off with a whiskey cocktail, followed by a masterclass, a paired three course dinner and a gift bag to take home.
Out in Chorlton The Bowling Green pub, on Brookburn Road, is hosting a six-day St. Patrick’s celebration that includes Irish quizzes, limerick competitions, special Irish menus and heaps of live music. The pub will be opening early on both Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th at 10am. On the Sunday, it will be serving a traditional Irish breakfast until noon, then a special Irish menu the rest of the day. Live traditional music will play from 7.30pm.
The big day itself features GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) live, along with more live music, a Grace Kelly traditional session followed by The Last Drop Band at 5.30pm and a ‘Craictastic Disco’ from 8pm.
The Manchester Irish Festival is already in full swing. The St Patrick’s Day Parade is still scheduled to go ahead (but check) on Sunday, March 15. It will set off at noon from the Irish World Heritage Centre at 1 Irish Town Way, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 0AE and and is expected to reach the finish line, at the corner of Deansgate and Liverpool Road, by 2pm.