A record number of people turned out for the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Bristol to celebrate Irish culture with music, dance and storytelling.
This year’s theme was ‘Sea of Migration’ – in recognition of the Irish diaspora who now call Bristol home, both past and present.
The event was organised by W.E. Irish (West of England Irish community group), which was founded in 1989 to share Irish culture and tradition, beyond the stereotypes.
Irish contribution and connection
W.E. Irish CEO and chairman Paul Kelly, who also heads facilitation, training and coaching provider PANDEK in Hanham, said: “We want to celebrate the contribution Irish people have made in the region and share their experiences.”
There are over 17,000 Irish people in the West of England. Many came in the post-war era – to build roads and staff the region’s hospitals.
Today, many Irish people – or those of Irish descent – work in hospitality, education, as key workers, as entrepreneurs and in sport.
Deputy Head of Mission at the Irish Embassy, Orla McBreen, enjoyed her first visit to the Bristol St Patrick’s parade.
Ms McBreen, who has relatives on her mother’s side that moved to the city in the 1950s, said: “It’s great to see first, second and third generation Irish – and those with no connection but who want to join Bristol’s welcome for the Irish community – celebrate in a city with a long connection to Ireland.”
Historical links between Bristol and Dublin.
In 1171, following the conquest of Ireland by England, King Henry II issued a charter and granted Dublin to ‘my men of Bristol’ – giving them permission to colonise their possession.
Many important trading families from Bristol then established branches across the Irish Sea and stone was transported from Dundry, south of the city, to Ireland for use in the new churches and monasteries that the English began to build.
In 2022, The Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin welcomed the Lord Mayor of Bristol to mark the anniversary of Henry II’s grant.
But it was said to be with a certain wariness -since the original charter was never officially revoked.
And Dublin-born Edmund Burke, whose statue is in St Augustine’s Parade, was MP for Bristol between 1774 and 1780 and is regarded as one of the founders of the British Conservative tradition.
‘Mother Ireland’
Around 6,000 turned out for the parade, which started at the MShed, with a pause at Queen Square for music and dance, then an after party at Saint Nicholas Market.
It included pipes and drums, decorated vehicles, floats and puppets – with ‘Mother Ireland’ wearing the stories of those with Irish heritage in Bristol on her skirts.
W.E. IRISH worked with Lamplighters Arts CIC to collect the social history of the Bristol Irish and create the artwork.
Bristol Deputy Lord Mayor and W.E. Irish parade organiser, Paula O’Rourke, said: “Irish immigrants have come over at different times and for different reasons.
“It’s important we share their stories, while challenging stereotypes such as the leprechaun.”
The Irish Post previously reported how a campaign was launched to address the “outdated and offensive” Irish stereotypes found in AI-generated imagery.
There have been over 20 parades in Bristol since 1989. Only a couple of hundred people turned out in the early days, when it was held St George, on the outskirts of the city.
Mrs O’Rourke added: “It’s great to see how quickly this event is growing and it’s thanks to the organisers and supporters, who started work the very next day after the last parade.”
Celebrating Irish heritage
A ticketed event at Revolution bar, with live music and Irish dancing, was sold out. And free children’s activities in The Boardroom, which included arts and crafts and an introduction to the Irish language, were well attended.
Mark Woods is a space roboticist, who moved to Bristol from Donegal 20 years ago. He runs a ciorcal comhrá, conversation circle, to give people the opportunity to speak Irish – at any level.
He said: “I find it’s important to keep the Irish language alive and strong. It provides a rich way to express yourself and reconnect with your heritage.”
· W.E. Irish is a not-for-profit organisation, aiming to ‘unite Irish people and those with the nationality in their heritage to celebrate their rich cultural background’. For more information about W E Irish, visit https://weirish.org.uk/
· For more information about Lamplighters Arts, visit https://www.thelamplighters.org.uk
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