Luton's 8th St Patrick’s Festival 2007 16th – 23rd March

Luton hosted its biggest and most watched St Patrick’s Day parade ever at weekend. The town’s Irish Forum, which also marks the tenth anniversary of helping Luton’s Irish community this year, put on its most impressive celebration for the saint so far. And anyone who went along on Saturday as the procession made its way from Manor Road to Market Hill and then continued through the town centre could not have been anything but impressed. 

The parade was the biggest and the best we’ve ever had and the fact we had the Fureys in Market Hill the crowd was ecstatic. People I’ve spoken to over the weekend said it was absolutely brilliant. We must have had somewhere in region of 20,000 people looking at what we were doing during the day. And there was plenty for those spectators to enjoy.


Apart from Irish folk legends The Fureys and Davey Arthur, there were pipe, accordion and brass bands and dancers from as far as Ireland. The St Patrick’s Boys Accordion Band from Portarlington even brought 90 people with it while the Irish Forum’s very own Emerald Pipe Band made its first public appearance. And the entertainment didn’t stop there. Shoppers in Arndale were treated to music and dance from 11am until late afternoon and Sunday saw even more St George’s Square. 


And for those still needing a touch of Ireland, there were three special events at the Library Theatre to see out the week. The Wind That Shakes The Barley, The Fabulous Duffy Brothers top a musical bill and The London Irish Symphony Orchestra.