Let's celebrate! After years of squeezing into packed bars to listen to dubious U2 tribute bands and getting misty-eyed about relatives' stories of fantastic celebrations "at home", the Irish community in London got its first chance yesterday to officially celebrate St Patrick's Day.
Celebration and inclusion were the themes of the day and the Irish community did it in some style.
The traditional elements were all there to see for the crowd of up to 30,000 packed into Trafalgar Square, thankful that the grey skies and rain in the morning had given way to blue skies by the afternoon. There were Tricolours, step-perfect Irish dancing troupes and a magnificent performance from The Dubliners on the main stage. And there was something for the young at heart and middle-aged fathers too, when Irish girl band, Bellefire, sashayed and whooped their way through an energetic set.
The females in the audience weren't forgotten either when Ireland's favourite gardener, Diarmuid Gavin, came on stage proclaiming his delight at seeing "the greening" of Trafalgar Square, the crowd screaming with enthusiasm when he suggested that next year the organisers could "take down Nelson and put up St Pat".
London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone, took a leading role in organising the event, encouraged by intense lobbying from the Irish community, and set aside £100,000 to fund the festival.
After Mass in Westminster Cathedral, celebrated by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Con- nor, and a parade of Irish county associations through Westminster, the Mayor officially opened the celebrations with the Irish Ambassador, Daith∅ ╙ Ceallaigh, standing on the Trafalgar Square stage next to him.
It would be the first of many "amazing" celebrations, promised Mr Livingstone. "We are recognising the contribution that millions of Irish people have made to this city; they have helped to build it, to nurse the sick in it, to educate the children in it," he said.
Looking out over a sea of green, white and gold-dressed revellers, Mr ╙ Ceallaigh told The Irish Times: "It's an astonishing turnout. There is a great sense of fun and it's nice to see this happen, it's an event for everyone." The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, sent a message of support celebrating Britain and Ireland's close relationship, adding that the festival was an opportunity for the Irish to celebrate their "rich heritage".
Elsewhere in Britain, the Irish communities in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool and the Irish in Scotland and Wales celebrated the national day with parades and festivals. The Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, was in Scotland to join celebrations there, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, was in Birmingham, the Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, was in London, while the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, took part in St Patrick's Day celebrations in Manchester.