The award-winning Manchester Irish Festival takes place from March 7th-17th. The biggest Irish festival in the UK, the 11 day celebration of Irish culture features music, dance, theatre, comedy, film, literature, sport and a "'Young Gifted & Green" Battle Of The Bands competition. M-r Volume, from March 12th-15th, sees over a dozen Dublin DJs playing at all the major Manchester club nights and premiere bars.
The excellent "Poptastic Tour" will keep you infotained for a couple of hours. Regular tour guide Jonathan Schofield's knowledge of the city is immense, yet not academic. He tells some fine anecdotes, and wraps up the tour by impersonating Oasis' Liam Gallagher's less incoherent moments. Top!
Sir Paul McCartney's former childhood home in Liverpool opens to the public for the first time this summer. Admission to the small terraced house at 20 Forthlin Road, Allerton - now looked after by the National Trust charity - will be by pre-booked ticket only. Booking open in June.