Birmingham's St. Patrick’s Day festival is looking to break all records this year.

Previous events have seen more than 100,000 people take to the streets of Britain’s second city to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint.

And organisers are confident this year will see bigger crowds than ever as the St. Patrick’s Day parade brings the centre of Birmingham to a standstill.

It will be the culmination of three days of celebrations which start on March 11 and run to the parade on March 13.

Saturday, March 12 will see live music and Irish dancing in the city centre’s Victoria Square between 11am and 4pm — with shoppers encouraged to join the fun.

This year’s festival has also been given a major cash boost after Birmingham City Council agreed to pump in an extra £60,000 to ensure the celebrations are better than ever.

The announcement of the extra funding followed successful talks between organisers of Birmingham’s largest community festival and city council officials.

The £60,000 will be granted over a two year period and is in addition to the annual £12,000 grant awarded from Birmingham City Council’s leisure and arts budget.

The council’s leisure sport and culture chief Councillor John Alden said: “The Birmingham St. Patrick’s Day Festival has contributed enormously to the city’s image as a community-spirited place to live and has become a major annual event on Birmingham’s calendar — attracting around 100,000 people to the city.”

Organisers said the extra funds would ensure the immediate future of the festival.

Festival Director Laura Grigg said: “This couldn’t be better news in our 10th anniversary year. 

“We are a small group of volunteers and the festival relies on grants such as this. 

“This money will enable us to secure the immediate future of the festival which includes one of the world’s largest parades. 

“Each year we work hard to raise money to stage an Irish celebration worthy of the city and its large Irish community which is open to all to take part in and enjoy.”

And festival Chair Pauline Roche said: “We are all delighted about this badly-needed funding.

“Our aim has always been to showcase the very best of Irish talent — the arts, music, song and dance.”

The funding was also welcomed by the city’s first Irish-born Lord Mayor Councillor Mike Nangle.

He said: “I am delighted to hear about the increased funding.

“Both the Lady Mayoress and myself are really looking forward to this year’s celebrations. 

“We always enjoy the annual parade and associated events but this year as the city’s first Irish-born Lord Mayor will be extra special.”

The festival begins on Friday, March 11 with the official launch at the Paragon Hotel in Cheapside followed by Irish music and dance in the city centre on March 12 and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 13.

The parade will conclude with an open-air concert at Millennium Point where the best of Birmingham and Midlands-based artistes will showcase their talents.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY SUPPLEMENT 2005