Everyone loves a parade - but especiallly the Irish. Birmingham's St Patricks Parade goes back a very long way, originally started by the community to reinforce their identity and ensure their strong links with the home country. The parade returned to its original route Digbeth in 1996 and has since grown enormously in stature.

This year promises to be the best yet, being Birmingham's biggest community event! Whilst being unmistakably Irish at the core, the Parade increasingly mirrors the fantastic diversity of our ethnicities as we welcome guest appearances from other communities. What could be more Irish than extending hospitality? 

As the anticipation of the huge crowds grow at the start of the parade it's an emotive thought that in these times of financial uncertainty nothing stops a community demonstrating its devotion to each other and collective spirit of will. With the initial hum of the first bagpipe and the first striking of the drums, the parade will start it's life-affirming beat as it meanders through the parade area, safe in the knowledge that this tradition will start every parade for hundreds of years to come - regardless of what challenges may lay ahead.

This year the Parade begins at Camp Hill at midday on Sunday 14th March 2010.