Packed programme for 10-day St Patrick’s festival in Coatbridge

Mar 10 2010 by Judith Tonner, Airdrie & Coatbridge

THE annual St Patrick’s Day Festival begins in Coatbridge tomorrow (Thursday), heralding a busy week of music, entertainment and sporting events.

Now in its eighth year, the festival has expanded from a one-day street event in 2003 to a 10-day extravaganza attracting 20,000 visitors from far and wide.

The packed programme begins tomorrow with a “battle of the bands” contest at Essence, at Coatbridge Point in the town’s Main Street, from 7pm.

Local bands will be showcasing their talents in both contemporary and traditional categories before a judging panel including local singer-songwriter JJ “Jinky” Gilmour, formerly of The Silencers.

He will then be taking to the stage at the same venue the following evening, accompanied by former bandmate Phil Kane, Graeme Duffin of Wet Wet Wet and local performer Maeve O’Boyle.

Saturday sees a Gaelic football challenge match and primary school tournament and the festival’s annual youth football tournament at Espieside Park from 11.30am – admission is free.

That evening, the Tudor Hotel will host the annual festival dinner dance from 7.30pm, where various dignitaries will be among the guests at the event’s traditional official curtain-raiser.

Writer and activist Eamonn McCann will then deliver the annual festival lecture on Sunday at 7.30pm in the Mayo Suite at St Patrick’s church hall in the town’s St John Street.

A special exhibition entitled “Coatbridge and Ireland” will open at Summerlee Heritage Park on Monday, showcasing the town’s industrial growth and Irish links.

There will also be a talk by local historian Hugh O’Neill at 7.30pm, while the photography exhibition will run until March 31.

St Patrick’s church hall is again the venue for the free-of-charge British premiere of “Italia 90 re-visited with Jack Charlton”.

The documentary charting the Republic of Ireland’s remarkable run to the World Cup quarter-finals begins at 7.30pm.

Next Wednesday, March 17, is of course St Patrick’s Day itself and will be marked with an evening of traditional music from Quigley’s Point at St Bartholomew’s church hall on Trent Street in Townhead at 7.30pm.

Further festival events include drama, a cocktail contest and the family street festival in Coatbridge town centre next Saturday.

It will include live bands, dance, children’s entertainment and a balloon launch at the climax of the festival, billed as “the largest St Patrick’s Day street party in Scotland”.

For further information and tickets, visit www.stpatricksdayfestivalcoatbridge.org or the festival shop in the town centre.