Cross-community St Patrick’s celebrations across Waterside

This Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, representatives from Irish street Community Centre, Hillcrest Trust, Talking to our Babies, the Community Engagement Project, the Peacewalls Programme and Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership will join forces to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. On offer will be a wide range of community events, all being staged for the first time ever, in the Community Marquee at Lisnagelvin pitches, opposite Irish street. A range of family oriented, fun events include a ‘Big Band Night’ with ‘Undercover’, as well as a range of cultural celebrations including a ‘Traditions Meet’ session, a Science and Gadget Fair and music and sports.

Some of the events on Saturday include a fun-filled day featuring Parky the Magician, arts and crafts and a soft play area for little people.

This is a free and inclusive event, starting at 11am and will be followed by the Community Engagement Project’s ‘Science and Gadget Fair’ which gets underway at 2pm. It promises those who attend all sorts of interactive, fun and interesting gadgets and workshops for children, teenagers and adults to learn, enjoy and get their hands on.

Later, at 7pm in the evening, If it will be a case of bingo pens at the ready, then at 9pm, there will be dancing with a Big Band Night, the headline act for which will be by ‘Undercover’.

On Sunday events will get underway with sports clubs from across the city hosting boot-camps, taster sessions in skills associated with Gaelic athletics, hockey, football and more.

Meanwhile, the Under 10’s will be invited to participate in a football competition. For more information on this event, or to register in advance, telephone Eamon on 07830213542.

A host of churches and communities will join together at 2pm for an Inter-Denominational Mother’s Day Service, while the evening programme of events will begin at 7pm, with a ‘Traditions Meet’ event, featuring performances from St Joseph’s Brass Band, alongside William Kind Flute Band. There will be world champion Irish Dancers, Highland Dancers and the band ‘Sontas’ a favourite at the Walled City Tattoo. To finish the night there will be a traditional Irish Ceilidh, starting at 9pm.

This promises to be a night of wonderful performances, culture and traditional music, which is not to be missed.

The weekend celebrations are all inclusive and the organisers have asked that everyone bear in mind three basic principles: Firstly, inclusion and participation. Everyone is welcome, and everyone is asked to encourage each other and get involved in all activities.

Secondly, self-expression: People are free to express themselves and their unique gifts.

Finally: Leave no Trace. Respect the community and the environment. Whenever possible, those attending the events are asked to leave a place litter free.