Birmingham’s St Patrick’s Day Parade can’t catch a break, can it? After a four-year gap, the Irish celebrations only returned to Digbeth in 2024, with organisers originally planning to return it to its traditional route this year. But instead of heading down Digbeth High Street, it won’t be happening anywhere at all on Sunday, March 16.
Birmingham Irish Association, the team behind the Parade, have decided to postpone the event, as they cannot deliver a safe and successful parade this year. At its peak, over 80,000 people used to attend St Patrick’s Day in Birmingham and organisers are “not prepared to compromise” on the safety of attendees.
Maurice Malone, Chief Executive at Birmingham Irish Association, said:
Our primary goal has always been to deliver a safe, enjoyable, and memorable parade that celebrates the vibrant Irish community in Birmingham. Year after year, thousands of you have joined us, rain or shine, to show your support and share in the joy of this cherished tradition. For that, we are immensely grateful.
However, safety is paramount, and as organisers, we are not prepared to compromise on this fundamental principle. Despite countless hours of planning and the unwavering dedication of our volunteers, partners, and supporters, the gap between what we can deliver with the resources and finances available and the requirements to host a safe and successful parade has proven too wide to bridge at this time.
Whether this delay means weeks, months or even years, remains to be seen, but work is already underway to ensure the future of the St. Patrick’s Parade. As not only a celebration of Irish culture but the diversity and multiculturalism of Birmingham too – from Irish and Caribbean dancers to Welsh and Chinese dragons – here’s hoping we see it back on our streets very soon.
For more information about how you can support the St. Patrick’s Parade in Birmingham, visit the St. Patrick’s Festival Birmingham Facebook page here.