News 'Flash' For St Patrick's Festival

Flash Harry’, Queen tribute band, as the headline act on the festival stage for St Patrick’s Day celebrations in St Patrick’s Square, Downpatrick, from 1.00pm on Thursday 17th March. The list of top venues played and sold by this act speaks volumes for the quality and sheer entertainment value of the show, including the Grand Opera House and The Waterfront Hall in Belfast, The Point in Dublin and London’s Royal Albert Hall. Quite simply it will be live music entertainment at its best, with amazing hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, It’s A Kind of Magic and Radio Ga Ga, and you can enjoy it all for FREE. Peter McVerry, U105 Station Manager, said, “We are delighted to be involved again with the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Downpatrick, as it is one of the highlights in our calendar. This year our presenter Maurice Jay will be joined on stage by none other than Julian Simmons to host the event and we look forward to welcoming ‘Flash Harry’, as it will surely be ‘A Kind of Magic’.” (View the St Patrick’s Festival Programme – St Patricks Programme 2011 ) [caption id="attachment_21139" align="alignleft" width="376" caption="The Flash Harry Queen tribute band will be playing in Downpatrick on St Patrick's Day from 1.00pm... don't miss this legend."][/caption] Preparations are well underway to welcome over 30,000 visitors to the annual prestigious cross-community carnival parade event, which is the focal point of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations and which has attracted over 2000 participants from far and wide in previous years. Onlookers will have the opportunity to feast their eyes on the fabulous forests, flora and fauna entries from across Ireland, as they meander through the streets of Downpatrick. Flash Harry have been celebrating the music of Queen all over Ireland and the UK for more than 16 years and still they come Don’t forget that this extremely popular event means that the roads in the Downpatrick area must close at 2.00pm sharp, so if you want to soak up the atmosphere, come early and let us entertain you. It is important to remind everyone that in order to enjoy this unique, cross community and family orientated event, Down District Council relies on the continued good will and co-operation of everyone who attends this event. CCTV will be in operation throughout the day and assisted by Community Safety and Enforcements Officers on the ground. PSNI 0fficers will be enforcing a strict ‘No On Street Drinking’ policy.  This will assist in ensuring all celebrations throughout the day pass off peacefully and without incident. Further afield, our Fringe Festival Favourites provide you with a wide range of entertainment across the district from Monday 14th March through to Saturday 26th March including concerts, conferences, coach tours, competitions and much more. For further information or a FREE copy of the Festival Programme please contact the Festival Office on 028 4461 2233 or visit www.downdc.gov.uk for full event listings. Don’t Get Bitten, Get Smitten with St Patrick’s Festival Laura Trainor from Celtic Storm, Crossgar is smitten with ‘Biscuit’ the Burmese Python as she prepares for the coming St Patrick’s Festival in Downpatrick. From Monday 14 to Sunday 20 March, over 40 events will keep the whole family entertained. On Thursday 17 March don’t miss the fabulous FREE day of entertainment from dawn to dusk at various locations across this ancient capital including St Patrick’s Square and Market Street, not to mention the ‘Forests, Flora and Fauna’ themed Cross-Community Carnival Float Parade. For further information or a FREE copy of the Festival Programme please contact the Festival Office on 028 4461 2233, check out the full events listing online at www.downdc.gov.uk or follow the festival at www.twitter.com/DownDCofficial]]>