In Pictures: Birmingham St Patrick's Day parade
- Published
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Birmingham for the annual St Patrick's Day parade, police said.
The theme of the parade was "The Gathering", which encourages anyone of Irish descent to pay a visit back home to the county, town or village of their ancestry.
More than 60 groups took part in the parade wearing costumes, waving flags or riding on floats and other vehicles.
The Irish in Birmingham charity float had the slogan: "Who needs Grease when you can come to Ireland?"
The Bones Motorcycle club revved up the engines on their Harley Davidson bikes to get the crowds cheering.
.jpg.webp)
The parade is said to be the third biggest in the world after Dublin and New York and this year it fell on the actual date of St Patrick's Day.
A number of Irish traditions were on show, including dancing, accordion playing and Gaelic football skills.
Young dancers from the Sylvia Murphy-Brennan dance academy showed off their footwork and bodhran-playing skills.
Many generations of the same family took part in the parade, including Claire O'Shea, her one-year-old daughter Alicia and her mother Catherine Finn from County Kerry.
Mia the dog marched in the parade with her owner Joanna Fealey from the Limerick Association.
- Published17 March 2013
- Published17 March 2013