Liverpool never ceases to amaze with the events and festivals that are regularly organised in the city. Today, we’re going to talk about the history of the Liverpool Irish Festival, which began back in 2003. Our city has a rich history that has been shaped by people of many different nationalities over the centuries. That’s why we decided to tell the story of this Irish festival and explore how the Irish came to live in Liverpool. Read on to find out more at liverpoolski.com.
How the Idea for the Festival Came About
In 2008, Liverpool was named the European Capital of Culture. This is a title our city rightly deserves, as it is vibrant, beautiful, and cultured. Its cultural identity has developed over 800 years, with various communities, including the Irish, playing a significant role. The Liverpool Irish Festival was created in 2003 to celebrate the unique links between Liverpool and Ireland.
The festival was initiated by John Chandler. It was he who set up a board to create the Irish festival society and charitable company.
The goal of the festival was to establish an annual event that would showcase Ireland’s contribution to Liverpool’s cultural development. The Liverpool Irish Festival includes performances, entertainment, and education in Irish traditions, music, literature, theatre, and art. All of this plays a major role in defining Liverpool as a great European city.
The Festival’s Development
The organisers aimed for the event to constantly evolve and take its place among the world’s leading arts and music festivals.
It should be noted that the first Liverpool Irish Festival was funded by the Liverpool Culture Company and the Arts Council. The festival was held in October 2003 and featured over twenty music events, headlined by local stars. The following year, the event lasted for ten days and was on a larger scale than the previous one.
In 2005, the festival was funded by the Liverpool Culture Company, and a dedicated festival manager began working on the project.
In October 2006, the festival held over sixty events across three weeks. Audiences had the chance to see performances by Van Morrison, plays by Donal O’Kelly, and Jimmy McGovern in conversation with the BBC’s Roger Philips at FACT.
Since 2021, the festival organisers have begun developing and reviving the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail. This is a collection of globally significant works and sites that trace Ireland’s impact on Liverpool and commemorate those who perished during the Great Famine.
About the Irish in Liverpool
Throughout the 19th century, many Irish people were forced to move to Liverpool. The reasons for this migration were poverty and famine. By 1851, around 22% of the population of Liverpool was Irish-born. Later, tensions arose between the allies of the Crimean War, France and Great Britain. This spurred the development of a military volunteer movement. In December 1859, an announcement was published in the Liverpool Daily Post calling on the Irish of Liverpool to assemble in Clayton Square. This led to the formation of the Irish Corps. A few months later, the 64th Corps became part of the 2nd Administrative Battalion, which was formed to organise other volunteer units in the district. By September 1863, the corps had six companies, and in 1864, it was officially given the name ‘Liverpool Irish’.
This is just one example of how the Irish have influenced the life of our city. Consequently, hundreds of years later, it was decided to create an Irish festival to further strengthen the cultural ties between Liverpool and Ireland.