Liverpool Irish Festival celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Liverpool Irish Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this month with a packed programme of events at venues across the city.

The annual celebration of Ireland’s contribution to Liverpool’s cultural identity and heritage takes place from October 10-20 and has the theme of ‘hunger’.

The festival programme of more than 40 events includes music, theatre, poetry, performance, film, tours, talks and walks along with the annual Irish Festival Family Day which this year will be held at the Museum of Liverpool on Saturday, October 29.

And venues include the Bluecoat, Central Library, Peter Kavanagh’s, The Brink Liverpool Arts Bar, the Philharmonic Music Room, St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, several city museums and Liverpool Irish Centre.

Meanwhile Shakespeare North Playhouse at Prescot will Shakespeare on the Irish on Saturday, October 22, and the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead will host The Forgotten: A Workshop on Wednesday, October 26.

Other events include performances of The Fifth Guest at the Hope Street Theatre on October 21-22, Sweet Mother at The Brink on October 22, Famished Women and the Irish Famine, a performance and presentation, at the Everyman Bistro October 25, and A Very Odd Birthday Party in the Liverpool Royal Court Studio on October 27.

There are exhibitions at the Bluecoat Display Centre, Victoria Museum and Gallery and the Williamson Art Gallery, screenings of two documentaries from the IndieCork film festival, music nights, themed walks, and a series events around the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail, while there will also be some events online.

The festival began in 2003 and is the most diverse multidisciplinary arts and culture-led Irish festival in the UK.

Liverpool Irish Festival runs from October 20-30. Read more about the full festival programme HERE