The St Patrick's Day party will be back on in Newcastle as the city prepares to mark March 17 with music, food and dancing.
There also will be the traditional mass and procession on Thursday with the Tyneside Irish Centre playing a central role in the occasion by hosting four days of events. This year's celebrations around St Patrick’s Day, March 17, are set to be especially popular given the fact that so many events have been cancelled over the past two years due to the pandemic.
And there certainly will be plenty to enjoy when the city adopts a green theme and people take to the streets in their towering Guinness hats.
Read More: T he story behind our St Patrick's Day celebrations
There no doubt will be plenty bars and restaurants across Newcastle vying for trade while also making a comeback will be PaddyFest, the popular festival which will be bringing its own four-day food and drink party - including Six Nations screenings to Times Square - from Wednesday.
Rugby also will be a part of the Guinness-sponsored St Patrick's Raceday event making a return to Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday, adding to the on-course action, Irish music and dancing.
Saturday will also see the return of a St Patrick's Day-theme Bongo's Bingo night - this time with The Boiler Shop rather than Times Square playing host - and Five will be adding to the musical backdrop.
Tyneside Irish Centre at Gallowgate is always at the heart of the St Patrick's Day party mood in Newcastle, with events hosted by Tyneside Irish Cultural Society. Here is its planned programme of events.
St Patrick's Day, March 17
10.30am - St Patrick's Mass and Blessing of the Shamrock at St Michael's Church in Westmoreland Road.
12noon - Tyneside Irish Centre opens and will host live music over three floors, beginning with a traditional session in the bar.
12.45pm - Procession. People can gather outside the centre to join the procession to Old Eldon Square War Memorial.
1pm - laying of the Shamrock in memory of the Tyneside Irish Brigade.
Tyneside Irish Centre will also host, at Gallowgate, the Tyneside Irish Brigade Reception at 1.30pm; a 4pm session and, at 7pm, Tinkers & Rovers. In its bar there will be The Shamrockers at 4pm and Papa Lazarou Trio at 7.30pm - who also will play at 5.30pm in the concert room which also will host Dermot Hegarty and Tony Corcoran Band at 7.30pm.
Many performances will be free to members.
Friday, March 18
8pm - Liam Turner Irish Night with country and Irish music will take place in the centre's concert room with tickets at £5.
Saturday, March 19
8pm - Papa Lazarou Trio will play Irish rock covers in the concert room. Tickets again cost £5.
Sunday, March 20
2pm - Billed as the 'last chance to party', the centre will host a St Patrick's Family Fun event in the concert room with live ceilidh music from the Tyneside Comhaltas, storyteller Pat 'The Hat' and Irish dancing. Entry will be free.
7pm - St Patrick's Day Supper, The Tyneside Irish Cultural Society is organising a whole hosted feast of fun, to include - besides food and drink - music and a dance display by the Healy O'Donnell School. Tickets, costing £10, are available from 0191 261 0385 or www.tynesideirish.com
For more information about Tyneside Irish Centre see here.
