Irish in Birmingham, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, have put together an exhibition profiling what it means to be Irish. Oral history accounts have been collected from the children of immigrants from the Emerald Isle to Birmingham who landed between 1960-2010, who I’m sure share similar experiences to those who still frequent Digbeth now.

The exhibition will be open in the Custard Factory from the 12th until the 28th April 2012. Further information can be found by clicking the image below, or emailing Michelle Aucott of Irish in Birmingham.

When: Wednesday 18th April, 20:00

Journey to the Fifth Province, the hit show of the 2011 Irish Writers’ Festival in London, will be performed at the Irish Centre in Digbeth.

Actor Donal Cox draws on the work of great Irish poets and writers to open unusual windows on life and create a dramatic narrative, with exciting music from Celtic harper Harriet Earis to accompany the journey. Language and music weave together story, character, humour and the inner Irish experience. A joyful and perceptive look at where we’ve come from, where we find ourselves now and what might inspire us in the face of an uncertain future.

On tour around the UK since September 2011, the show is building a glowing reputation. The Embassy of Ireland acknowledges its value in reaching out to successive generations of Irish people who have uprooted to the UK, reconnecting them with their cultural roots. ‘Journey to the Fifth Province’ is nonetheless accessible to all and speaks to everyone, irrespective of background heritage. It is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

A video trailer for the show follows; for further information, please contact Liz Newbery by email or phone 020 8540 2118 or 07759 662747.

How the JFK memorial could look in Digbeth by Birmingham Mail

Regular readers may remember Nicky’s post last year about plans to restore the city’s JFK memorial, and display it in Digbeth.

Well, these plans are one step closer to becoming a reality after artist Oliver Budd, whose father Kenneth created the mosaic, returned the President’s head to piece he is painstakingly re-creating in his London workshop.

The finished piece will take pride of place on the corner of Digbeth High Street and Floodgate Street in June. The city hope to ask a senior White House official to unveil the restored mosaic.

It’s quite timely that the US athletics track and field team will be arriving in Birmingham for their Olympics training camp around June. Let’s hope it’s completed by then!

On Parade Day, DRA took on the task of tweeting live updates from the thick of the action, even bagging a photo with Birmingham Lady Mayoress Anita Ward! You can read our updates below:

I’ve just been told that Bay Leaf Bangladeshi Restaurant, in the Custard Factory, have developed a special Guinness Balti to help celebrate the occasion!

So if you fancy something Irish this weekend, but aren’t a fan of stew, why not head out of an Irish Curry?!

As in previous years, Digbeth Residents Association will be walking the parade route with a banner, and everyone is invited! If you would like to join DRA in the St Patrick’s Parade 2012, please email Secretary Pam with “St Patrick’s 2012″ in the subject line.

We will be providing suitably Irish-themed hats and garlands for participants; of course you do not have to wear any fancy dress, but if you would like to dress up, the theme of the parade this year is sport. As the parade starts at noon, we will need to be at the start of the route at Camp Hill earlier than this; we would ask anyone wanting to participate to arrive by 11:30 at the ABSOLUTE latest please.

In addition, Anne Tighe of the Spotted Dog pub has donated ten tickets for the St Patrick’s Launch Party to DRA. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Anne and the Spotted Dog warmly for their continued support of DRA; last year the Spotted Dog paid for the printing of the banner we will be reusing at this year’s parade (see inset).

If you would like to come along to the Launch Party to enjoy traditional Irish music, food and of course the craic, again please email Pam. The event will be held this Friday, 9th March, from 19:30 in the Irish Centre on Digbeth High Street; please note that in the event of over subscription, residents of Digbeth will be given priority for these tickets.

We look forward to hearing from people interested in helping DRA support the Irish Community in Digbeth.

When: Wednesday, 14th March

Soul Food Project presents St Patrick’s Supper!

As part of Soul Food Project‘s programme of 2012 events, they’ll be celebrating all things Gaelic, with an evening of traditional Irish Cusine in the heart of Birmingham’s Irish district.

Come and join in the craic!

For more information please email matt@soulfoodproject.co.uk

Please note that this the evening is limited to 50 tickets – first come, first served!

Digbeth Residents Association will have a walking group taking part in the parade; if you would like to participate, please contact DRA Secretary Pam by email. Ahead of the parade, the festival organisers have sent the following communication:

Dear Resident,

The Birmingham St Patrick’s Festival Parade is being held on Sunday 11th March 2012.

The parade will start from Camp Hill at 12 noon. To ensure the safety of all concerned in setting up the parade, it is necessary to close some roads in the Digbeth area.

The parade route is the same as last year and the list of road closures follows. Digbeth and access to Digbeth will be restricted on Sunday 11th March from 06:00 to approximately 16:30. Certain roads in the area will be closed until 21:00, mainly those around Bradford Street. Roads will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.

All times for reopening are provisional, as roads will only be reopened when it is safe for pedestrians and traffic. If you need access to your premises on Sunday 11th March, please contact the Festival Organisers (details below) providing details of your requirements. We will endeavour to meet your requirements, but would be grateful if you could inform us of these as soon as possible.

Whilst we wish to keep disruption to a minimum, there may be times throughout the day when, for safety reasons, we have to restrict access completely. This is kep to a minimum and is usually when the parade passes.

Many thanks for your help and cooperation in this matter.

Kind regards,
St Patrick’s Festival
Email: stpatricksbirmingham@gmail.com
Phone: 07766 821 599
Address: 47 Alcester Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0PH

 

Connaught Square was billed for a £150 million scheme, comprising 658 apartments, a four-star hotel with sky bar and a new Irish Centre, and was also renowned for its promise to bring Digbeth’s hidden river – the River Rea – back up to surface level.

Initial plans were given the go ahead back in 2007, and would have marked a major transformation of Digbeth, creating 1,000 underground parking spaces, two public squares straddling the River Rea and a pedestrian boulevard. However, the project was stopped after the administrators were called in by Allied Irish Bank in June 2010, which was owed £24 million by Connaught Square Ltd. No buyer has been since found for the development.

The existing planning consent is now believed to be unworkable, and a buyer would likely apply for a fresh, more modest scheme.

I’m sure that this will please many residents who believed the plans to be ostentatious and not inkeeping with the grain of Digbeth, but this news also means that Digbeth will be stuck with the eyesore and ‘hill of bricks’ currently occupying the site for a while longer.

Here’s hoping a buyer with a more sympathetic view of Digbeth and the site’s surroundings can be found soon – perhaps someone willing to turn the whole area into a green public space?

Picture: Birmingham Mail

Here, John McMahon of Birmingham’s premier Irish magazine, An Craic, has very kindly written an article for us to bring us up to date with what happened at the EGM recently:

Having successfully arranged the previous two Festivals, the St Patrick’s board have now passed on the torch to new directors – synching with the torch bearing tradition of this the Olympic year. Not surprising then that the main focus for the parade on Sunday March 11 is Irish Sport, and it is with great pleasure that the leading lights of Irish sports men and women based in Birmingham have been asked to be this year’s flag bearers. If you’re a sportsperson with Irish connections – get in touch – for yourself, your sport or your team. We’d love your support at this years parade.

Preparations are well underway to continue the great tradition of the Birmingham St Patrick’s Parade and its supporting fringe events. The civic reception and launch this year will be at The Irish Centre on Friday March 9th. Set your clocks though to be bright and early at the main event – The Parade – Sunday March 11 at twelve noon. As ever the principal feature and focus is The Birmingham Irish and its surrounding communities – blending the traditional with the contemporary: floats and walking groups from the counties, traditional marching bands, GAA groups, dancing schools and the general weird and whacky of Parade day. ‘St PatRocks’ will continue the custom started several years ago of showcasing more contemporary local Irish bands whose members have Irish roots – this will be hosted at the HMV institute.

As with previous years anyone heading to Digbeth on parade day will be submersed in a sea of green and overwhelmed by the infectious sense of such a good natured and joyous occasion. Marvel at the parade – and then enjoy the Craic in many of Digbeth’s finest hostelries – many of which remain resolutely Irish in their devotion. Other fringe events leading up to St Patrick’s Day itself include an Irish Film night, Art installation, Race night, Irish Ale night, Irish literary event and Irish music nights.

We need You. As ever being a voluntary organisation we really do count on the support of individuals – so whether you can volunteer as a steward, are keen to enter a float or walk in the parade, are prepared to help raise sponsorship for us – do contact us. And if everyone can remember to throw a pound into the collection boxes – you will be doing your community proud.

St Patrick’s Festival 2012 starts with the civic reception and launch night on Friday 9th March at The Irish Centre. For tickets and details of the launch, parade and all St Patricks’ events – visit the website at stpatricksbirmingham.com.

Thanks John!