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A string of green, clover shaped bunting made of felt. It is strung across a wooden wall, and there is a bright, warm lightbulb in the top right corner.

Top things to do in Manchester on St Patrick’s Day weekend 

News | 13th March 2025

By Donal Hay

Tags: , , ,

  • By Donal Hay and Freddie Haigh
  • Featured image credit: Leslie Kerwin

Manchester is known as one of the best cities to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day outside Ireland.  

The city has deep Irish connections dating back centuries and the ‘green scene’ is now bigger and more vibrant than ever.  

The 2025 ‘Irish Festival’ runs from 7-17 March this year and has something for everyone, giving you many options for celebrations on Paddy’s weekend.  

Here are some of the top ways you could choose to mark one of the most lively days in Manchester’s calendar.

A display behind O'Sheas' bar. A neon sign that reads 'GUINNESS' in white sits below a neon green Guinness logo. Two small Irish flags hang beneath, with a larger flag above. The space is dark, and lit with warm lightbulbs strung about. Various bottle of alcohol are visible behind the bar.
O’Sheas Guinness display | Credit: Leslie Kerwin

The Manchester Parade 

At long last, this year’s St Patrick’s Day is bringing back the famous Manchester Parade. After five long years, the parade is set to make its return, bringing the Irish spirit back to the streets. 2025 will mark the 35th anniversary of the spectacle, so expect to see Manchester’s streets bursting with vibrant greens and oranges. 

Expected to attract thousands, the parade will embark on 17 March from the Irish World Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill and make its way down Deansgate, which will no doubt be bustling with Irish aficionados throughout the iconic day. To mark the end of the trail, a finishing podium will be erected on Deansgate, with Old Trafford’s announcer Alan Keegan hosting.  

Dancers and performers will be keeping the craic alive, with the parade being a great lead into a dynamic day of celebration. Expect anticipation to build in the lead up to the fateful day, with shamrocks and green illuminations popping up in storefronts scattered across the city.  

Marching bands, schools, and dance troupes are all expected to partake in the procession, providing a very traditional community experience. This would be silly to miss, and one hell of a way to kickstart a day of Irish celebration.  

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Pubs 

Salmon of Knowledge  

Located in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, The Salmon of Knowledge is one of the city’s newest Irish venues. It boasts an impressive line-up of drinks, with many seeking it out specifically for a pint of Murphy’s, a tasty alternative to Guinness. The sizeable bar will play host to traditional entertainment all weekend long, in addition to coverage of the Six Nations. 

O’Sheas Irish Bar 

Located on Princess Street, O’Sheas has been a cornerstone of Manchester’s Irish pub scene since the 1990s. Known for its friendly ambiance, live traditional Irish music, and a wide selection of drinks, it’s an ideal place to immerse yourself in the celebratory spirit. 

The bar in O'Sheas. It is dark and lit by warm lightbulbs strung about. There are dark oak tables visible, and behind the bar is cluttered with lights, alcohol, and a large Irish flag hanging above.
Inside O’Sheas Irish Bar | Credit: Leslie Kerwin

Station Hotel 

The Didsbury staple, famous for its Guinness, has become well known as one of the places to be on St Patrick’s Day weekend. The cosy, traditional pub attracts hordes of punters every year, with 2025’s edition expected to see similar success. 

The Albert 

Last year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations saw crowds flock to take advantage of the Withington pub’s 3-for-10 Guinness deal – a promotion that is expected to return this year. Make sure to pop in on the 17th to get you and your friends a very reasonably priced round. 

Mulligans of Deansgate 

Renowned as Manchester’s oldest authentic Irish pub, Mulligans offers a cosy atmosphere just off Deansgate. It’s celebrated for serving an exceptional pint of Guinness and features live music performances, making it a lively spot for St Patrick’s Day festivities.  

The side of Mulligans Irish Bar. It is a brick building, and the lower half is built entirely of bright red painted metal. A black sign that reads 'MULLIGANS' is above two darkened windows, and below a long basket of fake red and white flowers. The doors are shuttered. The top half of the building is covered in switched-off fairy lights.
Mulligans of Deansgate | Credit: Leslie Kerwin

Music 

Manchester is a meeting place for lovers of Irish music, where traditional tunes thrive. Every year people flock from far and wide to some of the city’s oldest and most famous pubs to soak in the St Patrick’s day spirit – here are some of this year’s most popular spots. 

Mother Mary’s: One of the latest additions to Manchester’s Irish pub roster, Mother Mary’s boasts quite the itinerary for St Patrick’s Day weekend. The student-centric bar’s ‘Little Ireland Festival’ will run from 15-17 March, and is set to feature more than 30 musicians, art installations, street food, and pop-up stalls. 

The two signs sticking out of Mother Mary's bar. the top sign is of a glowing neon green shamrock. Beneath is a circular sign in black and white, which says 'MOTHER MARY''S' around the logo: a profile illustration of a woman with a shamrock over her ears. The rest of the building is visible out of focus as the street curves into the distance.
Mother Mary’s Irish Bar | Credit: Leslie Kerwin

O’Sheas Irish Bar: 2025’s St Patrick’s day sees the return of O’Sheas all-day-long relay of Irish bands and music. ‘Craic By The Creek’ regulars Green Hot Clover and Joe Keegan provide the soundtrack of the day and are sure to act as a supplement for the vibe created by the pub’s famously tasty Guinness. 

the signs sticking out of O'Sheas Irish Bar. It is a black sign which says 'O'SHEAS' underneath the logo, a gold and green Celtic knot. Underneath is a smaller sign advertising Guinness. the signs stick out of a brown, Victorian brick wall.
O’Sheas Irish Bar sign | Credit: Leslie Kerwin

Mulligans of Deansgate: Known as the place to go for ‘the best Guinness outside of Ireland’, you’d be forgiven for overlooking Mulligan’s as being one of the best spots in Manchester for Irish music. In previous years Mulligan’s have provided their patrons with continuous live music from 1pm until late into the night, keeping the famous pub rocking until the early hours. 

A window sign above the door of Mulligans of Deansgate. It says 'MULLIGANS OF MCR' in the window, which has a red frame. A round blue sign that says 'HARP CELEBRATION BREW' sticks out of the side of the building. Both signs are behind strings of fairy lights, and above a long tray of fake red and white flowers.
The upper sign of Mulligans of Deansgate | Credit: Leslie Kerwin

Bingo 

A superb option for those wanting a light-hearted instalment of Irish cheer, look no further than one of Manchester’s major hubs of entertainment, Freight Island. Bingo Lingo will be hosting a one-off St Patrick’s Day themed edition of their highly-anticipated bingo nights.  

the front of Freight Island. The rusted gates are shuttered, and a large sign that says 'FREIGHT ISLAND' arcs above it. The rest of the building is black and white and built on pillars in the background. The area is closed, and the sky is grey.
Freight Island | Credit: Leslie Kerwin

Running on Friday, 14 March, the competitive evening serves as an excellent lead into St Patrick’s Day weekend. Happening from 8pm ‘til late, you can expect ‘Irish beats and jigs’ throughout the evening, with prizes to be won, and ample opportunity to appear on stage, engaging in challenges and festivities. 

Bingo Lingo is renowned for its on-stage shenanigans, with a mixture of decent and terrible prizes to be won. The event describes itself as “fast paced Bingo with a lot of nonsense and weird rounds in between with two elderly ladies on stage”, so if you’re planning on attending, expect bizarre antics to take place on the night!