FESTIVAL GUIDE Saturday 12th to Thursday 17th March 2022 - Luton Irish Forum
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FESTIVAL GUIDE Saturday 12th to Thursday 17th March 2022
A huge thank you to our
Main Sponsors
And thank you to all our other Sponsors
(adverts throughout this guide)
and to all our Supporters and Volunteers
Festival Organiser: Luton Irish Forum
T: 01582 720447 E: info@lutonirishforum.org W: www.lutonirishforum.org
Contents
Welcome from the Chairman of
St Patrick’s Festival Committee....................................................................................................................... 3
Mayor of Luton’s Festival Message.......................................................................................................... 5
Luton St Patrick’s Festival Programme............................................................................................ 7
St Patrick’s GAA Blitz.............................................................................................................................................................. 9
The 2022 Parade Route.................................................................................................................................................11
Seán Ó’Riada Mass ...............................................................................................................................................................13
Parade..............................................................................................................................................................................................................13
Country and Trad on Market Hill Outdoor Stage...................................................15
Tracey McAuley..............................................................................................................................................................17
John McNicholl & Band..................................................................................................................................19
The Mall Indoor Stage......................................................................................................................................................23
Olivia Lynn...............................................................................................................................................................................25
Galway/Sligo Trad.....................................................................................................................................................27
St Patrick’s After Party...................................................................................................................................................31
Missing The Ferry.......................................................................................................................................................33
Neck.......................................................................................................................................................................................................35
St Patrick’s Afternoon Celebration.......................................................................................................37
The Story of Saint Patrick.........................................................................................................................................39
More than just Luton St Patrick’s Festival.............................................................................43
Accredited welfare advice......................................................................................................................................45
Social and cultural groups......................................................................................................................................47
St Brigids Day....................................................................................................................................................................................49
Help to find paid work....................................................................................................................................................53
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 1
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN
OPEN YOUR WORLD
ON SALE EVERY WEDNESDAY
www.theirishworld.com
Wishing Luton Irish St Patrick’s
Festival continued success
ON SALE IN THE UK AND IRELAND EVERY WEEK
TO ADVERTISE Call 020 8453 7800
admin@theirishworld.com • www.theirishworld.com
Welcome from the
Chairman of St Patrick’s
Festival Committee
Here at Luton Irish Forum we are counting down the
days to Luton St Patrick’s Festival 2022. It’s been a very
long and difficult three years since 2019 when we held
the last St Patrick’s Festival that wasn’t online.
We’re delighted to be able to include GAA matches
in the Festival programme this year and are looking
forward to seeing some promising young Gaelic
footballers playing at the GAA Blitz on Saturday 12th March.
Parade and Music Day is once again on the Sunday, 13th March, and we have
some star performers coming over from Ireland for you as well as plenty of
home-grown talent!
The Parade will start from Luton Irish Forum at 12 noon, an hour later than
previous years in response to the wishes of many participants. The route is the
same, see the map on page 11, so grab yourself a good viewing point to watch
Irish and community groups, marching bands and a few favourite characters
and entertainers.
The Parade finishes with walking groups at Market Hill, right by the Outdoor
Stage. Highlights of the Outdoor Stage are two stars of country – John McNicholl
and Tracey McAuley
New for this year and appealing to the younger generation especially is an After
Party in The Hat Factory. We have the bands Missing the Ferry and Neck who
will treat us to high-energy performances while the trad musicians will offer a
more chilled vibe.
The Mall Indoor Stage on that Sunday 13th will showcase Irish Dancing from
local Irish Dancing schools and Ireland plus talented musicians and singers.
A huge thank you to our sponsors, I hope you’ve noticed them on our publicity
and on the on-stage banners today. Big thanks also to our parade participants,
traders and performers – and our wonderful volunteers – without all of you, the
Festival wouldn’t be anywhere near what it is today.
Go raibh, míle maith agat agus sláinte – Thank you and good health to you
Liz O’Halloran
Chair, Luton St Patrick’s Festival Committee
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 3
LUTON
LOOK FOR OUR NEW
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lutontowncentre.org/enjoy-luton @LutonBID
This project is funded by the ERDF Welcome Back Fund
Message from
Mayor of Luton
Throughout the world millions of people of Irish
heritage enjoy the “craic” on 17th March – St Patrick’s
Day. The transparent enthusiasm for and pride in
their origins is as infectious as it is pleasurable.
Delight in their national identity and wholehearted
assimilation into other countries and communities
are hallmarks not only of the Irish community here
in Luton, but of all our diverse groups throughout
the town. It is that sense of togetherness in our
differences that makes it a great place to live.
Together with all Lutonians I wish our friends in
the Irish community a Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Cllr Mahmood Hussain
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 5
Luton St Patrick’s
Festival Programme
Saturday 12th March
GAA Blitz – local GAA youth and women’s teams
1:00pm-3:00pm
St Joseph’s Club, Gardenia Avenue, Luton, LU3 2NS
Sunday 13th March
Pre-parade Mass
Séan Ó’Riada Mass Sung by Luton Irish Forum Choir
9:30am. Our Lady Help of Christians RC Church, Castle Street, LU1 3AG
Parade & Live Entertainment
Leaves Luton Irish Forum, LU2 0ES, at 12:00pm walking pace to Market Hill.
FREE. See Parade Route Map on page 11.
Outdoor Stage at Market Hill, LU1 2AF
From 10:30am. Award-winning vocals, country singing and Irish Dancing.
Highlights include Tracey McAuley at 1:00pm and John McNicholl at 1:40pm.
FREE. See details on pages 15 & 17.
The Mall Indoor Stage, LU1 2HN
From 10:30am. Irish Dancing showcase plus Trad music and lovely singing.
FREE. See details on page 23.
St Patrick’s After Party
The Hat Factory 65-67 Bute Street, Luton, LU1 2EY
From 3:00pm. Trad, Celtic and Folk Rock including Missing The Ferry,
Neck and Galway/Sligo Trad Group. FREE. See details on Page 31.
Thursday 17th March
Afternoon Celebration
Celtic Club, Chobham Street, Luton, LU1 3BS
Tickets £6, from Luton Irish Forum and Celtic Club.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 7
Demolition & Enabling Works Specialists
• Demolition and Enabling Works Specialists
• Structural Alterations
• Asbestos Surveys & Removal
• In House Design – Temporary and Permanent works
• Land Remediation
• Recycling & Bulk Excavation
• Transport and Haulage
• Ground works and RC frames
• Basement Construct & Solutions
T: 01582 488 277 E: admin@capitalsky.uk
www.capitalsky.ukSt Patrick’s GAA Blitz
Saturday 12th March St Joseph’s Playing Fields,
Gardenia Avenue,
1:00-3:00pm Luton,
LU3 2NS
FREE
Come along and enjoy an afternoon of Gaelic Football featuring
youth teams from St Dympna’s GFC Luton GAA and Luton GAA
St Vincent’s GFC plus the women’s team Claddagh Gaels LGFC.
Thank you to O’Kane Irish Foods
for donating snacks and soft
drinks for the players.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 9The 2022 Parade Route
Sunday 13th March
Leaving at 12:00pm from
Luton Irish Forum,
Hitchin Road, LU2 0ES Nearest parking:
Bute Street Shoppers
Car Park, LU1 2NQ
Power Court Car
Park, LU1 3LJ
Luton Mall Market
Car Park, LU1 2 JX
Luton Station
Multistorey Car Park,
LU2 0HR
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 11Looking for expert legal advice?
Wills, Trusts & Probate
Buying & Selling a Home
Family, Children, Divorce & Separation
Employment
Immigration
Dispute Resolution
Company & Commercial
Commercial Property
01582 514000
enquiries@machins.co.uk www.machins.co.ukSeán Ó’Riada Mass
9:30am Our Lady Help of
Christians RC Church,
FREE Castle Street, Luton,
LU1 3AG
Pre-parade mass with hymns in Gaelic
sung by Luton Irish Forum Choir.
Parade
12:00pm Parade leaves
Luton Irish Forum,
FREE LU2 0ES, at 12 noon
Grab yourself a choice viewing location to watch
one of the Festival highlights! The Parade is a
family-friendly and colourful procession of Irish
and local community groups, marching bands
including Luton Irish Forum’s Emerald Pipe Band,
and a few favourite characters!
The Parade travels along Hitchin Road, turning right
onto Station Road, along Station Road to Mill Street,
left onto Guildford Street and right onto Bridge Street.
At the end of Bridge Street, the parade will turn left
onto New Bedford Road, continue onto Manchester
Street, into Upper George Street (where vehicles
will stop) and will finish on Market Hill at 12:45pm
approximately.
See Parade Route map on page 11.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 13FREE
Country and Trad on
Market Hill Outdoor Stage
Sunday 13th March LU1 2AF
10:30am-3:15pm FREE
10:30am MC Gerry Byrne, DJ and
host of Irish Radio
11:00am Brian Burke & friends
Traditional Irish
Music Session
12:50pm Cillian McGoldrick
Irish Dancing World
Championship finalist,
Under-11s
1:00pm Tracey McAuley
Award winning vocalist,
backed by John McNicholl’s Band
1:40pm John McNicholl and Band
Irish World and Hot Country
Award winner
Special Festival performance from
2:40pm
the two country stars singing together
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 15Gerry Taylor
Irish Butcher and Grocer
54 Calverton Road Luton LU3 2SZ
FRESH
Irish Meat & Vegetables
Irish Papers, Potatoes, Soda
Bread, Soft Drinks and Biscuits
Tel: 01582 572810Tracey
McAuley
Sunday 13th March
1:00-1:40pm
2:40-3:00pm with
John McNicholl
Market Hill Stage
FREE
Tracey McAuley has established
herself as a firm favourite with
country music fans not only in
Ireland and the UK but further afield.
Tracey is a star of the hugely popular
Legends of American Country
stage show, watched by more than
350,000 fans live and millions more
on TV, so having her at Luton St
Patrick’s Festival is a real treat.
In addition to singing solo with
John McNicholl’s band, Tracey
will join John for a special Festival
performance.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 17TOUREEN
DESIGN & BUILD
BASEMENTS
RC FRAMES
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GROUNDWORKS
DEMOLITION
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SOLVING COMPLEX CHALLENGES SINCE 1992
TOUREEN GROUP ARE PROUDLY
SPONSORING
LUTON ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL 2022
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
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Toureen Group
TOUREENGROUP.CO.UKJohn McNicholl
& Band
Sunday 13th March
1:40-2:40pm
2:40-3:00pm with
Tracey McAuley
Market Hill Stage
FREE
John McNicholl is a household name
of the Irish country music scene and
we are thrilled to be welcoming him
and his band to Luton St Patrick’s
Festival 2022.
Born in Derry, John’s first album
‘Something Old, Something New’ led
to him winning Best Newcomer at
the Irish World Awards in 2004. Since
then, he has shared a stage with
Daniel O’Donnell and Cliff Richard
at the Kincasslagh Festival, County
Donegal, and has played support to
the legendary Elton John.
John is currently touring Ireland and
England, performing fans’ favourites,
including tracks from ‘Love Songs’, his
sixth and latest studio album.
www.facebook.com/
johnmcnichollofficial/
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 19McCARTHY’S BAR
THE PHOENIX
Traditional Irish pub
Family owned
Live Irish music every weekend
GAA Football & Hurling games
screened every weekend
Beer garden
Outside heated smoking area
Private area with own bar
available to hire for parties
“Great Beer. Great Atmosphere. Great Company.”
Happy St Patrick's from All at The Phoenix!
2 Kelvin Close Luton LU1 3EQ T. 01582 455037
facebook.com/The-Phoenix-Luton-2026285200939400 info@thephoenixluton.com www.thephoenixluton.comJoin the club!
Sign up at our Ask Me Point or at
themall.co.uk to make sure
you don’t miss out on upcoming events
and special treats for kids.The Mall Indoor Stage
Sunday 13th March Smith’s Square,
The Mall Shopping Centre
10:30am-3:30pm FREE
A showcase of Irish Dancing with amazing footwork
and high leaps! Great music and lovely singing
by performers from Luton and Ireland.
MC Jim Carway - DJ and host
10:30am
of Luton Irish Live Show, Diverse FM
11:00am Young@Heart choir
The Walshe Academy of Irish Dancing
11:30am
Olivia Lynn - Country Pop by Luton’s very own
12:00pm
16-year-old highly talented singer and recording artist
Finbarr Conway Academy of Irish Dancing
12:25pm
Luton Ukimaniacs - Luton’s very popular Ukulele Band
12:55pm
Finbarr Conway Academy of Irish Dancing
1:20pm
Cardinal Newman High School Steel Pan group
1:50pm
2:15pm The Tiersha Academy of Irish Dancing
Galway/Sligo Trad Group -
2:45pm
traditional Irish music and dancing
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 23Happy St Patrick’s Day
from All at Flatbase!
Enabling Works Drainage
Temporary Sheet Piling Reinforced Concrete Frames
Bulk Excavation Gabion Walls
Underpinning
Basements & Underground Beam & Block Flooring
Car Parks External Works
T. 01582 585592
enquiries@fbcsltd.co.uk www.fbcsltd.co.ukOlivia Lynn
Sunday 13th March The Mall Indoor Stage
12:00-12:20pm FREE
Olivia Lynn is Luton’s very Country Pop star! Just 16 years
old, she’s topped the Country iTune Charts three times
already, with ‘Modern Girl’, ‘Anchor In The Storm’ and her
latest single ‘I love it’, released just last month (February).
Olivia has an instantly recognisable style and her name is
becoming increasingly known across all platforms. We reckon
it won’t be long before she bursts onto the international
scene so don’t miss out on the opportunity to hear her
singing in her hometown at Luton St Patrick’s Festival.
www.olivialynnofficial.com
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 25ECL CIVIL ENGINEERING
PROUDLY SUPPORTS THIS YEAR’S
LUTON ST. PATRICK’S
FESTIVAL 2022
eclcivils.co.uk
Vanquish House, Wolseley Road,
Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7EF
01582 579812 | info@eclcivils.co.uk ECL CIVIL ENGINEERINGGalway/Sligo Trad
Sunday 13th March The Mall Indoor Stage
2.45pm-3.30pm FREE
Sunday 13th March The Hat Factory
5.30-6.30pm FREE
We’re delighted to welcome back members of
Galway/Sligo Trad Group – multi-talented award-
winning instrumentalists and sean nós dancers.
Emily Greaney from county Galway plays concertina,
harp and also dances. Last year, Emily won
the Under 18 All Ireland harp champion and
with team of set dancers from Abbeyknockmoy
won the All Ireland Scor na nog title.
Eabha McDonagh hails from a family steeped in Irish
musical tradition and plays accordion and melodean.
She is also a keen sean nós dancer who competes in
the Oireachtais na Samhna annually and has won
numerous prizes at the Fleadh, Community Games.
Ryan Sheridan and Conor McDonagh from
Sligo are both All Ireland Champions at Fleadh
Cheoil na hEireann. Ryan is a fourth-generation
musician and was Under 18 Ceili Drum champion
last year as an accomplished accordion and
bodhran player. In addition, he has won numerous
All Ireland titles in sean nós dancing.
Conor McDonagh is an accomplished musician
and at just 16 had already won numerous All
Ireland titles in flute, whistle and drums.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 27C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a
very happy St Patricks Day
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www.jmcmahonltd.co.ukSt Patrick’s After Party
Sunday 13th March The Hat Factory
65-67 Bute Street,
3:00-8:00pm Luton, LU1 2EY
FREE
Continue the St Patrick’s Festival celebrations with Trad, Celtic and
Folk Rock in the Hat Factory. Pop along to the Café to enjoy a session
of traditional Irish and Gaelic music before moving into party mode
with folk-punk, more Trad and dancing, then some ‘phsyco-ceildh’!
Factory Floor
3:00pm DJ Matt Speight from
The Irish Show on L&D Radio
Missing The Ferry -
4:00-5:30pm
Irish folk-punk party band
Neck - the very best of
6:30-7:30pm
London Irish PsychoCeildh
Café
3:00-4:00pm rad Session - traditional Irish and
T
Gaelic music in an informal session
5:30-6:30pm Galway/ Sligo Trad Group -
Irish music and dancing
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 31Missing The Ferry
Sunday 13th March Factory Floor,
The Hat Factory
4.00-5.30pm
FREE
Four second-generation Irish lads who now reside in Luton - three
brothers and their best friend from school - perform a variety of
Irish music as well as writing songs about identity and belonging.
With influences as diverse as Brendan Shine, The Pogues and
The Stone Roses their mission is to get people dancing and
thinking. Anyone who has ever missed, or nearly missed, the
Dublin-bound ferry from Holyhead will get the name.
Don’t be Missing The Ferry yourselves at Luton St Patrick’s Festival!
www.facebook.com/missingtheferry/
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 3301582 564152
mcmorrowconstructionltd@idnet.com
http://www.mcmorrowltd.co.uk/
Plant Hire ● Labour Supply ● Contracts & GroundworkNeck
Sunday 13th March Factory Floor,
The Hat Factory
6:30-7:30pm
FREE
With their heady blend of authentic uplifting Irish swirl and
electric ballsy Punk swagger Neck are the cutting-edge that
scythes incisively through the contemporary Celtic scene - as
befits a band known as ‘The Heavy Artillery of Irish Music’!
The band already have a movie appearance and three album
releases under their belts, with their seminal second album, Sod ‘em
& Begorrah! consolidating them as the cutting-edge of Celtic Punk
– and being rated, variously, the second and third best Celtic Punk
album of all time, behind only The Pogues and Flogging Molly.
Catch Neck’s high-energy show in The Hat Factory and see
why they’re such favourites, particularly at festivals.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 35St Patrick’s Afternoon
Celebration
Thursday 17th March Celtic Club, Chobham
Street, Luton LU1 3BS
11:00am-3:00pm
£6. Tickets available
from Luton Irish
Forum and Celtic Club
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with an afternoon
of music, dance and entertainment!
11.00am Eamon’s Country Sounds
11.00-11.50am Trad Session
12.00-1.10pm Crosskeys - Irish Country
1.20-2.15pm Twirley Chassie - Drag Artiste
2.25p-2.45pm Finbarr Conway Academy
of Irish Dancing
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 37STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FORKLIFT TRUCK TRAINING DRIVER CPC TRAINING LICENCE REFRESHER COURSES HR, PAYROLL & IR35 ADVICE 01582 696959 | office@flexistaffuk.com FIND US! www.flexistaffuk.com
The Story of Saint Patrick
Extract from an article by IrishCentral.com
Saint Patrick is not only the Patron Saint of Ireland, he is also a Patron Saint of
Australia, Nigeria, and Montserrat.
St Patrick becomes the Patron Saint on 17th March in almost every country of
the world, as people celebrate their ‘Irish-ness’ or links with Ireland through
family and friends.
Kidnapping and imprisonment
A 16-year-old Patrick was captured in 403AD by an Irish raiding party
somewhere along the west coast of what is known today as Great Britain. Most
likely he was seized in Scotland because of its proximity to Ireland, although
many would say Wales.
Raiding parties, with warriors known as the ‘Picts’, would land somewhere on
the coast and if the place was inhabited, frequently carry out a ‘smash and
grab job’ of looting. They would grab young people, animals, clothes, weapons,
whatever they wanted, and anyone opposing them would be killed.
Patrick was snatched on one such raid and brought to Ireland as a slave. His job
was to mind the sheep at night so wolves, wild dogs, foxes or even wild bears
could not take them or their lambs. He did this on the slopes of the Slemish
Mountains in County Antrim.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 39Returning home Patrick grew into a young man and was able to escape from slavery six years later. He returned home and later began to realise that he had a vocation to the priesthood or a ministry of prayer in the church. Thinking often about the Irish people, he prayed for their conversion to ‘the faith’. Later, as he said himself in his ‘confessions’, he was tormented by the ‘Voice of the Irish’, who he had heard calling in the night: “Come back to us Patrick”. St Patrick’s great mission Once Patrick was ordained as a priest and had learned Latin and French, he asked to be sent as a missionary to Ireland, or as it was known then, Hiberniae, which means the ‘Land of Winter’. Patrick had a great missionary zeal and soon became Ireland’s second Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. The Catholic Church in Ireland provided the first organised educational infrastructure for a society that previously had none. The monasteries were built and there were plenty of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. The Irish monks became teachers and inventors. They were, in addition to leading the monastic life of prayer, also great builders and craftsmen. Given that there were so many vocations, they began to look at the possibilities of becoming missionaries not only to Europe but to the Americas. St Patrick died in Armagh in 461AD after 29 years as Archbishop in that Archdiocese which now has the Primacy of All Ireland. Saint Patrick and the shamrock It is said St Patrick used the three leaf shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to the pagan Irish during the 5th Century. The tradition of wearing Shamrock on St Patrick’s Day can be traced back to the early 1700s. 40 | FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022
J.J. Kelly & Sons Ltd Building & Civil Engineering Contractors Redlands J.J. Kelly Woodbury Hill Path Managing Director Luton Mobile: 07956 010 061 Bedfordshire LU2 7JR E: john@jjkellyandsons.co.uk Best wishes for St Patrick’s Day Tel:01582 455 406 Fax: 01582 483 164
High-tec CCTV surveys
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High pressure jetting
Fully qualified staff
Combi Jet/VAC Units
24 Hour Service
A1 Drain Solutions
Number 1 in the Number 2 business!
William O’Brien
07735 567595
45 Hillcroft, Dunstable, LU6 1AQ
william@a1drainsolutions.co.ukMore than just Luton
St Patrick’s Festival
Luton St Patrick’s Festival is the biggest cultural highlight of Luton Irish Forum’s
year – but the charity’s team of staff and volunteers do so much more than that
all year long!
Luton Irish Forum (LIF) promotes Irish identity, culture and heritage and
improves the quality of life of all communities in and around Luton by providing
welfare advice; social, cultural and volunteering opportunities; and support
back into employment. The LIF Centre is a fully accessible community building
close to the town centre where services are coordinated and most take place
and which also offers meeting rooms for hire.
The Covid pandemic meant that we had to adapt our services but we are proud
to say that we continued to provide advice and social contact, although via
phone and online for much of the past year.
For more information
please call 01582 720 447
Monday to Thursday 9.30am to
4pm or Friday 9.30am to 3pm
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 43Accredited welfare advice
Luton Irish Forum’s welfare service provides free and confidential advice and
support on all UK benefits including help with applying for welfare benefits,
support to attend face to face assessment and representation at appeals,
assisting people to keep or to secure suitable accommodation, claim Irish
Pensions and returning to Ireland. We also provide advice and a witnessing
service for Irish passport applications.
Welfare benefits is the largest area of work, making up three-quarters (76%) of
all work with the majority (60%) relating to sickness and disability benefits. The
Welfare team helps local people face-to-face in our accessible centre, over the
telephone, by email, and through home visits for those unable to access the
centre due to severe disability.
We are delighted to have achieved the Advice Quality Standard for our Welfare
Case Work once again. To hold the standard organisations must undergo an
independent audit where it’s demonstrated that they are easily accessible,
effectively managed, and employ staff with the right skills and knowledge to
meet the needs of their clients.
£975k secured Almost
in financial gains for clients 100 people
- despite holds and delays were helped to secure
in benefit assessments, their Irish passport.
decisions and appeals.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 45-Groundworks
-Civil Engineering
-Plant Hire
-Builders
-Drainage Repairs
Commercial & Private
All Enquires Welcome
01582 491591 info@civilsluton.com
www.civilsluton.comSocial and cultural groups
Monday to Friday Wednesday
09:30am-4:30pm Wednesday Club including Bingo
Welfare Advice: 11:30am-1:00pm
By appointment Gentle Exercise
New Enquiries: 1:00-2:00pm
Tuesdays 9:30am-12:00pm
Passport Witnessing and Advice: Thursday
By appointment
Tea and Chat
Digital Skills & Employment
10:00-11:30am
Support: By appointment
Choir Practice
2:30pm-3:30pm
Monday
Traveller and Gypsy Friday
Women Drop In
11:00am-1:00pm Baby and Toddler group
(Term times only)
Slimming World*
9:30-11:30am
5:00-9:00pm
Art Class
Musicardo Singing Group*
12:00-2:00pm
7:00-9:00pm
Calligraphy Class by Zoom
(last Friday of month)
Tuesday 2:30-4:30pm
Tuesday Club including bingo
11:30am-1:30pm Sunday
Art Class by Zoom
Pipe Band Practice
11:00am-1:00pm
11:00-1:00pm
Beginners Irish Language Class
7:00-8:00pm
Activities are run by LIF unless
Toddington Poetry Society*
marked*, which are run by an
(2nd Tuesday of month)
external organiser.
8:00-10:00pm
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 47t w i s h e s fo r
Be s
t r i c k ’s D a y
S t P a
Rachel Hopkins MP
Member of Parliament for Luton South
01582 457 774
rachel.hopkins.mp@parliament.uk
Sarah Owen MP
Member of Parliament for Luton North
01582 488 208
sarah.owen.mp@parliament.uk
Promoted by Francis Steer on behalf of Rachel Hopkins MP and Sarah Owen MP
all at 3 Union Street Luton LU1 3ANSt Brigids Day
Celebrating Irish Culture –
with Irish film stars
St Brigid is the female patron saint of Ireland.
Her feast day is 1st February, about halfway
between the winter solstice and the spring
equinox, and which is often seen as the
beginning of spring in Ireland.
Luton Irish Forum members and guests celebrated St
Brigid’s Day 2022 (Lá Fhéile Bríde) on the Saturday before,
29th January, with an online presentation about Irish
Women in the movies and optional Afternoon Tea.
Some 35 attendees watched the presentation including
film clips on a big screen in the LIF centre with another
50+ joining online from home.
Following a special message on behalf of the Irish
Embassy given by Isobel O’Connor, First Secretary at
the Embassy, attendees heard about Irish stars such as
Maureen O’Hara, Brenda Fricker, Angeline Ball and Demi
Isaac Oviawe.
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 49epicpew.com
The audience was fortunate in that one of the
guests was Gerry Molumby Director of the
Triskellion Irish theatre company, who shared his
special memories of meeting and interviewing
Maureen O’Hara in her later years.
Despite a few technical issues with sound, both
viewers in the centre and at home reported having “I learned a lot
a great time at the free event, the sixth annual St about Irish heritage
Brigid’s celebration LIF has organised. and culture”
Tom Scanlon Chairman of Luton Irish Forum
Trustee Board adds that he “Most inspiring and
“hopes we can all be together to enjoy a entertaining”
face-to-face event again next year”.
“Big thank you”
from Nashville, USA
St Brigid’s Day
Lá Fhéile Bríde
A Virtual Afternoon Tea
Luton Irish Forum’s annual
event celebrating Irish women
This year’s St Brigid’s 2022 souvenir
e-Booklet about Irish Women at the
Movies is available at:
www.lutonirishforum.org\st-brigid
Saturday 29th January 2022
– page 1 –
50 | FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022Making a St Brigid’s cross is a traditional ritual to celebrate the beginning of
early spring in Ireland. The crosses are made of rushes that are pulled rather
than cut and the crosses are hung by the door and in the rafters to protect the
house from fire and evil.
Traditionally, a new cross is made each year and the old one is burned to keep
fire from the house. Many homes have several crosses preserved in the ceiling
with the oldest ones blackened by years of hearth fires. Some believe that
keeping a cross in the ceiling or roof is a good way to preserve the home from
fire which was always a major threat in houses with thatch and wood roofs.
St. Brigid and her cross are linked together by the story that she wove this form
of cross at the death bed of either her father or a pagan lord, who upon hearing
what the cross meant, asked to be baptised.
One version goes as follows: “A pagan chieftain from the neighbourhood of
Kildare was dying. Christians in his household sent for Brigid to talk to him
about Christ. When she arrived the chieftain was raving. As it was impossible to
instruct this delirious man, hopes for his conversion seemed doubtful. Brigid
sat down at his bedside and consoled him. The dirt floor was strewn with
rushes both for warmth and cleanliness. Brigid stooped down and started to
weave them into a cross, fastening the points together. The sick man asked
what she was doing. She began to explain the cross, and as she talked his
delirium quieted and he questioned her with growing interest. Through her
weaving, he converted and was baptised at the point of death. Since then the
cross of rushes has been venerated in Ireland.”
Wild Irish Women: Saint Brigid – Mary of the Gaels, irishamerica.com
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 51LIVE MUSIC + GREAT FOOD
SATURDAY 12TH MARCH
The Trad Folk Experience
St Patrick’S Day
With Splitting Rocks HAPPY
SATURDAY 19TH ST PATRICK’S
Jim O’Leary DAY!
Now serving Luton for 31 years!
115 CASTLE STREET, LUTON, LU1 3AL
Happy St Patrick’s day to all our members and friends old and new.
Please remember St Margaret’s when looking for a party venue
— or just somewhere where the craic is good.
stmargarets.luton@yahoo.co.uk T. 01582 734436Luton Digital Skills Project
is part funded by the
European Social Fund
Help to find paid work
Luton Digital Skills and Employment Project is a partnership between
Luton Irish Forum and the Bangladesh Youth League and Diversity
Training and Consultancy. The project supports anyone who is not in
paid work but particularly adults aged 50+ and women, especially from
Irish and other BAME communities, who may be losing out on getting
jobs through lack of digital knowledge or other work skills.
Participants have the advantage of advice and support in many
different ways, both one-to-one and as a group, including the following:
A personal CV writing Digital skills
action plan learning
Jobs search Job applications, Practical ideas and
online support tips and ‘how to’ hints for interviews
FESTIVAL GUIDE 2022 | 53Wishing everyone celebrating a Happy St Patrick’s Day As a business owned for community benefit, we are delighted to be able to support communities to come together and celebrate events such as this. Future LuToN: Our proposed expansion of London Luton Airport What are the upsides? What are the downsides? How would you be affected? Find out more, and have your say. Statutory Consultation: 8 February – 4 April 2022 In-person and online This is an important consultation on the future of our town. Make sure you have your say at lutonrising.org.uk
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