Rochdale raises the flag for St Patrick!

Having already had the hugely successful family fun day at Richmond Hall last Sunday - Rochdale is marking St Patrick's Day by flying the Irish Flag on Rochdale Town Hall. Leader of Rochdale Council - Cllr. Paul Rowen will be joined in a special ceremony to raise the flag this Thursday at 9.30am with Mayor - Cllr. Angela Coric and Mayoress Kath Rowen-Pennington.

Cllr. Paul Rowen said, "I am delighted that as a Council we are supporting the Irish Community here in Rochdale by flying the Irish Flag. The Irish Community are an important part of our multi-cultural town, indeed my mum, the Mayoress is from County Limerick and I know she is proud to see the flag flying for the day. I am also looking forward to raising the flag of St George on April 23th."

Two Rochdale Bands are getting nervous about St Patrick's Day and that's not because of a Guinness Induced hangover. Dry Rising and The High, rock bands from Rochdale will be taking it easy this Thursday. Both bands have made it through to the final of a prestigious music competition - part of the Manchester Irish Festival. The winners will walk off with nearly two thousand pounds worth of prizes and a step up the ladder of fame.

Cllr. Rowen, who will be attending the final at the Palace Nightclub in Levenshulme said, "I wish both bands well - I know that a huge contingent of people from Rochdale will be attending. The very fact that two-thirds of the finalists are from the Rochdale area speaks volumes for the talent in our area - over 300 bands from across the UK entered the competition."