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The Crawley Fleadh 2009, organised by the Celtic & Irish Cultural Society with support funding from the DION fund is a celebration of traditional Irish culture taking place during February and March 2009 in and around Crawley, West Sussex.

Now in its 5th year it's as much about cultural awareness as education and entertainment and will introduce visitors to all facets of Irish culture. It's a festival of varied traditional and modern events in celebration of Irish culture through a variety of different art forms and activities.

It features a music song and dance cabaret night together with history and language lectures and Irish film shows. There are old RTE documentaries originally broadcast in the 60s-70s listed for showing plus tin whistle classes and an Irish cookery course also programmed. Celtic art, music and dance workshops and a theatrical performance are also scheduled to add to this unique mix. There is involvement with some of the Crawley schools with story telling in the junior schools and Celtic design and art and Gaelic games in the senior schools. More information on the Fleadh can be found on www.celtic-irish.co.uk/fleadh

Also included in the month long celebrations is Crawley's 6th Annual St Patrick's Parade on Sunday 22nd March. It starts at approximately 1pm (assembling from 12 noon onwards). It is lead by the Mayor of Crawley and local dignitaries and personalities and takes a route throughout the town starting at Crawley Train Station and finishing in Queens Square where live music and entertainment will follow with performances from local marching and traditional bands and Irish dance schools.

It's not just an Irish only St Patrick's Parade, it's a parade for the community. One for everyone to enjoy, we want to embrace all in the locality and welcome them in to take part in celebrating our World Famous holiday in a way that's very unique.

There is also a special section called the 'nations of the world' where the participants can walk in the parade carrying the flag of their country or geographical region. The more banners the merrier. This always adds fantastic colour to the event. More info on the parade can be found on www.celtic-irish.co.uk/fleadh/st-pats-parade

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