The Leeds St Patricks Day Parade took place on Sunday 16th March 2025. 

We were joined by thousands for the annual celebration of the Irish in Leeds at Millennium Square.

Created and led by the Irish community, a parade of colourful floats and walking displays departed from 11.00am from Millennium Square and Great George Street, following a city centre route, returning at 12.00. Festivities continued on Millennium Square until 4.00pm.  

Dignitaries

We were honoured to be joined by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung and Vice Consul General of Ireland in Manchester, Miss Deirdre O'Flaherty.

Ribbon cutting to open the parade

We were honoured that the Lord Mayor Leeds, Councillar Abigail Marsall Katung, was our ribbon cutter along with Canon Eugene McGillycuddy and Canon John Nunan.

Tricolour and Banner

This year the St Patrick's Banner and Tricolour was carried by the O'Malley Family in memory of Hugh O'Malley our parade secretary of many years who passed away in 2024.  

A walking display of the county flags of Ireland was carried by members of the Leeds community to honour their families and Irish heritage.

Each year we support a charity and this year we were joined by St Gemma's Hospice and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Floats and parade participants:

For 2025 there were ten creative and colourful floats from groups and schools from across Leeds. 

The parade returned to Millennium Square, and presentations were made to all groups taking part on floats. The winner of the coveted 'Tommy Brennan Cup for Best Float' was Leeds Irish Health and Homes. Congratulations to them!  Floats this year were created by:

• Leeds Irish Health and Homes

• Leeds branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann

• JFK GAA

• Holy Name and St Francis Morley Primary Schools 

• St Patrick's Primary School

• Christ the King and St Urban's Primary Schools

• Joyce O'Donnell Dance School

• Gibbons Academy of Dance School

• St Theresa's Primary School

• St Benedict's Primary School

There were walking displays from St Joseph’s Pudsey and Corpus Christi Primary Schools, Hugh O'Neill's GAA football team and representatives from the Leeds Irish sporting community, St Aelred's Dance Group, The Cordon Academy of Irish Dance, St Nicholas Primary School,  and The Mayo Association.

In addition we are delighted to welcome back the musicians of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Pipe Band, Huddersfield Brass Band and City of Leeds Pipe Band.  

And not forgetting, the amazing tractors and JCB! 

We thank First Bus for joining the spirit of the parade and providing an electric bus for the elders of the community, so they were seated to take part in the parade.

On stage at Millennium Square

Live performances on Millennium Square featured the best of local talent which showcases the rich music and dance heritage of Ireland which flourishes in Leeds.  Joining us on stage were Luke Flear, Leeds Irish Choir,  Leeds branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Sean Harrington, Tommy K the DJ and dancing from Leeds University Union Irish Dancers, Joyce-O'Donnell Dance School, St Aelred's Dancers, Cordon Academy and Gibbons Academy.

Safe and Secure parking for Bicycles

To encourage cycling to the Millennium Square we worked with Leeds Cycling Campaign who provided a supervised pop-up bicycle rack at the foot of Portland Gate beside the Square. Bike's were safely watched over while enjoying the festivities.

For further information contact us by email at  parade@leedsstpatricksdayparade.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.