The Liverpool Irish Festival

The Guinness Liverpool Irish Festival is a unique annual celebration of the historic and cultural links between Merseyside and Ireland.

The festival, now in its seventh year, was officially launched last Thursday at the Philharmonic Hall and included entertainment from Irish comedian-poet, Racker Donnelly while guests were treated to special Liverpool Irish Festival sausages, created by local butchers AR Tyms.

The organised events will be taking place at venues across the city and includes music, theatre, poetry and film.

This year's festival highlights include Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Michael McGoldrick, a Gaelic football exhibition game and controversial punk poet Jinx Lennon.

Throughout the festival there will also be a strong emphasis on community and education programmes, with a number of events taking place at Liverpool university's Institute of Irish Studies.

The Liverpool Irish Festival is on now, and runs until 1^st November. For ticket and event information please visit www.liverpoolirishfestival.com.