Taking place on Sunday 12th March, Kiely Bros Ltd Presents the Birmingham St. Patrick’s Parade will mark the first year that the Organising Committee has appointed a headline sponsor with naming rights to the day.

The substantial contribution made by the family-run, Birmingham-based business has come at a pivotal time for the parade, and will secure the future of the much-loved community event for another year.

Following the recent cuts made by Birmingham City Council to public community events, the Birmingham St. Patrick’s Festival and Parade is now entirely funded by corporate sponsorship and public donations alone, the largest of which has come from Kiely Bros Ltd.

“As a family-owned, Birmingham-based business, we are proud of both our city, and of our Irish heritage. Kiely Bros employs a significant number local people, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to both secure the future of the Birmingham St Patrick’s Festival & Parade, and give something back to the local community,” a spokesman for the company said.

Last year’s controversial funding cuts from Birmingham City Council saw the Birmingham St. Patrick’s Festival and Parade lose all Council funding, delivering a severe blow to the free community event and putting the future of the city’s iconic event in jeopardy.

Run by a team of dedicated volunteers, the annual celebrations cost over £70,000 to organise each year, with a week-long programme of Fringe Festival events leading up the renowned Parade Day, now recognised as the third largest in the world. Peter Connolly, member of the Birmingham St. Patrick’s Festival Organising Committee, explains: “We are delighted to announce Kiely Bros as our headline sponsor. The parade is hugely important to so many people, it has become a celebration of Irish and Birmingham culture, I can’t imagine it not happening.

“Without the support from stake holders in the city, who have picked up events that the council used to support, the city wouldn’t have celebrations like this. It is with huge relief that we can officially announce the parade will go ahead this year, and it is thanks to Kiely Bros stepping in that we can. We have been working hard over the summer and look forward to announcing all our plans for this years parade very soon!”