AN INAUGURAL festival celebrating all things from the Emerald Isle will take place in the North-East next month thanks to a newly formed Teesside Irish Society.

A host of events will be held venues in Stockton, Darlington and Middlesbrough to coincide with St Patrick's Day to include a range of activities such as Gaelic football, Irish cinema and Irish dancing, backed up to the tune of Irish music.

Venues across the area including the Georgian Theatre, the Arc, Ku Bar and the Storytellers, in Stockton will host events, alongside the Erimus Club, Dorman’s Club, Teesside University, TP Coffee House and Middlesbrough Bowling Club, all in Middlesbrough.

The Britannia Inn, in Darlington, will also take part in the festival between Saturday, March 10, and Saturday, March 17.

Teesside Irish Society member and one of the festival organisers, Éilis Carr said: “Many, many people in the UK have Irish roots – and nowhere more so than here on Teesside.

"Lots of people don’t have to go back too far in their family trees to find an Irish connection.

“We formed the Teesside Irish Society in 2016 to celebrate Teesside’s Irish heritage – and what better way to do that than with a festival showcasing the best of Irish culture for all to see.”

The events across the festival will be a mix or free and paid for sessions open to guests of all ages.

Ms Carr added: "It’s been quite challenge to fit everything into the week – there’s so much that people have come forward with, it’s going to be a very busy week indeed."

The festival begins with at the Georgian Theatre, in Stockton.

For more information, visit the Society's website on teessideirishsociety.org.uk