Highlights of the festival, which will be opened by Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, include the Festival Market on Albert Square and the St Patrick's Parade on Sunday, March 16, which last year attracted more than 150,000 revellers.
And there'll be plenty of new music, workshops, comedy and light entertainment to keep you entertained every night of the week.
Here's our guide to the Irish Festival.
Fri 7 ' Mon 17
Live Entertainment - O' Shea's Irish Bar, 80 Princess Street, M1 (236 3096).
Irish Festival Menu - Claddagh Caf', Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 (248 7331).
Friday 7
Nickie James and CIA Quiz - Irish World Heritage Centre, 10 Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, M8 (205 4007).
Barrel of Laughs - With comedian Brendan Riley. Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street, M4 (236 9805).
Brendan Shine - Heywood Civic Hall, Heywood (01706 624104).
Sean Cuddy - St Kentigern's Social Club, Fallowfield, M14 (224 2033).
Sharon, Aiden and the Strangers - English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, M15 (226 1107).
Irish DJ - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove, M4 (835 1210).
Saturday 8
Sean Wilson - Irish World Heritage Centre, 10 Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, M8 (205 4007).
Sharon, Aiden and the Strangers - English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, M15 (226 1107).
Festival Launch - Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, M2. 7.30pm.
Barrel of Laughs - With comedian Brendan Riley. Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street, M4 (236 9805).
Six Nations Rugby Action and an Irish DJ - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy rove, M4 (835 1210).
Kathryn Timoney - Printwork's Stage, Printworks, Withy Grove, M4.
Peter Mylett 'The Mayoman' - Chorlton Irish Club, High Lane, Chorlton, (881 2898).
Festival Party Night - DJs and loads of give aways. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme, (257 2484).
Sunday 9
Faintin' Goats - St Kentigern's Social Club, Fallowfield M14 (224 2033).
Irish History Walk - With Michael Herbert beginning at Oxford Road Station, Oxford Road, M1. 11am.
Live Music - Ceile House, Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 (248 7884).
Stiff Little Fingers - Manchester Academy, Oxford Road, M13 (275 2930).
Zany Greg's Quiz - Bowling Green, Chorlton, M21 (860 2804).
Irish Festival Disco - The Horseshoe, 12 Chapel Street, Levenshulme, M19 (225 6976).
Temple Bar Club Night - From Westlife to U2. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme, (257 2484).
Monday 10
Irish Ferries Quiz - Fiddler' Green, Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (224 2254).
YGG Charity Concert - Previous entrants of the competition return to the Palace in aid of St Francis House Children's Hospice. Hosted by GMR's Alan Keegan who will be broadcasting live. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme (257 2484).
Mustang - Ceile House, Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (248 7884).
Tuesday 11
Set Dancing - English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South M15 (226 1107).
Irish Community Care - St Richard's Parish Centre, Sutcliffe Avenue, Longsight M12 (224 1498). Sean's Bit O' Blarney Quiz - The Albert, 454 Wilmslow Road, Withington, M20 (445 4757).
Zany Greg's Quiz - Bowling Green, Chorlton, M21 (860 2804).
Live Music from the Gallery - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove, M4 (835 1210).
Kathryn Timoney - Printwork's Stage, Printworks, Withy Grove M4.
Live Entertainment - Mulligan's, 12 Southgate M3 (288 0006).
Introduction to Irish Language and Lally School of Dancing - Chorlton Irish Club, High Lane, Chorlton M21 (881 2898).
Peter Kay Comedy Film Festival - Footage of the comic of Irish descent. Hennigan's Sport's Bar, Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (257 2484).
Wednesday 12
Line Dancing Lessons - English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, M15 (226 1107)
Danjo No Banjo - The Albert Inn, 454 Wilmslow Road, Withington, M20 (445 4757).
Manchester United v Basil - Big screen football. Hennigan's Sport's Bar, Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 (257 2484) and at The Pack Horse, 861 Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (224 4355).
Thursday 13
Hazel O'Connor - The 'Breaking Glass' singer with a live set. Life, Peter Street M2 (833 3000).
Line Dancing and JK Dance (under 8s) - St Richard's Parish Centre, Sutcliffe Avenue, Longsight M12 (224 1498)
YGG Unsigned Final - The annual 'Young, Gifted and Green' new talent competition final. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme (257 2484).
Comedy and the Craic - Comedy and Irish curry. Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street M4 (236 9805)
The Buzz - Archie Kelly, stand up and Phoenix Nights' Kenny. The Buzz, The Southern Hotel, Nell Lane, Chorlton M21 (08702 401170).
The Snappers - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove M4 (835 1210).
Green Idols - The Packhorse, 861 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 (224 4335).
Irish Festival Quiz - The Horseshoe, Levenshulme, M19 (225 6976).
Irish Kareoke - Horse and Jockey, Chorlton Green, Chorlton M21 (881 6494).
Friday 14
Tony Sullivan, Around the Fire and Dermot Hegarty - Irish World Heritage Centre, 10 Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, M8 (205 4007).
Declan Nerney - St Kentigern's Social Club, Fallowfield, M14 (224 2033).
Toss the Feathers - Special reunion gig for the classic Irish folkers. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme M19 (257 2484).
The Pantry - Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square M2.
Barrel of Laughs - With Irish comedians Eddie Bannon and Michael Dempsey. Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street M4 (236 9805).
Billy Mack - The Albert, 454 Wilmslow Road, Withington M20 (445 4757).
Irish Disco - Ceile House, Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (248 7884).
Waxy's First Birthday - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove M4 (835 1210).
Fri 14 - Sun 16
Irish Entertainment - Asda, Hulme, M15.
Fri 14-Mon 17
Irish Festival Market - Albert Square, M2.
Live Music - Beer Tent, Albert Square, M2
Saturday 15
Art Supple - Irish World Heritage Centre, 10 Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, M8 (205 4007).
Heartbeat - English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, M15 (226 1107).
Mustang - St Richard's Parish Centre, Sutcliffe Avenue, Longsight M12 (224 1498).
Sharon, Aiden and the Strangers - St Kentigern's Social Club, Fallowfield, M14 (224 2033).
Celtic Connections - Guided walk. People's History Museum, Left Bank, Bridge Street, M3 (839 6061).
Sham Rock and Roll - Six bands perform. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme M19 (257 2484).
Barrel of Laughs - With Irish comedians Eddie Bannon and Michael Dempsey. Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street M4 (236 9805).
Irish Education Conference - Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square M2.
Irish Rovers - Ceile House, Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (248 7884).
David Holmes and the Free Association - Manchester Academy, Oxford Road M13 (275 2930).
Kathryn Timoney - Printwork's Stage, Printworks, Withy Grove M4.
The Snappers plus Irish DJ - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove M4 (835 1210).
Pat Hayes and Sea Change - Chorlton Irish Club, High Lane, Chorlton, M21 (881 2898).
Irish Disco - The Packhorse, 861 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 (224 4335).
Sunday 16
Flight of Earls and Whiskey in the Jar - Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, M8 (205 4007).
Colin Reid Trio - Bury Met, Market Street, Bury, BL9 (761 2216).
Martin Cuffe and St Patrick's Lunch - St Kentigern's Social Club, Fallowfield, M14 (224 2033).
Sharon, Aiden and the Strangers - English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, M15 (226 1107).
Gaelic Mass - Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, M8 (205 4007).
Festival Parade - From Cheetham Hill into the City Centre.
The Pantry - Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square M2.
Quare Comedy - Rocking music from Quare Craic plus Irish comedians. Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street M4 (236 9805)
Moy Singers - Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Cheetham Hill M8 (205 4007)
God Save Ireland Walk - People's History Museum, Left Bank, Bridge Street M3 (839 6061)
Tom Howley - Ceile House, Stockport Road, Levenshulme,M19 (248 7884)
Rick Jackson plus Irish Food and Drink ' Bowling Green, Chorlton M21 (860 2804)
Zion Marching Band and Kathryn Timoney - Printwork's Stage, Printworks, Withy Grove M4
Manchester Schools Unite - Club night for 11-17 year olds. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme M19 (257 2484).
Pre St Patrick's Day Disco - The Horseshoe, Levenshulme M19 (225 6976)
Live Entertainment - Mulligan's, 12 Southgate M3 (288 0006)
Joe Casserley Disco - St Kentigern's Social Club, Fallowfield M14 (224 2033)
Live Irish Music and Celtic Disco - The Packhorse, 861 Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (224 4335).
Monday 17
Shylo - Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Cheetham Hill M8 (205 4007).
Annual Ball - Palace Hotel Ballroom, Oxford Street M1 (288 1111).
Sharon, Aiden and the Strangers - English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, M15 (226 1107).
Sean Cuddy - Palace Hotel Ballroom, Oxford Street M1 (288 1111).
Dennis and the New Exiles ' St Kentigern's Social Club, Fallowfield M14 (224 2033).
Castlemore Ceile Band - Moat House Hotel, Bolton (01204 879988).
BBC GMR's Alan Keegan - host's the St Patrick Night's celebrations. Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme M19 (257 2484).
The Pantry - Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square M2.
Green, Hot, Raw - The comedy club's amateur night. Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street M4 (236 9805).
Black Bush and Green Hot Clover - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove M4 (835 1210).
Live Entertainment - Mulligan's, 12 Southgate M3 (288 0006).
Rancher's Showband and Lally School of Dancing - Chorlton Irish Club, High Lane, Chorlton M21 (881 2898).
The Irish Connection - Special screening of Granada TV's six part series on Levenshulme's Irish community. Hennigan's Sport's Bar, Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (257 2484).
St Patrick's Special - Live Irish Music and Disco. The Packhorse, 861 Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 (224 4335).
Tuesday 18
Irish Language Classes and Set Dancing Classes - Chorlton Irish Club, High Lane, Chorlton, (881 2898).
Zany Greg's Quiz - Bowling Green, Chorlton, M21 (860 2804).
Chain Reaction - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove, M4 (835 1210).
Deportivo La Coruna v Manchester United - Big screen football. Hennigan's Sport's Bar, Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 (257 2484).
Thursday 20
Black Bush - Waxy O'Connors, Printworks, Withy Grove M4 (835 1210).
Green Idols - The Packhorse, Levenshulme M19 (224 4355).
Friday 21
Snooker Festival Cup - Ireland versus England with Joe Snail and Ken Doherty on the shamrock side and roses Jimmy White and Paul Hunter cueing up for the English. Armitage Centre, Moseley Road, Fallowfield, M14 Tickets available from O'Sheas's (236 3906). 7pm. '15.
Saturday 22
Brendan Shine - Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, M8 (205 4007).
Ed Byrne - Alanis Morrisette's nemesis and one of the best comedians to come out of Ireland. Tameside Hippodrome, Oldham Road, Ashton under Lyne (308 3223).
Sunday 23
Daniel O'Donnell and Mary Duff - Your Grannie's favourite, jumper sporting songster. Manchester Apollo, Stockport Road, Ardwick Green M12 (242 2560/08706 077429).
Charlie Landsborough - Tameside Hippodrome, Oldham Road, Ashton under Lyne (308 3223).
Call 0161 225 0706 for further details of all events. Tweet