THE rich cultural and historical heritage of Belfast's Sailortown district will be celebrated during an eight-hour live-streamed event on St Patrick's Day.
St Joseph's Church, which has been the centre of an ongoing community driven restoration, will be the focus of the event, which will feature music, dancing, storytelling and art.
U105 presenter Johnny Hero will host the event from 2pm to 10pm, which will include performances from Dalriada Folk, Anthony Toner, Barnbrack, The String Ninjas, the Ferris School of Irish Dancers among many others.
Despite a campaign by parishioners, the Catholic church closed St Joseph's in 2001.
The Sailortown Regeneration group managed to secure a lease on the building in 2006 and have been restoring both the fabric of the building and its cultural heritage ever since.
Project manager Terry McKeown said the St Patrick’s Day event will mark a turning point for the efforts of many past and present residents of the area.
"For years we have been collating, collecting and recording the heritage of Sailortown to keep alive the memories and history, and the future of the area," she said.
"It's about bringing people back to showcase the creative talent that's in Belfast and celebrating the transformation of the chapel on the quays to a community hub."
The landmark event has been funded by Intercom, The Executive Office and The Community Relations Council. Sailortown Regeneration is also supported by the National Lottery.
Meanwhile, RTÉ is to broadcast a Late Late Show St Patrick's Night Special, featuring "the cream of Irish traditional music".
Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains and members from The Corrs, Clannad and Stockton's Wing are set to perform alongside concertina player Edel Fox, violinist Zoë Conway and renown uilleann piper, flute and whistle player, Louise Mulcahy.
Brendan Gleeson will also be among the guests on Wednesday night.
Host Ryan Tubridy has promised "the lockdown session to end all lockdown sessions".
"We need a party, so we're going to bring it to you."
The RTÉ presenter said the programme will also feature contributions from "the diaspora".
The Late Late Show St Patrick's Night Special, will be broadcast on RTÉ One from 9:30pm on Wednesday.
