Conor McGregor’s Forged Irish stout is coming to a VIP bar in Kings Heath, Birmingham

Conor McGregor, MMA champion and owner of the award-winning Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin, has announced that the first ever Forged Irish Stout VIP Bar in the UK will debut at Páirc Festival 2023 at the New Irish Centre in Kings Heath during the August Bank Holiday.

The first ever VIP Bar from Forged Irish Stout, that has previously been exclusive to Conor’s bar in Dublin, will be available to Páirc Festival VIP ticket holders, who will be able taste the famous stout and party with Forged in the Páirc Festival VIP Area.

Páirc Festival is on track to be the biggest celebration of Irish music and culture in the UK, bringing together the best talent to the outdoor grounds of the former Stadium Club on August  26 and 27.

Páirc Festival supports two charities this year, following an anonymous donation from a local Irish businessman. The anonymous donor passed the opportunity to two deserving charities, Betel UK and the Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity who will be fundraising on the day.

The much-anticipated celebration of Irish music and culture, will bring multiple performances celebrating the link between Birmingham and Ireland across a two day celebration!

Line Up includes headliners Van Morrison(Saturday), andThe Waterboys(Sunday)with support coming from; Mary Black, Nathan Carter, The Fureys, The High Kings, Derek Ryan, All Folk’d Up, Ceol, Mary Coughlan, and much more!

Connor McGregor shared news with his fans via social media and offered a preview of what attendees can expect from the bespoke VIP Forged Irish Stout bar.

Ciaran Healy, Páirc Festival co-owner and  organising team said: “We are thrilled to be working with Forged Irish Stout at Páirc Festival, and we are honoured to debut the first ever VIP Forged Irish Stout bar in the UK. It is a bespoke design and I can tell you it is pretty special!"

"It’s a massive pleasure to bring the best of Irish performances to Birmingham, Páirc is about celebrating culture, music and traditions and we hope as many people come out to support the festival and have a good time as possible.’

"We are really thankful for the support we have received, we have been touched to have received an anonymous donation which allows us to support two great local charities. To have the support of organisations like Tourism Ireland Flannery, Forged Irish Stout, is amazing. This year is going to be special and we can’t wait to show everyone what we have been working on.”

Páirc Festival line up times

Saturday will be a showcase of Irish talent with Van Morrisonheadlining and fellow national treasure Mary Blacktaking to the stage. Also joining Páirc Festival on Saturday is Irish country music’s golden boy Derek Ryan.  Joining the stage will be Galway singer-songwriter Mary Coughlanand All Folk’d Up, who will be playing their eclectic mix of classic Irish sounds with their own modern twist. Birmingham Irish talent for Saturday will be represented by performers Danny Darcy, On the Sesh, Bang on the Earand Cairde.

Here are the line up times for Saturday:

• 11.45am Bang on the Ear
• 13:00 The Father Teds
• 14:15 Mary Coughlan
• 15:45 All Folk’d Up
• 17:15 Derek Ryan
• 18:45 Mary Black
• 20:30 Van Morrison
• 22:05 Danny Darcy

On Sunday, Páirc will be headlined by The Waterboysand returning country talent Nathan Carter.Playing the legends slot,will be beloved Irish folk band The Fureys, the group who have been entertaining audiences worldwide for more than 40 years with iconic hits I Will Love You, When You Were Sweet 16and The Green Fields of France. Sunday will also see The High Kingstake to the Páirc stage. The Dublin band have enjoyed enormous success in their careers so far, including a recent performance on the Empire State Building for St Patrick’s Day and the release of their latest album “The Road Not Taken”.

Sunday’s celebrations will also include a special performance from The Legend of Luke Kelly, created and performed by the renowned Chris Kavanagh that takes audiences on a journey through Luke’s music as well as exciting new Irish talents, Ceol. The day will be rounded off with performances from Birmingham Irish performers The Father Teds.

Organisers are also pleased to confirm a second traditional music stage, programmed in partnership with national charity and local organisation Birmingham Irish Association and programmed by Birmingham Trad Fest

Here are the line up times for Sunday

• 11:25 Cairde
• 12:25 On The Sesh
• 13:50 Legend of Luke Kelly
• 15:10 Ceol
• 16:40 The Fureys
• 18:10 The High Kings
• 19:45 Nathan Carter
• 21:30 The Waterboys

What else is happening at Páirc Festival

Attendees can expect Páirc Festival’s street food village, the Forged Irish Stout VIP Area, the Trad Stage, Irish dancing,market stalls celebrating local makers and traditional Irish produce. Plus outdoor bars, beer tents and the Páirc Awards, a ceremony honouring those that have made exceptional contributions to the Irish community in Birmingham.

Can I still get tickets to Páirc Festival

Tickets for Páirc Festival are available on the Páirc Festival website, however, organisers are expecting a sell out and attendees are encouraged to purchase now to avoid disappointment - get your tickets at: Páirc Festival tickets

Road closures in place for Páirc Festival

The festival’s organisers have confirmed a limited number of road closures will be in place while the festival takes place this weekend. On both Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August, Wheelers Lane and Barn Lane will be closed throughout the day. Wheelers Lane will be closed from 10am to 11pm, and Barn Lane will also be closed from 10am to 11pm. For more information about the festival, please visit the websitepaircfestival.com or social media @paircfestival.