SINGER Wayne Devlin, from Urmston, joined a star studded cast on Friday evening as TV and radio presenter Eamonn O'Neal and former Manchester United player Paddy Crerand officially opened the 21st Manchester Irish Festival at Manchester's Town Hall.
The event, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, celebrated the best of Irish in the region.
A traditional Irish pipe band started the proceedings followed by performances by the Limerick concert band, who travelled over from Ireland just for the event. There was Irish dancing from the Manchester Dance School and singer Joe Keegan from TV's The Voice performed a selection of well known Irish classics.
Wayne Devlin performing at the Manchester Irish Festival
Urmston's Wayne Devlin did an a cappella rendition of Danny Boy. He sang some rat pack standards and introduced his new single What Colour Is The Wind, before he then turned off the backing music and gave an emotional vocal performance of his version of Danny Boy.
Elizabeth McDowell, who attended the event, said: "You could have heard a pin drop when Wayne Devlin sang Danny Boy. I've never heard it sung that way and to do it without any music shows amazing talent.
"As I looked around the hall I could see people drying their eyes or just sitting with their jaws wide open. It was truly beautiful to listen to, my personal highlight of the evening."
Further details of the festival at irishfestival.co.uk.
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