REVELLERS will be able to drink a pint or two and soak up some Celtic sounds this weekend with the launch of Bolton's first Irish Festival.

Manchester-based Irish group Tara O'Carolan And Her 15 Piece Traditional Irish Band will be touring pubs in Bolton on Friday and Saturday night to kick start a year of awareness about Bolton's Irish history.

The band will be accompanied by local guest musicians starting at noon tomorrow at The Brass Cat in Churchgate.

They will then move on to The Three Crowns, in Deansgate, and then The Swan, in Churchgate, until 8pm On Sunday, the band will start at noon again following the same route but then splitting, with half going to The New Bergeracs, in Bank Street, and the other half going to the Irish Centre, in Lever Street.

The weekend has been organised by Bolton's Irish Heritage and Cultural Society and is part of a heritage lottery funded project that seeks to bring Irish culture and traditions to Bolton. It is also supported by Bolton Council's Tourism Unit.

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, executive member for development said: "I wish the first Bolton Irish Featival every success. We, like the organisers, hope it will become an annual fixture."

Sharon Oakes, a member of the society, said: "This is the launch of a year long project to make people in aware there is an organisation available for people who want to learn about Irish heritage."

During the course of the year there will be training workshops on photography, oral history and video history.

In March 2007 there will be a photographic exhibition, the launch of a booklet and a digital film about the contribution the Irish have made to the history and culture of Bolton.

All the completed material will be achieved and stored at Bolton museum and library.

For more information about the society contact Sharon on 07814509952.