Ireland’s cultural heritage is being celebrated in a week of events as part of the World Mile initiative.

Supported by Bradford Council, the initiative was launched 18 months ago to promote the city’s diverse economy and provide opportunities for new multicultural businesses.

The World Mile comprises a range of specialist shops stretching from White Abbey Road to the city centre.

As well as providing opportunities for new businesses, the World Mile aims to develop Bradford’s reputation as a live music venue and promote clubs such as the Bradford Irish Club.

The club kicks off the celebrations on Saturday with the Flaherty Party, when members of the Flaherty family – Terence, Dennis, David, Kevin, Ryan, Gerard, Vincent and Margaret, Kathleen and Patricia and their brother, Bradford Irish club vice-chairman Michael – will be reunited for the first time since completing the London Marathon in 2004.

The family ran their way into the record books as the biggest family to run a marathon and raised £33,000 for Macmillan Cancer Care.

On Sunday, there will be an Irish dancing demonstration at the Rebecca Street club, and on St Patrick’s Day, Irish band Wild Geese will perform.

The Topic Folk Club, one of the oldest such clubs in the world, formed out of the students’ union in the Fifties, will be joining in the celebrations when their weekly Thursday meeting at the Irish Club takes on an Irish theme. Themed quizzes and games will also be running throughout the week, and on Friday Irish jazz musician Brendan Duffy will perform.

Michael Flaherty said: “In 1880 a census showed 80 per cent of Bradford’s population were Irish immigrants. Bradford was built by the Irish.”

He said he hoped the event would revitalise the club and encourage more members of the Irish community to come and support them. “A lot of the Irish community know there is a place where people can come and enjoy some Guinness!” he said.