Rough Diamond to raise St Patrick Flag

Rochdale actor Ben Davies will be joining the Mayor of Rochdale and Senior Councillors next Friday 16 March to officially start the Borough’s St Patrick’s Day Celebrations.  The young Rochdale-based actor, whose grandparents hail from County Dublin shot to fame earlier this year with his acclaimed part in BBC 1’s Flagship Sunday Evening Programme 'Rough Diamond'.  He will be officially raising the St Patrick’s Flag outside Rochdale Town Hall to officially start the St Patrick’s Day Celebrations.

Rough Diamond, set in Dublin and made by the producers of "Ballykissangel" has achieved huge ratings and Ben, one of the stars has achieved rave reviews for his portrayal of "Jonah’, a lad from Manchester who has gone over to Ireland to find his dad. His mum has a new man in her life and has just given birth to twins, so Jonah is feeling pretty isolated and does a moon light flit to Ireland.

Ben, from Turf Hill said: "I am extremely proud of both my Rochdale and Irish roots and it was great to spend a few months in Dublin filming the first series not far from where my grandparents are from.  I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Mayor of Rochdale and other dignitaries raising the St Patrick’s Day Flag.  The series has gone down a storm in Rochdale and I am stopped everywhere I go but I am loving it."

Rochdale MP, Paul Rowen, whose mother hails from County Limerick and is the man behind the raising of the flag said, "We hope as many people can come to the Town Hall at 2.45pm next Friday to start the St Patrick’s weekend celebrations.  I am especially happy that Ben will be joining us, we are immensely proud of his meteoric rise to fame.  He is an example to all young people in Rochdale.  Here in Rochdale we are keen to celebrate our diverse community and this is just one example of this."

Anyone wanting to attend on Friday can turn up outside Rochdale Town Hall at 2.45pm, where there will be live entertainment and the raising of the flag.  To perform at the ceremony please contact Paul Rowen MP’s Office on 01706 712 186.

Date article online: 08/03/2007