From parades to art activities, dementia-friendly events to open-air céilís, there is lots to look forward to around the country this St Patrick’s Day. Several events are free, and many areas have programmes running well beyond the day itself, so there really is something for everyone.
Dublin
St Patrick’s Festival takes place from Thursday to Sunday and the parade begins on Friday at 12pm. The city will be alive with art exhibitions, yoga classes, orchestral performances, theatre pieces, walking tours and skiff racing. Festival Quarter at Collins Barracks will host events from Thursday to Saturday in Tent Mór and Tent Beag, and there’s an outdoor main stage, performance spaces, relaxation areas, a mini-funfair and the Irish Food and Craft Village. stpatricksfestival.ie
Limerick
Limerick’s three-day festival takes place this year from Friday to Sunday and its parade kicks off on Friday at noon. There is a free street show on Bedford Row and Thomas Street on Saturday from 12pm to 3pm. It features Wobbly Circus, Hakuna Matata Acrobats, Fanzini Brothers, Stephen McGinley’s crazy circus and Jack Wise’s magical tricks. limerick.ie/stpatricksfestival
Chapel Street in Castlebar, Mayo, will be a noise-free zone to cater for those with additional needs or sensory sensitivities. Photo: Stock/Getty Images
Chapel Street in Castlebar, Mayo, will be a noise-free zone to cater for those with additional needs or sensory sensitivities. Photo: Stock/Getty Images
Galway
The three-day festival runs from Friday to Sunday and its parade will start in Galway city on Friday at 11.30am. A family fun sports day on the prom and in Salthill Park will bring fun to all on Saturday from 12pm to 4pm. Why not rock out to the free outdoor concerts in Eyre Square in the festival village from Friday to Sunday, featuring an array of local musicians and artists. galwaytourism.ie
The Cork St Patrick’s Festival takes place from Thursday to Sunday. The parade begins on Friday at 1pm in the city centre. There’s a free “Saints and Shamrocks” trail for children from Friday to Sunday starting at Nano Nagle Place, and Crawford Art Gallery has free tailor-made tours, a St Patrick’s Day trail, a workshop for children and live traditional music on Friday. corkstpatricksfestival.ie
Kerry
The parade starts at 2pm on Friday, and buildings throughout the whole town will be illuminated in green all week. The Anam Cultural Centre plays host to Irish dancing and a performance byComhaltas from noon to 2pm, and there’s a Kidz Fun Zone on Beech Road from 2.30 until 5pm. stpatricksfestivalkillarney.ie
Kilkenny
The Kilkenny festival takes place from Wednesday to Sunday and the parade begins on Friday at 1.30pm. There’s also street entertainment, interactive shows, carnival rides and food and crafts at the Festival Market. stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com
Bray’s festival runs from Thursday 16 to Monday 20 and includes Bird’s Euroshow Funfair, live music, an open-air céilí, talks, a walk, a treasure hunt and movies by the bandstand
Bray’s festival runs from Thursday 16 to Monday 20 and includes Bird’s Euroshow Funfair, live music, an open-air céilí, talks, a walk, a treasure hunt and movies by the bandstand
Laois
The St Patrick’s Day parade in Portlaoise begins at 12.30pm on Friday. It will be followed by a community event on Main Street, involving street acts, Irish music, Irish dancing and more. laoistourism.ie
Westmeath
Athlone’s Croí na hEireann festival runs from Wednesday to Sunday. The parade will start at 2pm on Sunday and there is free entertainment for young people in the Civic Square and music on the streets. athlone.ie
Waterford
The festival takes place from Thursday to Saturday and the parade begins on Friday at 1pm. There will be music and entertainment on Saturday centred around the city’s three main squares and Cultural Quarter in O’Connell Street. This includes a performance from the Music Generation Harp Orchestra, orienteering, a balance bike track, the Wama drumming band and tunes from Elvis-inspired musicians, Alan Power and the Aftershocks. stpatricksfestivalwaterford.com
Mother DJs will host Cultúr Club at the Festival Quarter at Collins Barracks, Dublin, on Thursday from 6pm. Photo: Stock/Getty
Wicklow
Bray’s festival runs from Thursday 16 to Monday 20 and includes Bird’s Euroshow Funfair, live music, an open-air céilí, talks,a treasure hunt and movies by the bandstand. The parade will kick off on Friday at 2pm from the Town Hall. bray.ie
Derry
The St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival has a programme of music, dance, food and folklore on Friday. The parade takes place at 3pm and the Peace Garden will be transformed into the ‘Magical Land of the Fairies’ from 1pm - 6pm. The Spring Fling Carnival of circus, street theatre and interactive performers takes place in the Craft Village from 1pm – 6pm. derrystrabane.com
Ceol agus craic
Check out the Kilfenora Céilí Band at Cork Opera House on Saturday and the National Concert Hall on Sunday, and Mario Rosenstock’s Gift Grub Live at TLT, Louth, on Thursday and UCH Limerick on Saturday. Kilkenny Tradfest takes place from Wednesday to Sunday, while Tommy Fleming performs tomorrow at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Moving Hearts and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra are there also on Friday and Saturday.
'Hangmen' by Martin McDonagh will be on at the Gaiety Theatre
LGBTQ+
Mother DJs will host Cultúr Club at the Festival Quarter at Collins Barracks, Dublin, on Thursday from 6pm. A diverse array of live, DJ and drag talent will be joined by creatives and performers, including Panti Bliss with her Dancing with the Stars partner, Denys Samson. Géilí, the queer céilí, will be hosted by PJ Kirby with help from RiverDrag, a collection of quick-stepping drag superstars. motherclub.ie
Smallies
The Ark in Dublin’s Temple Bar is hosting free drop-in creative spaces all week where children aged 5-12 can learn about their rights by participating in different art activities. ark.ie
If you’re in Limerick, The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is a theatrical treat for children aged 5+, taking place at Lime Tree Theatre on Saturday at 11am and 1pm. limetreetheatre.ie
The Ark in Dublin’s Temple Bar is hosting free drop-in creative spaces all week where children aged 5-12 can learn about their rights by participating in different art activities
The Ark in Dublin’s Temple Bar is hosting free drop-in creative spaces all week where children aged 5-12 can learn about their rights by participating in different art activities
Theatre
Great Irish shows taking place this week include Horse Play by Eva O’Connor at Glass Mask Theatre in Dublin; Hangmen by Martin McDonagh at the Gaiety Theatre; Frank McGuinness’s Tartuffe at the Abbey Theatre and Reggie’s Guide to Social Climbing at The Everyman, Cork.
Dementia-friendly events
Tea Dance Tunes will take place at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Tuesday at 11.30am. It gives people living with dementia and their carers and families a concert of favourite songs and music. nch.ie
A lovely afternoon of music, chats, craic and Irish dancing will be held at Chapel Gate Café in Ballincollig on Thursday from 4-6 pm. It is hosted by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland for people living with dementia, their carers and families. alzheimer.ie
Autism-friendly parades
Chapel Street in Castlebar, Mayo, will be a noise-free zone to cater for those with additional needs or sensory sensitivities. Music, horns, whistles and flashing lights will be turned off and interactions between street performers and the audience will be kept to a minimum.
Over in Wicklow, there will also be a quiet zone at the junction of Quinsborough Road and Seymour Road for the Bray parade.
