St Patrick’s Day: A national day of celebration as parades across the country draw big crowds

Inclusivity, courage and Irish pride were the dominant parade themes as thousands braved March showers to attend St Patrick's Day festivities nationwide.

Parades wildly celebrated recent Irish successes including the performance of Irish trainers at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival - and Ireland's rugby heroes who chase both a Grand Slam and Triple Crown as they face England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in the Six Nations Championship.

Dozens of parades also featured donkeys - both four-legged and two-legged - to honour the success of the Irish film, 'Banshees of Inisherin', and the 'greening' of Hollywood. 

From earlier today, thousands had gathered on O’Connell Street in Dublin for the parade.

The city came to life, filled with revellers from all over the globe, some dressed head to toe in green.

The rain hadn’t dampened spirits and it was clear from earlier today this is going to be the biggest event since 2019.

Meanwhile Cork staged the biggest parade in its history while, in towns and cities stretching from Galway to Kerry and Waterford, support for Ukraine and Kyiv's blue-and-yellow flags were everywhere to be seen.

Parades in major cities and towns like Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Killarney, Tralee and Clonmel were noticeable for their large international participation, particularly from the United States.

Cahir - where one-in-three local residents were born outside Ireland - celebrated its diversity with one of the most colourful parades ever staged.

Dingle, as was traditional, kicked-off the St Patrick's Day festivities with its 6am parade - the first staged in Ireland.

DUBLIN

Around 450,000 people turned out for the biggest St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin since 2019, as families and friends gathered to green the streets of the capital.

Dubliners and tourists from across the globe soaked up the atmosphere in Dublin city, as music and dancing brought the city to life.

The parade, featuring 4,000 participants, this year represented community, diversity, youth and sustainability.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, were guests of honour at the parade along with international guest of honour, Dallas actor Patrick Duffy, who arrived in a 1965 Cadillac Coupe De Ville convertible, ensuring a spot of American cool was on display.

Mr Duffy was presented with an emerald green cake to mark his 74th birthday, before the parade started and it appeared his wish came half true. “I’m making a wish, no rain,” the actor said, as he blew out the candles. Throughout the parade, there was a little drizzle but the crowds avoided a deluge.

Mr Duffy’s grandfather emigrated from Ireland to America in 1920 and he proudly paid a tribute to his heritage.

The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Football were Grand Marshal for this year’s parade, led by manager Vera Pauw, defender Diane Cauldwell and former player Paula Gorham, who scored a hat-trick on her Ireland Women's Senior debut.

Earlier, artistic director of the St Patrick’s Day Festival Karen Walsh said this year’s Dublin parade was set to be the most “ambitious” one ever.

Ms Walsh said the ‘We Are One’ theme for this year’s celebrations reminds people to be kind and embrace all cultures this St Patrick’s Day.

OFFALY

Tullamore celebrated the 40th year of its St Patrick’s Day with a display of colour, music and a few surprises.

Heavy rain throughout the morning had led to doubts over the crowds that would attended but as if right on queue it stopped as the clock struck 11.30pm and proceedings got underway.

The theme this year was Tidy Towns, leading many entrants to focus their floats on the environment.

Hundreds of children took part representing local schools and GAA clubs including Tullamore, Geashill, Shamrocks and Ballinamere.

One of the biggest floats was brought forward by the local Tidy Towns committee themselves. It featured a massive display of nature and biodiversity on the back of truck.

Local music groups including the Clara Town Band provided the entertainment.

KERRY

Ireland's tourism 'Mecca', Killarney, decided to make its renowned visitor experience the focus with a parade theme of 'Killarney, Experience More'.

Retired Garda Cathal Walshe was honoured with the role of parade grand marshal to honour his lifetime of commitment to Killarney sporting and cultural groups.

St Patrick's Festival Chairman Paul Sherry said Mr Walshe had devoted over five decades of service to Killarney town - as he also welcomed the expanded participation in the local parade.

Cork-born Community Garda Mary Gardiner ensured the Rebels had something to celebrate in the Kingdom when she was honoured with the grand marshal role at the Tralee parade.

The honour was given to recognise the enormous community work that Garda Gardiner has accomplished - not least with the incredible fundraising she undertook for cancer charities after she was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Dingle, as is traditional, staged one of Ireland's first parades on St Patrick's Day with the Dingle Fife and Drum band marching along the main street from 6am.

The tradition of an early morning parade in west Kerry dates back to the late 19th Century when large gatherings were banned by British authorities during daylight hours to control Land War agitation.

Technically, Baile na nGall in Kerry claims the honour of the first parade in Europe - with musicians and artists gathering at midnight at T.P. O'Conchúir's pub to usher in St Patrick's Day,

CORK

The Cork city parade was the largest ever staged with 3,500 participants and 55 different groups as the Sanctuary Runners served as grand marshals. A crowed of an estimated 60,000 attended it.

Cork celebrated a full return to parade normality after the Covid-19 pandemic with a huge international contingent taking part led by the University of Florida Gator marching band and the Grandview High School Wolf Pride band from Denver, Colorado.

The west Cork village of Courtmacsherry decided to go one better - and combined its traditional street display with a special sea parade by local boats.

The Fermoy parade had John Murphy as its grand marshal to honour his lifetime of commitment to local community development.

Fermoy's parade also had loud cheers for local groups working to support integration - with people born in over 40 countries taking part in the Fermoy parade.

In Mallow, special tribute was paid at the parade to local sports volunteer Michael 'Fox' O'Sullivan for his inclusion in the Irish basketball hall of fame.

Bantry celebrated Irish music with over two hours of street performances before holding its traditional parade.

Hazel Vickery served as grand marshal and the town will also stage a special 'Leprechaun Walk' on Saturday.

Castletownbere also focused firmly on Irish music with piper Etienne Baranger leading the parade through the town.

Not to be outdone, Clonakilty mixed traditional Irish music with brass bands and pipe groups in keeping with its parade theme of 'Cool Clon.'

Clonakilty - one of Ireland's first FairTrade towns - chose its parade theme to highlight the urgency of the climate crisis.

Dunmanway staged its parade with the theme of 'Irish folklore' - and emphasised its inclusivity with a special autism-friendly stretch to offer reduced noise levels so that children and adults with the condition could still enjoy the parade.

The village of Kealkill enthusiastically celebrated its first parade in four years after the Covid-19 pandemic.

WATERFORD

Waterford city celebrated one of its biggest parades in modern times with boxer Kelyn Cassidy serving as parade grand marshal.

Kelyn is Ireland's reigning back-to-back light heavyweight champion.

The 24 year old was a popular choice given the parade theme of 'The Best of Waterford.'

Ireland's oldest city also saw its floats reflect local culture ranging from the Deise hurlers through to the Viking founders of the city.

Waterford also celebrated the fact that it decided in 1903 - before March 17 was even declared a holiday - that St Patrick's Day should be a national celebration.

It thus became the first Irish city to hold a St Patrick's Day parade.

In Dungarvan, maritime history was underlined by the RNLI's Helvick Head Lifeboat Station having pride of place in the local parade.

Fireworks kicked off the local St Patrick's Festival with Dungarvan celebrating its emergence as a tourism hub thanks to the success of its Waterford Greenway.

TIPPERARY

Clonmel honoured Scouting Ireland legend John Casey with the grand marshal role for its Tipperary parade.

John has been involved in scouting for over 60 years and has been hailed for the enormous contribution he has made to Tipperary community work.

Thurles celebrated near-record numbers at its parade which boasted the theme: 'Past, Present and Future'.

The stars of the show were heroic youngsters, Micheál Bourke and Katie Butler, who helped save a two year old child from drowning back in 2020 - with the parade the first chance the community has had to publicly honour the duo.

The Thurles parade was led by the 3rd Infantry Battalion Reserve and the Sean Treacy Pipe Band.

Cahir, which last year hosted Prince Charles, now King Charles III, fittingly opted for a parade theme which would be close to the monarch's heart, 'Biodiversity.'

The south Tipperary town is also famous for its multi-cultural status - with numerous nationalities taking part in the parade.

Local residents hail from more than 40 different countries - with Cahir hailed for its successful integration and welcoming policies.

According to the 2016 Census, Cahir has Ireland's eighth highest percentage of non-Irish born residents.

NEW YORK

Meanwhile, many parades are also taking place across the globe.

The St Patrick’s Day parade in New York is one of the largest in the world.

It will see approximately 150,000 people march up Fifth Avenue, which draws about two million spectators.