Wicklow St Patrick’s Day parades 2023: Your guide to events throughout the county

Here’s our guide to all the St Patrick’s Day Parades taking place in County Wicklow. We’ve compiled the start times, routes and all the details you need to enjoy Ireland’s national day at your local parade.

When planning your trip to any of the parades, remember to check the latest details on parking, road closures and schedule changes to public transport services. Irish Rail will be running a Sunday service for InterCity and DART services, but have said some additional trains will be added to this to help people getting to and from parades. 

Anyone intending to travel on an InterCity route should book tickets in advance because it is going to be a very busy day on the railway.

Arklow St Patrick’s Day details

A huge occasion for locals and visitors alike, the Arklow St Patrick’s Day Parade draws revellers from all over the country with its warm and convivial community atmosphere.

Local businesses, clubs, marching groups, floats, community organisations and more take part in the spectacular event, with crowds gathering along the parade route to enjoy the colour and excitement of the impressive parade.

Organisers and committee members have pulled out all the stops again this year to create a wonderful family-friendly atmosphere in the picturesque town. The Grand Marshalls this year will be parade legend Murt Mulligan and his loving wife Gracie.

Start time and route

The Arklow St Patrick’s Day parade will take place at 2 p.m. starting from Mills Avenue and will travel over the Navvy Hill, then up the Main Street to the Courthouse, where a viewing stand will be erected.

Floats to watch out for

The acclaimed Arklow Pipe Band always put on a great show and receive a warm welcome from crowds as they marched along the route. Keep an eye out for local creativity and wellness centre for kiddos ‘The Colour Club’ and members from the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club

What else is on?

After the parade, why not stop in to the delicious Old House pub/restaurant on Arklow Main Street for a bite to eat. The popular establishment was recently nominated in seven different categories at the upcoming Irish Restaurant Awards, and are only accepting walk-ins on the day.

Aughrim St Patrick’s Day Parade details

Expect the old granite town of Aughrim to be rocking this St Patrick’s day, with a fantastic line-up of floats, bands, community groups and even special guest St Patrick and his sheep set to pull out all the stops.

There will be prize winning presentations, refreshments, a huge hamper raffle and live music at the Pavilion Centre and Joe’s Traditional Pub. This year’s Grand Marshal will be popular local character Theresa Byrne from Londis Stores.

Start Time and Route

The Aughrim St Patrick’s Day parade will take place at 11.15 p.m. starting from the Tinakily Bridge and passing through the square (a prime viewing location) of the Main Street and out onto Rednagh Road. Parking will be available at the GAA grounds on Rednagh Road.

Bray St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival details

St Patrick’s Day may be our national holiday, a day in which we celebrate what it is to be Irish, but in Bray one day of celebration is simply not enough. For 2023 the Wicklow town will have a five-day St Patrick’s Day festival running from Thursday, March 16 to Monday, March 20.

Over the course of five days locals and visitors can enjoy the Bird’s Euroshow Funfair, live music, an open-air céilí, talks, a walk, a treasure hunt, movies by the Bandstand, and, of course, the parade itself.

Parade start time and route

Beginning at 2 p.m. there will be road closures in place from 1-3 p.m. to facilitate the parade route. The roads affected include Main Street, Florence Road, Eglinton Road, Quinsboro Road, Seymour Road, Seapoint Road, Strand Road and surrounding junctions.

This year’s Grand Marshall is Bray’s ‘Person of the Year’ Dr David Menzies. A founding member of Bray Cardiac First responders and a founding member and volunteer with Wicklow Rapid Response, Dr Menzies is also a founder, former chair, board Member and medical Director of Community First Responders Ireland.

Iconic landmarks such as the Town Hall, Civic Offices and The Bandstand will go green as the parade, featuring 1,500 participants, starts from the Town Hall and moves to the viewing stand at the northern part of the Seafront. Again this year, organisers have teamed up with the Bray Autism Friendly Town Team and there will be a quiet zone at the Parade at the junction of Quinsborough Road and Seymour Road.

On St Patrick’s evening Neil Delamere returns to The Mermaid with a brand new show, Delamerium, at 8 p.m.

Floats to look out for

With over a thousand people taking part this year’s Bray St Patrick’s Day Parade features floats from many local organisations, including the 11th Wicklow Kilmacanogue Beavers Group, the 12th Wicklow St. Peter’s Bray Scout Group, Ardmore Rovers Football Club, Artastic, and Bray Adventurers. The full line-up is at bray.ie.

What else is on?

On Saturday, March 18 the Boomerang Brass Band play live at The Clock Tower in Enniskerry village at 12.45 p.m. Later that day at 2 p.m., a showcase of Irish dancing which including performances from Lawless Academy of Irish Dancing, Dunphy School of Irish Dance, Scoil Rince Fáinne, and Shauna McGauran School of Irish Dancing takes place at the Seafront Bandstand.

That evening sport takes centre stage as Ireland’s rugby team go for The Grand Slam against England, and you can enjoy the big game on the open-air big screen opposite the bandstand at 5.15 p.m.

On Sunday, March 19, the Bray Head walk returns, allowing participants to take in some of the most stunning views of Bray and surrounding areas with a guided walk with Bray Adventures. March 19 is also Mother’s Day and, to celebrate the occasion, some family favourite films are being screen on the big screen at the bandstand.

Carnew St Patrick’s Day Parade details

Carnew Emmets Senior Teams will lead Carnew St Patrick’s Day parade in honour of the 50th anniversary of the club’s double win. The teams won both the football and hurling Wicklow Senior Championships in 1973.

Start time and route
This year’s parade will kick off at 12.30 p.m. on the Gorey Road, before moving on to St Brigid’s Hall. There will be prizes awarded for Best Overall Float, Most Topical, Most Entertaining, Best Walking Group, Best Youth Entry and Best Window Display. It’s sure to be a great day out for all of the family.

Coolgreaney St Patrick’s Day Parade details

Founder of Heart to Hand Kieran Byrne will make his community proud as Grand Marshal at the 13th Coolgreany St Patrick’s Day Parade.

Start time and route
The award winning Arklow Pipe Band will lead Kieran up the main street chauffeured by Pat Kelly in his beautiful car. The parade begins at 12 noon, but organisers are asking everybody to arrive early.

Floats to look out for
This year, the parade has four judges given the task of picking winners for the St. Patrick’s Day parade – Jimmy Banks, Peadar Mordaunt and Caroline Bergin.
Their categories are: Most Original, Best Vintage Display, Best Vintage Vehicle, Best Marching Entry, Best Children’s Entry, Best Float and The Best Over All. An additional category this year is especially for dog owners – Best Dressed Pooch. To participate, the dapper dog and owner must walk in the parade and join in the fun.

Greystones St Patrick’s Day Parade details

Greystones is to have its first St Patrick’s Day parade since 2019 and its first since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, with all-conquering boxers Kaci Rock and Tadhg O’Donnell the Grand Marshals.

Start time and route

The parade will begin at 11 a.m., south of the town at the Shoreline Leisure roundabout and will follow the usual route from the Mill Road, through the town and along Church Road before finishing at the old cinema on Victoria Road. Special traffic management and parking arrangements will be put in place on the day. Details at Greystones.ie

Floats to watch out for

The town’s twinning partners from Holyhead will be participating in 2023 and will bring a float which will carry a specially commissioned iron wire Red Dragon. According to the Greystones Municipal District there has been a huge response from local clubs and communities with the message being to turn the town green for this special occasion.

Christian Churches Together will be participating in the parade under the theme of ‘For you are all children of God’. They are inviting all children to come along dressed in international colours, wearing traditional dress, painting their faces with flag colours or making flags to wave.

Newtownmountkennedy St Patrick’s Day Parade details

Newtownmountkennedy’s St Patrick’s Day Parade is all about community and tradition, with St Patrick himself expected to lead the floats through the town. A huge 3,000 people attended last year, so be sure to get there early to bag a good spot.

Start time and route
This year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Newtownmountkennedy gets underway at 11.30 a.m., starting from Gregory’s Garage and making its way through the village to the viewing stand located opposite Druid’s Well Pub. St Patrick will be making his usual guest appearance and will lead the parade by foot.
 

Rathdrum St Patrick’s Day Parade details

Rathdrum St Patrick’s Day Parade is celebrating 30 years of entertaining the town on Ireland’s national day this year and has a stellar line-up planned.

Start time and route

This year’s Rathdrum St Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshalls will be members of the Row Hard or Go Home team, who set a new World Record for an Atlantic crossing by rowing boat earlier this year, having shaved a full two days off the previous record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a team of five rowers. The parade departs from Avon Motors at 12 noon and the Review Stand will be located in Market Square.

What else is on?

Albert Webster will be providing music in Market Square, while local pubs and establishments will also be pulling out all the stops for this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Rathdrum.

Wicklow town St Patrick’s Day Parade details

The St Patrick’s Day parade in Wicklow town attracts thousands of visitors each year and is generally the most well attended Patrick’s Day event in the county. This year is expected to be no different with a brilliant line-up of floats and entertainment.

Start time and route

This year’s parade starts from outside the County Buildings at Whitegates at 3.15 p.m. and will make its way along Wicklow’s Main Street before reaching the viewing stand at Market Square.

Sean and June Leonard have been announced as the Grand Marshalls of the 2023 St Patrick’s Day Parade in Wicklow town. Sean and June are both from prominent families in Wicklow town and used to run Butler’s Medical Hall up until 2021.

This year’s theme is ‘Musical Greats’ and participants are encouraged to get dressed up as their favourite rocker or pop star.

What else is on?

A dip into the sea at the Black Castle will be taking place at 9.30 a.m. If it’s your first time getting into the sea during Spring then be advised that the water will be cold, estimated at around 8C! You are advised to wear a wetsuit if you have one.

The band Deja Vu will be performing at Market Square from 2 p.m., with live music also planned for further up Main Street.