FALLING ON A Friday this year, there’s a lot happening all around the country for the weekend of St Patrick’s Day.
The rugby will capture a lot of attention on Saturday evening, but there’ll be plenty on from next Thursday onwards all over Ireland to celebrate St Patrick’s Day this year.
Dublin
The four-day St Patrick’s Festival kicks off on Thursday 16 March with outdoor cinemas, street theatre and a treasure hunt set to join the grand festival parade on Friday.
Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy will be the grand marshal of this year’s parade through the capital.
The theme for this year is “Ireland You Are”, with magical faerie stories, ancient mythical tribes and trailblazing pirates all set to feature, alongside bands from America, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Bahamas and, of course, Ireland.
The festival kicks off on Thursday 16, with a céilí dance coming to Earlsfort Terrace from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
The celebrations don’t end with the parade, with 4,000 people expected to take part in a treasure hunt at City Hall on Dame Street on Saturday 18.
Marching bands and pop-up choirs will take over St Stephen’s Green that afternoon, while some of Ireland’s most renowned portrait artists will capture the faces of Irish children at the Ark, Eustace Street in Temple Bar from 10.30am.
Another open-air cinema will show the recent hit film Sing Street at Fingal County Council Civic Offices on Grove Road in Blanchardstown from 7.30pm.
Merrion Square is the main venue on Sunday, with a street carnival full of theatre, music, arts, crafts and more, kicking off at midday until 6pm.
Cork
The parade through the city centre is the main event on Friday 17 March. Kicking off at 1pm, the parade runs from the South Mall to the Grand Parade, along St Patrick’s Street and finishing at Merchant’s Quay.
The theme for this year’s parade in Cork city is “Cork – A City of Community, Culture and Commerce”.
On Saturday and Sunday, a pop-up Patrick’s Festival market comes to Emmet Place, with lots of street food from some local restaurants, and a range of craft stalls to browse.
And, for something a bit more out of the ordinary, the St Patrick’s Hill ball run will see 10,000 multi-coloured balls cascade down the hill on Sunday at 2pm in aid of the Cork Lions City Centre Defibrillator Project.
For a full list of the events on in Cork – for both young and old – this Patrick’s weekend, click here.
Limerick
The theme for this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Limerick city is “Our stories, this is where we belong”.
The council expects 80,000 people to line the streets for the parade from midday, with the story of Limerick being brought to life.
There’s plenty more activities on over the course of the weekend, with a festival trad trail running from Thursday to Sunday.
A vintage carnival comes to Arthur’s Quay Park, opposite the shopping centre, from Friday to Sunday.
There’s plenty more on besides, with lots of music, arts, and food to sink your teeth into next weekend at Limerick which you can read more on here.
Galway
For the 114th time this year, a St Patrick’s Day parade comes to Galway city.
Starting at 11.30am on Friday 17, it will go down Dominick Street, cross at Bridge Street, go along Shop Street, Eyre Square and finish up at Prospect Hill.
A range of local acts will take part, from local GAA clubs to NUIG’s juggling society and the Galway Egypt belly dancers.
Elsewhere
There’ll be street parades across the country on St Patrick’s Day, including Tullamore, Wicklow, Longford, Letterkenny, Waterford and Killarney.
The Wicklow town of Bray will hold its own carnival on St Patrick’s Day, complete with live music, carnival fair and a street parade.
The Co Mayo town of Kiltimagh will host a week-long festival with music, dance and arts with, of course, a parade on Friday.
There is also a week-long festival taking place in Armagh to honour Ireland’s patron saint, along with a parade through Downpatrick, whose cathedral is said to have been the burial place for St Patrick, himself.
There will also be a large parade through Belfast city centre on St Patrick’s day, culminating with live music and a concert in Custom House Square.
Have any pictures or video from the St Patrick’s Day events you’re going to attend – at home and abroad? Send them into tips@thejournal.ie.
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