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LAST UPDATE | 17 Mar
THE NATIONAL ST Patrick’s Day parade took place in Dublin this afternoon, with an estimated 500,000 people gathering in the city centre to watch the procession.
The parade got underway on Parnell Square in the capital at 12pm under the stewardship of this year’s Grand Marshall, actress Victoria Smurfit, who said it was an “incredible honour” to be part of the event.
“Celebrating St Patrick’s Day, for me, is an opportunity to eat all the good things, laugh at all the daft things. It’s about entertainment. It’s about freedom of your spirit,” she told the PA news agency.
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina also attended the event, his final St Patrick’s Day parade as Uachtaráin na hÉireann. His term in office is due to end in November.
Speaking to RTÉ ahead of the parade, President Higgins said: “People have been just wonderful, generous and so supportive.
“I think it has been a great privilege to have been President of Ireland, and I’m very, very pleased and I’m very grateful for the great support that came from the public,” he said.
It is in the public world that the Irish people are at their best.
Children, adults and visitors from across the world convened in the city centre, with many adorned in green, to celebrate the festivities.
People gathered at the barriers from early this morning in green and tricolour gear, with many bringing snacks and hot drinks as they eagerly awaited the noon start time.
Over 4,000 street performers, parade companies and marching bands hailing from Ireland and across the world took part in this year’s parade, the theme of which was Adventures – or Eachtraí, as gaeilge.
According to the organisers, the parade “embodies the famed and legendary adventurous spirit that lives inside us all, known and loved the world over as a defining symbol of Irishness”.
#StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/D58RjwKchr
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) March 17, 2025
Among the participants this year was Macnas, the theatre company from Galway, with ‘Turas Alf’. The display featured Alf the Giant Newt, a visual masterpiece about climate change and habitat loss.
Other participants included Spraoi, whose showcase ‘Pirate Queens’ is a celebration of Irish women such as Grace O’Malley and Anne Bonny, while ArtFX brought ‘Fierce Mild’, a playful tribute to Ireland’s unpredictable spring weather.
Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre’s ‘40 years of Pavee Point’ was among one of seven showpieces in this year’s parade. The organisers said the piece celebrated Traveller and Roma rights with the honouring of the wagon wheel, “a shared traditional symbol for both communities, bringing them together to share stories and skills”.
‘Skylarking’ by Curious State was another showpiece, following Betty Skylark and her flying inventions, with two floats and live music. Allta Creations brought ‘The Voyage of Bran’, inspired by the Irish myth Immram Brain, while City of Dublin Youth Services presented ‘D Wondrous Quest of Youth’, an upcycled take on the “Hero’s Journey”.
The Amateur Athletic Union Baton Twirlers showcased their precision and skill while dressed in green costumes and white boots, and the Cork Puppetry Company presented ‘Near and Dear,’ highlighting the endangered Irish Elk and our connection to nature.
Other creations included ‘Nellie’s Parade Adventure’ by Artastic, ‘An Púca’ by Inishowen Carnival Group, and ‘Domhan Dorcha – A Dark World Under the Sea’ by Bui Bolg.
Meanwhile, some 14 marching bands also took part in this year’s national parade. The Clondalkin Youth Band took part for the 35th time, while other bands from Ireland, North America and Austria also took part.
Parades also took place around the country this afternoon. The Cork parade kicked off at 1pm. This year’s theme is ‘building a better world’, based on a UN initiative.
In Galway city, more than 3,000 people took part in the parade, which started at 11.30am this morning.
‘A More Fun Limerick’ is the theme of this year’s Limerick parade, which got underway at 12pm.
Look who is on Patricks Street. Peig Sayers is back!#LaFheilePadraig #StPatricksDayParade pic.twitter.com/uxyf0mS77x
— Cork St. Patrick's Festival (@corkpaddysfest) March 17, 2025
In Kilkenny, 60 floats and over 1,500 participants from local groups, schools, and community organisations took part in the parade with an estimated 40,000 people lining the streets.
Stilt walkers, Latvian dancers, hula hoopers, jugglers, an alien invasion, cat pageantry, Buí Bolg Giant Snake, booming brass bands, Irish folklore were among the performances that made up the annual parade this year. The theme was Bí Beo, Bí Linn – ‘Be Alive, Be With Us’.
In a special performance, the Kilkenny Historical Re-enactment Group took the crowd back to 1324 to the witch trial of Alice Kyteler.
St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny named Rás na mBan winner and Irish national team cyclist Mia Griffin as Grand Marshal for the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The Glenmore native, who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, became the first Irish winner of Rás na mBan in over a decade.
For the first time, the festival also introduced a Junior Grand Marshal. Enya Cox Dempsey, aged 14, from Castlecomer, won Junior Eurovision Éire 2024 and represented Ireland in Madrid with her Irish-language song Le Chéile.
In Bray, this year’s Grand Marshal, Matt Keenan, led the parade. Matt, described as “a true community hero”, was recently named Bray Person of the Year 2024 for his groundbreaking work in establishing a local mental health first aid responder panel.
Over 2,000 participants, from local schools and sports clubs to cultural groups and performers, took part in the celebrations today.
In Rathdrum in Co Wicklow, many were also dressed for the occasion.
Parades are also taking place in Belfast and Waterford, while across the pond, the famous New York City parade kicked off at 3pm Irish time.
A number of diversions are in place for Dublin Bus services until 5pm today, which is operating a Sunday service on all routes. Details can be found here.
Irish Rail is also operating a Sunday service, with extra DART and Commuter services operating before and after the Dublin St Patrick’s Day parade.
Tara Street Station is closed until 4pm to facilitate Garda crowd management arrangements. People should use Connolly or Pearse Stations during this time.
Six late-night trains will be running after midnight. Details are available on www.irishrail.ie or the Iarnród Éireann app.
With reporting from Press Association and Emma Hickey
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