St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favourite Irish festivals – it always feels like the entire country takes the day off and just celebrates. There is such a great atmosphere both the large cities and also the smaller towns. Last year we actually chose to go to Spiddal in Co. Galway over one of the larger parades and as you can see from my image above – everyone gets into it!
This year I am going to go up to Dublin to the main parade – it’s something that I have not gone to since I was small so am actually really looking forward to it. That got me thinking about what else is on in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day and on that weekend and I thought I would share some of the events with you.
Dublin
- The main Dublin parade starts at 12.00pm from Parnell Square, Dublin 1. This is easily the most famous and largest of the parades and will the theme for the Festival Parade this year is ‘Imagine If…’ and it is inspired by the imagination of the youth of Ireland as they look to the future.
- Irish Craft & Whiskey Village. A more adult option to the parade this event is on in the RDS and basic entry is €10 (there are other options that include drinks). There are set hours from the 16th until the 19th so well worth checking out over the weekend. This will be a celebration of beer, cidar, artisan food and plenty to entertain yourself with! There will be stalls to browse, masterclasses to do, a silent disco and live music to dance to. You can purchase tickets here.
- The Guinness Store House are also hosting festivities and they look like fun! They are promising ‘will have live performances from our house band; a daily céilí and special evening performances by popular Dublin group Na Fíanna on 16th 17th and 18th (from 17.00hrs). Visiting marching bands will take the building by storm on the 17th itself and there will be pop-up entertainment outside and throughout the building across the festival dates’. You can read more about it and get ticket details here.
- And lastly a fun one suited for children – the annual Leprechaun Hunt that is held in the The National Wax Museum in Temple Bar. It looks like so much fun and you can read more about it here.
- The Dublin Festival has a website here that you can look up more details on, and also a free App that you can download if you would like to learn more!
Galway
- Galway is known for it’s creativity and sense of fun and this year the amazing Macnas are also taking part of the parade!2016 also marks the 113th anniversary of the Galway St Patrick’s Day Parade! There is always a strong sense of both culture and community and this year will no doubt be the same. It is going to start at Domnick street at 1130am and finishes at Eyre Square at approx. 1pm.
This year’s parade highlights include Galway Arts Centre, Colours Street Theatre, An Taibhdhearc Theatre and Galway Theatre Festival with community groups such as Foróige, GAA clubs, Amnesty International and The Russian Culture Club creating a kaleidoscope of of Galway’s rich mix of cultural and ethnic diversity {via}.
- Pub life… Galway is also known for it’s amazing craic in the pubs and the atmosphere that goes along with it. And you can pretty much pop into most pubs on Patrick’s Day and you will be entertained by live, traditional music and the Guinness flowing – one pub that shouldn’t run out is Tigh Neachtain…
Cork
- First up is the Parade – it runs from the South Mall to the Grand Parade (starting at 1pm), goes along St. Patrick’s Street and finishes at Merchant’s Quay. Celebrating the theme of 1916-The Legacy, join us for a carnival of colour, music, pageantry and comic fun.
- The Lee Sessions Trad Trail is a really cool series of sessions going across multiple pubs across the city and the full line up can be found here. This is definitely worth a look in if you are in Cork.
Sligo
- This years parade starts at 12 noon on Mail Coach Road and finishes at the Mercy Convent Gates and from growing up in Sligo I can honestly say that this will have tractors and much much more – very traditional and fun.
- Go on a walking tour – this may not seem like an obvius St. Patrick’s Day thing to do, but after the parade if the weather is good – there is no where better to go walking – check out the Sligo Step by Step Facebook Page to find some routes.
Just Go Exploring
And with that in mind – don’t forget the sometimes it can be so much fun just to jump in the car and go exploring. Staycations in Ireland can be so amazing and our country has some gems to explore. Perhaps go explore Connemara or the Ring of Kerry – so much to go and see and do!
There will be plenty on everywhere in Ireland these are just some of the events that are on – Facebook can be a great way to search as can Twitter – and go outside your comfort zone and have fun! And lastly, don’t drink and drive – it is never worth it.
