The St Patrick’s Day celebration in Dublin this year is set to span four days, featuring a multitude of festivities and culminating in a parade on Sunday. Thousands of people are forecasted to flock to the city centre to participate. The parade’s grand marshal is Patrick Kielty, popular television host of the Late Late Show. “Spréach”, the Irish term for “spark”, is the chosen theme for this year’s parade.
Scheduled to start at noon, the parade will launch from Parnell Square North, continuing through O’Connell Street, crossing the river Liffey before continuing onto Dame Street, Lord Edward Street, Nicholas Street, Patrick’s Street and wrapping up at Kevin Street.
During St Patrick’s Day, public transportation will adhere to Sunday’s schedule, covering intercity trains and Darts while also scheduling extra services for parade attendees. Partial reduction in services will affect the Luas red and green lines, with standard Sunday schedules maintained. Dublin Bus services will also follow the Sunday schedule, although City Tours will not be available.
To accommodate the large crowd turnout, some roads will be closed, and Tara Street station is scheduled to shut down until 4pm. Dublin City Council has recommended people to take note of the following road closures: Western Way to Mountjoy Street, from 7pm Saturday, till 3pm Sunday, and Mountjoy Street, Palmerstown Place, Wellington Street Lower, St Mary’s Place North, Granby Row, Parnell Square North, Cavendish Row, O’Connell Street and Bridge between 4am and 3pm on Sunday. Additional streets to be closed on the day include Westmoreland Street, Dame Street, Lord Edward Street, Christchurch Place until 5pm, and New Street South, Clanbrassil Street Lower, Kevin Street until 6pm. Cuffe Street and St Stephen’s Green South will also be closed until 6.30pm.
In addition to the parade, many other associated events are scheduled to take place throughout the extended weekend.
Collins Barracks, The National Museum of Ireland’s Festival Quarter, is gearing up for family-friendly activities, concerts, and nightly parties. The agenda includes a children’s circus and funfair, family workshops, and a food and craft village. Performances will be given by musicians such as The Deadlians, Niamh Bury and Louise Mulcahy. This season, the Festival Quarter will once again host Céilí Mór, featuring Dearbhla Lennon, a former Riverdancer. On March 16th, Mother will host another 18+ LGBTQ+ céilí, with tickets costing €22.65.
When St Patrick’s Day arrives in Cork, there will be a grand parade commencing at 1pm on Sunday from Parnell Bridge/South Mall and ending at Merchant’s Quay/Parnell Place. The festival in Cork includes an afternoon céilí on March 16th at city hall and a circus at Elizabeth Fort.
In Galway, the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade will mark the largest in history, with multiple events curated by the Galway City Council spanning the long weekend from March 15th-18th. The parade, with the theme of 2024 Olympics, starts at University Road and concludes at Prospect Hill, featuring around 3,000 participants.
This year, Limerick’s St Patrick’s Day parade, themed “a different kind of energy”, will be marching down Henry Street with the Reviewing Stand located at the intersection of Bedford Row and Shannon Street.
Lastly, Belfast’s St Patrick’s celebrations are inclusive of local dance troupes, schools, and community groups as part of its parade, which kicks off at 1.30pm on Sunday. St Patrick’s Music Weekend is also part of the festivities, delivered by Belfast TradFest, and will extend from Friday to Sunday.
A variety of complimentary and paid events encompassing the conventional arts will be on offer, featuring concerts, céilís, exhibitions, sampling sessions and workshops. Festivities at St George’s Market are also anticipated.