10 St. Patrick’s Day Events Across Ireland

10 St. Patrick’s Day Events Across Ireland

Written by Melanie May

Put on your green jumper, paint a shamrock on your face and get into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day at one of these events across Ireland.

Cork: St. Patrick’s Festival

16th to 18th March

This St. Patrick’s weekend, some of Cork’s best-loved restaurants will have dishes on their menus inspired by St. Patrick. The dishes will feature the best of Irish food and local producers.

So if you fancy a pearl barley and lamb casserole with champ (a traditional Irish mashed potato dish) visit Nash19 or if boxty bread and corned beef and cabbage takes your fancy, call to Filter.

The festival food map below features all of the restaurants taking part. Just click on the link to the restaurant website to see what special recipe they will be featuring this St. Patrick’s Weekend.

Downpatrick, Co. Down: Home of Saint Patrick Festival in Newry, Mourne and Down

8th to 19th March

Downpatrick is where St. Patrick is buried and there are plenty of celebrations taking place during the festival.

One of the more unique things you can do here is Saint Patrick’s Way: The Pilgrims Walk. This is a 132km signed walking trail connecting key sites relating to Saint Patrick and other important Christian Heritage sites between Armagh and Downpatrick. The trail takes you through some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular scenic landmarks before ending at Saint Patrick’s final resting place in the grounds of Down Cathedral, Downpatrick.

Dublin: Festival Big Day Out

17th & 18th March

The St.Patrick’s Festival will take place in Dublin city centre on 17th March from 12pm starting at Parnell Square.

Head over to Merrion Square on 18th March at 12pm and enjoy the day-long street carnival. Check out the street theatre, live music, aerial performances, workshops, art installations, Irish language activities and a traditional festival Céilí. This is a fun filled day out for all the family.

Dublin: Greening of the City

15th to 19th March

From 5 p.m. each evening you can watch some of Dublin’s most iconic landmarks turn green in celebration of Ireland’s national holiday. Take a stroll across Dublin’s fair city and enjoy the green illuminations. For a list of the buildings turning green check out the Greening the City website. (https://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/events/event/greening_the_city2)

Dublin: Pat Liddy Walking Tour – In the Footsteps of St. Patrick

15th to 18th March

St. Patrick’s Day is all about celebrating Ireland’s patron saint and Irish historian and storyteller, Pat Liddy is hosting a special historical walking tour following in the footsteps of St. Patrick. The route takes in ancient sites, including those in between the city’s two great medieval cathedrals: Christ Church and St. Patrick’s and you’ll hear about the fascinating truth behind the legend of St. Patrick.

Dublin: The Little Museum Free Tour

17th March 

As part of Dublin’s official St. Patrick’s Festival Programme, you can join a free tour of The Little Museum. This city centre museum experience tells the amazing story of the Irish capital in just 29 minutes. The museum collection was created entirely by public donation. The tour starts at 10.15 a.m. and you need to book your free ticket beforehand.

Dingle, Co. Kerry: St. Patrick’s Day Midnight and Dawn Parades

17th March

Whilst most towns and cities across Ireland hold St. Patrick’s Day parades, the ones (yes, there is more than one) on the Dingle Peninsula are the earliest parades in the country. Baile na nGall/Ballydavid start with a midnight parade on St. Patrick’s Eve and Dingle Town is next with a dawn parade. So get up early and join Dingle’s Fife and Drum Band who take to the streets at 6 a.m. in keeping with a long tradition which is usually supported by hundreds of enthusiastic followers.

If those parades are too late or too early for you, there are more parades during the day in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Dingle, Castlegregory and Castlemaine. The parades are light-hearted and fun with everything from tractors to boats being dressed up for the occasion.

Kilkenny: Kilkenny Trad Festival

15th to 19th March

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a soundtrack of traditional Irish music and contemporary folk music in the medieval capital of Ireland. There are a number of great musicians who live and play in Kilkenny and you’ll get to hear many of these on the Bulmer’s Trad Trail. There are also drumming and fiddle workshops and accordion and bouzouki classes as well as Irish dancing workshops too.

Limerick: St. Patrick’s Day Festival

16th to 18th March

One of the highlights of the St. Patrick’s Day festival in Limerick is the Limerick International Band Championship. This year is the 48th anniversary of the competition and it will take place on Sunday the 18th of March and it starts at midday. Over 1,300 marching band musicians from across Ireland, Europe and America will take to the streets of Limerick and entertain the crowds with their lively musical beats and routines.

Galway: St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Free Concert

17th March

Following a huge parade through the city of Galway there will be a free concert in Eyre Square. It is a family-oriented event including live music from the Clandestinos, a vintage carousel and amusements and children’s entertainment.