St Patrick’s Day: Here’s what on across Ireland

Ireland’s patron saint will be celebrated with music, dance and cross-community participation in several towns and cities across the island.

This year’s celebrations in Belfast are set to showcase the city’s traditional musical heritage with a Trad Trail, a music weekend in Cathedral Quarter plus headline concerts at Belfast Cathedral, Ulster Hall and The MAC.

A major highlight as ever is the St Patrick’s Day parade, which will see musicians, dancers and theatrical performances on the streets on Sunday.

Local dance troupes, schools, community groups and musicians will also be taking part in the spectacle.

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The parade route starts from Belfast City Hall at 1.30pm, weaving its way through the city centre via Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place, back to City Hall.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Ryan Murphy, said: “2024 is the year to celebrate Belfast’s creativity and diversity and this year’s St Patrick’s Day programme really reflects that concept, with something for everyone to come along and enjoy”.

The St Patrick’s Music Weekend events will see three days of concerts, céilís, displays, taster sessions and workshops in venues across the city centre, delivered with Belfast TradFest from March 15-17.

The Trad Trail, by Féile an Phobail will take place in bars, restaurants, hotels and visitor spots throughout this week offering the best of Trad music from local musicians and musicians from across the island.

There will also be music and dancing on the acoustic stage in Saint Anne’s Square and a céilí in The Mac and at St George’s Market, members of Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will be performing traditional Irish music from 12-1.30pm on March 16 and 17.

DERRY

A programme of music, dance, food and folklore will also take place in Derry as part of its St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The ‘Out of the Darkness Into the Light’ themed event will celebrate the arrival of spring in all its colourful splendour with entertainment and activity planned for Guildhall Square, the Peace Garden and the Craft Village.

The centrepiece event will once again be the North West Carnival Initiative’s, Spring Carnival Parade, which will feature flamboyant performances from local dance groups, sports clubs and community organisations.

On Sunday, the Guildhall Square will host live music from 1pm – 6pm featuring some of the best local musicians in the city’s thriving music scene, from soulful ballads, to foot stomping jigs people can experience the diverse musical tapestry that defines the city.

There will also be traditional Irish music and ceili dance sessions inside the Guildhall, with Legenderry Delights food stalls open offering Irish inspired culinary delights.

Circus skills, workshops, acrobatic and parkour performances will take place at the Bounce Festival in the Peace Garden from 1pm – 6pm and a Craft Village will also come alive with the thrilling beats of live traditional music and the infectious energy of Irish dancing.

Patricia Logue, mayor of Derry City and Strabane district council, said: “As the days get longer and brighter and colour returns to our green spaces, excitement is building for our first major event of 2024 – our St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival celebrations.

“Our festival and events team are planning activity all around the city centre and I can’t wait to sample the sights and sounds and join the hundreds of performers who will take part in the parade through the city centre.”

NEWRY

Led by Saint Patrick himself, the St Patrick’s Day parade in Newry on Sunday will see dancers, community floats and costumed characters entertain the crowds.

Departing from The Quays Shopping Centre at 1pm (Albert Basin side), the parade will proceed along Merchants Quay, Sugar Island, ending at The Mall.

Other activities in the city will see live music, dance, crazy golf and a puppet show, with Marcus Square hosting the main festival programme.

Cloughmór Ceili Band, all-female band The Bellas and country music singer and songwriter Lee Matthews are among the artists set to entertain the crowds.

DOWNPATRICK

Light the Beacons is the theme for this year’s annual St Patrick’s Day Festival in Downpatrick.

On Saturday, a pilgrimage walk from Saul Church to Down Cathedral, led by representatives of different churches, will begin at 10.15am.

A cross-community festival service followed by lighting of the symbolic beacon and wreath laying ceremony at Patrick’s Grave will begin at 11.45am.

Church services will also take place at St Colmcille’s and St Patrick’s on Sunday.

The city’s annual parade will also take place, leaving Downshire Estate, Ardglass Road at 1.30pm and following the main route into town, finishing at Rathkeltair Car Park, Lower Market Street.

There will also be family activities, music and an artisan market in St Patrick’s Square.

ARMAGH

Visitors to Armagh will this week be able to celebrate St Patrick’s influence on history and culture.

The city’s St Patrick’s Festival returns with a programme of music, art, theatre, film and dance, with events take place until March 18 across various venues.

The festivities will include a poetry reading at Armagh Robinson Library, a performance by country music singer Sandy Kelly at the Marketplace Theatre as well as other events such as traditional music and dancing.

On March 15, St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral hosts “A Musical Celebration of St Patrick,” while the Charlemont Arms Hotel offers “Song, Storytelling and Stew.”

The Market Place Theatre also presents “The Great Irish Songbook” featuring Malachi Cush and Kal McGuckin.

DUBLIN

Culture, heritage and people will be celebrated on the streets of Dublin as it hosts its annual parade on Sunday.

Around half a million spectators will gather to watch around 4,000 parade participants including marching bands with dancers and a display of extravagant floats.

The theme of this year’s event is ‘Spréach’, the Irish word for Spark, to represent the “unique essence of Ireland and of Irish people”.

Celebrating Irish art, culture and heritage, the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland in the city will become a ‘Festival Quarter’ this weekend.

A giant rainbow made from over 1,500 recycled cans will be unveiled in the Festival Quarter in Dublin, created by not-for-profit organization Every Can Counts.

Cans were gathered for the installation by 18 Loreto College transition year students, and donations were also received from the Rathmines Bring Centre and Windmill Road Civic Amenity Centre, two nearby recycling facilities.

Performers including folk artists Niamh Bury and The Deadlians will take to the stage and a mini funfair and Irish Food and Craft Village will also take place.