With St Paddy's Day falling on a Monday and a Six Nations win to boot, it may seem as if the party is already in full swing but the main event is still to come!
There are a range of parades taking place across the country to celebrate our most patriotic occasion so if you haven't made a plan yet, these details might come in handy.
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Dublin
This year’s Festival Parade theme, ‘Let’s Make History’, draws on the ‘Past’ and is the first step on this exciting, creative journey. In 2015, the Festival will explore the ‘Present’, and in 2016, the ‘Future’, when the Festival will pose the question, ‘who do we aspire to be in the next 100 years’?
The Parade begins on Parnell Square at 12noon and continues on to O’Connell Street and over O’Connell Bridge to Westmoreland Street. It then winds its way down Dame Street and Lord Edward Street passing by Christchurch Cathedral and along Patrick Street where it finishes just past St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
A full map and all the details are available
here.
Galway
St Patrick’s Festival Galway is a platform to showcase local artists and community groups. It aims to celebrate the cities diverse culture and talent through an inclusive programme of events. They aim to create a carnival atmousphere that the whole city can be part of and they do.
This year's Galway St Patrick's Day Parade will start on Lower Dominick Street (Monroes Pub)at 11.30am and move up Dominick Street over O’Briens Bridge up Shop Street and on to Eyre Square. The parade will finish at Galway County Council Buildings and there will be a disabled access reviewing stand located in Eyre Square.
Cork
The parade will begin at 1pm and will feature performances from arts, community and sporting groups from all over the city and county, along with five specially commissioned pieces, created by renowned street theatre companies, and inspired by legendary tales, including Johan and the Whale by SPRAOI, The Phoenix by Bui Bolg, large scale inflatable floats by LUXe, the Tractor Factor with Dowtcha puppets, and Life Beats from Cork Community Art Link.
The Parade route runs from the South Mall to the Grand Parade, along St. Patrick’s Street and finishes at Merchant’s Quay. See
here for details.
Limerick
Limerick is Ireland's first National City of Culture for 2014 so this year the St Patrick's Festival will embrace the theme of
City of Culture. The parade will be starting at Punches Cross at 12noon and entrants will march down O'Connell Street, finishing at the Island Road.
Belfast
The celebrations will start with a spectacular high-energy carnival parade, themed St Patrick – To The Future and featuring our patron saint re-imagined as a time-travelling adventurer on a colourful journey to the future of Belfast. There’ll be eye-catching floats, performers, music and support from the local community, as people of all ages visit from far and wide to celebrate St Patrick in Belfast. The carnival leaves from Belfast City Hall at 12 noon.
The parade will finish at Custom House Square, where there will be a free outdoor concert from 1pm to approximately 3pm. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates will open at 12 noon and under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
