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LAST UPDATE | 17 Mar
CITY STREETS AROUND the country will be filled today for St Patrick’s Day events and parades.
There are plenty of activities to choose from including seven major parades.
Here is your one-stop-guide for Paddy’s Day events in cities around the island.
The biggest parade of the day kicks off from 12pm starting at Parnell Square in the north city centre and making its way through the city to finish on the Cuffe Street/Kevin Street junction.
The theme of this year’s festival is ‘roots’, which aims to celebrate everyone who calls Ireland home and the Irish diaspora worldwide. It will be led podcaster and media personality Vogue Williams.
There will also be various events across the city all day including the Céilí Mór in Merrion Square and an LED light and fire show in Wolfe Tone Park.
You can find the full list of St Patrick’s Day events here and the parade will be broadcast live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Transport for Ireland (TFI) have advised route diversions are in place and a Sunday service will be operating on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann and NiteLink services will operate this evening.
Tara Street station will be closed until 4pm with and DART and Commuter services are also operating on a Sunday timetable. Customers are advised to check irishrail.ie for the most up-to-date information.
Also under a Sunday timetable, diversions to Luas routes are in place.
Cork’s St Patrick’s Day parade, themed around ‘Marsh, Myth & Magic’, kicks off at 1pm from Parnell Bridge.
The parade follows a route around the city finishing on Merchant’s Quay. It features communities new and old, from Cork and special guests from across the world. It will also be livestreamed on Cork City TV.
There are a range of activities around Cork this afternoon and this evening including trad sessions in pubs around the city and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is hosting a special service this morning from 9:15am.
The parade in Galway is set to start from the University of Galway campus at 11am this morning before making its way around the city and finishing around 1pm at Prospect Hill.
The theme this year is ‘Legends and Rising Stars’ and other events across the city including musical performances in Eyre Square. Former president Michael D Higgins will even be making an appearance as the guest of honour.
This year, Galway is introducing a new ‘relaxed parade space’ for people with sensory needs and anyone who may need a quieter environment to enjoy the festivities.
The space provides room to move comfortably, nearby toilet access, and encourages attendees to use protective earmuffs or any supports that help them enjoy the parade in a way that feels right for them.
Spaces at this space are limited and attendees wishing to use it are asked to email Events@GalwayCity.ie.
Galway’s Bádóirí an Chladaigh is hosting an event celebrating Irish Gaelic traditions today at the Claddagh Bassin.
Lighting artists have also lit up Eyre Square to celebrate this 121st anniversary of the Galway St Patrick’s Day parade.
Belfast’s parade departs City Hall at 1:30pm today and takes a loop route around the city before finishing back where it started.
It’s due to finish at around 3pm and the event will feature local dance troupes, schools, community groups and musicians.
Before the parade today, the annual Spar Craic 10km run is taking place from 9am, which will once again see more than five thousand runners take to the streets. It begins at Belfast City Hall and finishes in Ormeau Park.
That event is sold out but people are still encouraged to come along to cheer on the runners.
Also from 1pm today, the St Patrick’s Day festival village takes over Belfast Cathedral car park featuring live music, food, an all-day céilí and a variety of family friendly events.
Celebrating the ‘Legends of Limerick’, the city’s parade kicks off 12pm with Irish national women’s marathon champion Ava Crean Named leading as grand marshal.
The parade starts at O’Connell Avenue (Roden Street junction) and finishes at Rutland Street. It features a range of performers including the Irish Clown Orchestra.
Waterford hosted the first ever St Patrick’s Day parade in 1903 and this year it returns for its 123rd anniversary.
It starts at 1pm Waterford Bus Station and proceedes along the Quay finishing on The Mall at around 3pm. It promises to feature Irish dancers, music and a vibrant mix of people and cultures.
Other events around the city today include fairground attractions in John Robert’s Square, live music from Derek Flynn and Hi Definition in Applemarket and from 12pm revellers can enjoy a performance by City of Waterford Brass at The Mall.
Those looking to embrace the history of the city can go on the self-guided, nighttime tour throughout the city as its walls are lit up in green.
Kilkenny’s parade will begin making its way through the historic streets at 1:30pm today, starting on John St.
It finishes its route on the Castle Road and the festival offers post-parade activities including a funfair and musical performances on the festival stage from the likes of Jerry Fish.
People are invited to drop in to MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre from 11am where there will be a pre-parade performance by Alize’s School of Singing from 11am-12pm and free face painting from 12pm-3pm.
Kilkenny also offers a festival market right beside the Parade Plaza from 11am to 7pm today where people can browse local food and craft producers.
From 3:15pm then Rhythm Riot will be performing on Kieran St.
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