If you are wondering if they actually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, or if it’s just an American-created event to dress in green, dye rivers in cities and get drunk drinking Irish beers, then keep reading.
Because yes, they do celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. And in fact, it’s a national holiday like the Fourth of July in the USA, Bastille Day in France, Swiss National Day in Switzerland, Canada Day in Canada and so forth. And it’s not just one day, either, it’s a three-day event in Dublin called the St. Patrick’s Festival that includes, of course, a parade.
“St. Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s moment to shine on the world stage, and nowhere is that spirit more alive than across the island itself,” Tourism Ireland posted on its website. “St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin remains one of the world’s great cultural celebrations—a vibrant week of music, dance, spectacle, and community culminating in the iconic March 17 parade through the capital’s historic streets. But the festivities extend far beyond Dublin. Cities and towns including Kilkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, Cork, and many others host parades, concerts, and cultural events, creating a nationwide celebration that welcomes visitors from around the world.
“This year’s Dublin festival invites audiences to explore the living roots of Ireland. Under the theme ‘Roots,’ the program delves into heritage, identity, and belonging—expressed through pageantry, performance, and storytelling that connect generations past and present.”
The St. Patrick’s Festival Parade
The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 12pm on 17 March in Dublin City Centre, running from Granby Row in the north of the city, down O’Connell Street, over O’Connell Bridge and through the south side of the city, ending at the Cuffe Street/Kevin Street junction.
The Parade will feature 12 large-scale floats from independent parade companies, with more than 3,000 participants. Its free tho as with many parades, you can purchase seats in the grandstands.
The St. Patrick’s Festival also includes a series of events, including one called Ember Eire, a nighttime outdoor fire performance features three professional fire artists. The St. Patrick’s Festival website has all the events plus more information on the event.
Of course, the pubs of Dublin – and indeed throughout all of Ireland – are filled with cheery people drinking to the national hero St. Patrick.
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