Dust off your shamrocks and shillelaghs – it’s time for the St Patrick’s Day festival again. The annual five-day shindig kicks off today, and there’ll be various musical events happening in Dublin from now until Wednesday.

Eleanor Shanley will play a special gig at Sandford Parish Church in Ranelagh on Monday evening; 1990s tribute act Smash Hits will tear up the Sugar Club on Tuesday; on the same day, there’s the annual free-for- all céilí at St Stephen’s Green from 4pm-7pm.

On St Patrick’s Day, folk musician Donal Lunny leads “A Celebration of Irish Voices” at the NCH, and Kíla take the stage of the Olympia at 8pm. Brian Hogan of Kíla told The Ticket that it was an “honour” to play the venue on the big day. “It’s good to be in an Irish band on Paddy’s Day, because you’ll always be working,” he joked. “I suppose it’s carte blanche for over-indulgence in liquid form, but it’s all a bit of fun.”

For more info on St Patrick week events, see Features Arts in today's Irish Times