ST PATRICK'S WEEKEND FESTIVITIES:MORE THAN half a million people are expected to turn out in Dublin for the St Patrick's Day parade tomorrow .
Festivities in the capital began last Thursday and will continue until tomorrow night. In a change to the normal schedule, the Céilí Mór was held yesterday instead of after the parade, and up to 30,000 attended Merrion Square to hear the Brian Boru Céilí Band and jig along to the best of their ability.
The Skyfest fireworks display was held outside the capital for the second time and drew large crowds to the Quays in Waterford City on Saturday night.
Those lucky enough to be off work or school today can enjoy the funfair at Merrion Square, which continues until 11pm on Tuesday.
The National Concert Hall will host the Kilfenora Céilí Band tonight and at Liberty Hall, a lively debate on what it means to be Irish is promised. There are also plays and exhibitions which have been running for the entire festival.
The Dublin parade will begin at noon tomorrow from Parnell Square. The theme is “The Sky is the Limit”, and more than 2,000 performers will take part including Irish street theatre companies, ceremonial groups and marching bands from the US, Canada, Germany, Italy and Ireland.
A GAA pageant, Monumental Moments, will lead the parade to mark the GAA’s 125th anniversary. GAA stars Brian Dooher, Henry Shefflin, Angela Walsh and Caitríona Foley will act as the joint grand marshals. GAA commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh will provide the commentary.
Those not attending the parade may prefer to take a stroll as part of the Aware Harbour-to-Harbour Walk. The event will see hundreds walking the 16 miles from Howth Harbour to Dún Laoghaire or vice versa for the charity, which fights depression.
Up to 70 local parades will be taking place around the country, from Ardee to Wicklow town.
Met Éireann says most places can expect a dry day with some bright or sunny spells and temperatures up to 13 degrees.
In Cork, “Cosmic Chaos” is the theme of this year’s festivities and organisers have teamed up with Blackrock Castle Observatory to celebrate the UN International Year of Astronomy. Nasa astronaut Dan Tani will lead tomorrow’s parade, which will begin at 1pm at the South Mall.
City Hall will host an exhibition Capture the Cosmos, as part of the festivities and the new boardwalk along the river Lee will host a number of events, including the Barry’s Tea food market, presented by Cork City Council, from 10am to 5pm.
The Limerick “Go Green” parade will begin at noon from Sarsfield Barracks and will be led by children’s TV presenter Emma O’Driscoll.
In Galway, the parade, “A Celebration of the Sea”, will start at 12.30pm at Lower Dominick Street. The St Patrick’s Day carnival procession in Belfast, with the theme “Legends, Myths and Stories”, will leave City Hall at noon.