WITH St Patrick’s Day just around the corner, festivities to celebrate Irish culture are gearing up across the country.
Dublin is set to be the hub of events, starting off the St Patrick’s Day Festival today.
There will be all-day fun fairs in Merrion Square West and Wolfe Tone Park, musical entertainment in the Stephen’s Green band stand, and street performances at Coppinger Row, South King Street, Dame Court, Grafton Street and South King Street.
The outdoor céilí, one of the most popular free events of the four-day festival, will take place in St Stephen’s Green from 4.30pm to 7.30pm this evening.
MC will be Dearbhla Lennon of Riverdance fame, as professional Irish dancers will lead the less accomplished in Irish dances from the Walls of Limerick to the Siege of Ennis.
Tomorrow, St Patrick’s Day, will see parades and musical entertainment in cities throughout Ireland.
In Dublin, the parade departs from Parnell Square for O’Connell Street at midday, winding its way through the City Centre down Dame Street to end at St Patrick’s Cathedral. More musical performances are on the menu and trad abounds in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar after the parade.
Belfast’s celebrations tomorrow will also centre on their carnival parade, which begin at City Hall at noon and end at the Custom House Square an hour later.
The city’s music stage will be hopping, headlined by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. X-Factor finalist Sophie Habibis will be joined by Bright Lights, Shake, Pure Blarney, Ashelin and the Royal Tara School of Irish Dance.
More music awaits festival- goers at night, at the Féile an Earraigh at the Bank Square marquee. Beginning tonight, Kila and Gráinne Holland will entertain, while on Saturday, the Shamrogues will take to the stage.
Cork’s parade will start off at 1pm from Parnell Place on Saturday, to end at Merchant’s Quay by 2.30pm. Music will not be far away all day, as the Living Social Music Stage is live from 10am to 6pm at the Grand Parade and Boardwalk South Mall, featuring Comhaltas, Meascáin and Death by Chocolate.
Trad is sure to sprout all over, but the Oliver Plunkett, Coughlan’s and the Rock Bar will be at hosting Cork Festival’s Lee Sessions. If you would rather shop, Barry’s Tea Market, also on the Boardwalk South Mall, might be more your style.
Galway’s trad trail will be in full swing starting today in the Latin Quarter at Tig Coilí, Taaffes Bar, Spanish Arch Hotel, Kellys Bar, the Quays Bar, the Kings Head.
The International Print Exhibition, launched in conjunction with the Festival, will be open for viewing from 9am-4pm throughout the festival.
On Saturday, the parade will begin at Lower Dominick Street at 11.30am and finish in front of the Galway County Council Buildings.
In Limerick, family fun, buskers, music and more await visitors to the Milk Market from 10am-4pm today and tomorrow, and the trad trail will be in full swing both days.
The St Patrick’s Day parade sets off from O’Connell Avenue to Island room at noon.
If you have children in tow, the Hunt Museum is the place to be, with storytelling of Irish myths and legends, and arts and crafts for the little ones.
In the evening, the Limerick Strand Hotel will host St Patrick’s Festival Club, with free music and nibbles after dark.
Downpatrick, Co Down, the burial place of St Patrick, has been hosting a seven-day festival already. In addition to the parade, visitors can see a pilgrimage walk from Down Cathedral to Saul Church, purported to be the site of St Patrick’s mission.