St. Patrick's Day 2022 is here and we have never looked forward to a Paddy's Day as much as this one.

On Patrick's Day we celebrate Ireland's Patron Saint and Irish heritage.

What better way to kick off Spring than with some green-fueled fun!

The St. Patrick's Day Parade

Arguably the highlight of the day, communities from Donegal to Cork, Dublin to Galway host parades.  

Check out our overview of entertainment and events taking place in Ireland this March 17th.

Cork City: The theme of the Cork city parade is ‘Heroes: Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times’. The parade will celebrate the individuals and organisations who make a difference to their communities. The parade begins at 1pm on Thursday.

Ballingeary: Enjoy the music and fun of the Cork Gaeltacht on the radio. An Saol ó Dheas will be broadcasting live from the parade in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from midday.

Cobh: A St Patrick’s Day parade will take place in the coastal town of Cobh from 3pm, plus markets, live entertainment and kids’ activities too. A fireworks display will kick-off at 7.30pm over the lower harbour area - this spectacle is one to wait around for.

Limerick: This year’s theme is ‘Belonging and Identity’ and members of the Limerick Senior Hurling Panel are this year’s Grand Marshal. The Limerick International Band Championship is taking place this year on Sunday March 20th along with a host of family-friendly events.

Dublin: The highly anticipated return of the spectacular national St. Patrick’s Day Parade will meander its way through the streets of Dublin, from Parnell Square to St. Stephen’s Green. A number of marching bands and pageantry groups will be taking part, with the likes of inclusion and superheroes of the pandemic celebrated. New to this year’s St Patrick’s Festival celebration is the Festival Quarter at the National Museum of Ireland, showcasing music, comedy, storytelling, crafts, food and more.
 

Wearing Shamrock

Seamóg or Seamair Óg in Irish means young clover. It is believed that St Patrick used this plant with three leaves on one stem to explain the "Holy Trinity" (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) when preaching Christianity.

The Shamrock has become a symbol often associated with Ireland and fresh shamrock is worn on the lapel on St Patrick's Day. 

In 1681, people started pinning a shamrock to their clothes as they celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, and the tradition is still carried on today worldwide.

Ceol agus Céilí (music and folk dancing)

This is the week for soaking up Irish music from great Irish performers.  

Music is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day—and Irish culture in general. From ancient days of the Celts, music has always been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs. 

Today, traditional Irish bands like The Chieftains, the Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners are gaining worldwide popularity. Their music is produced with instruments that have been used for centuries, including the fiddle (violin), the uilleann pipes (bagpipes), the tin whistle (a flute made from nickel-silver, brass or aluminum) and the bodhran (an ancient type of framedrum that was traditionally used in warfare).

Food Markets in Ireland St. Patrick's Day

If you happen to be in Cork this St. Patrick's Day, the "Harley StrEAT food market" is definitely worth a visit. Take your pick of freshly made street food, with food trucks and live music. The vibrant market opened last year in Cork’s Victorian Quarter. Outdoor seating is available, with a good weather forecast to boot-fingers crossed!

Make the most of your St. Patrick's weekend in Dublin with a worthwhile trip to the Irish Food and Craft Village, based in the Festival Quarter, offering a daily selection of Ireland's best produce, culinary skills and arts and crafts. 

Enjoy contemporary and diverse cooking food trucks, including Lala Poutine, Bad Boys BBQ, Fire and Food, the Brew Crew Café and many more.

Full details of all events at the Festival Quarter from www.stpatricksfestival.ie

-Happy St Patricks Day!

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