Ireland is celebrating its famous St Patrick’s Day festivities for the first time in two years following a ban on gatherings because of the Covid pandemic. Including an additional one-off public holiday on March 18, there will be parades, live music, Irish dancing, arts, culture and heritage during the long weekend from March 17 to 20.
At the heart is the huge St Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin where this year’s landmark celebration will be the largest ever in scale and ambition. With more pageants, marching bands and participants than ever before set to snake through the streets of Dublin, the iconic National St Patrick’s Day Parade will return on March 17 to delight crowds.
The festival is introducing a new Festival Quarter for 2022, which will be set up in the surrounds of the National Museum of Ireland. The spectacular heritage site will become home to a magical day-to-night urban festival featuring a 3,000-capacity outdoor main stage, comedy tent, story yurt, relaxation areas and more.
The Festival Quarter will also host the Irish Food and Craft Village, showcasing Ireland’s incredible food and beverage produce, as well as arts, crafts and a space for all to relax and connect.
Here's a guide to some of Ireland's forthcoming St Patrick's Day events.
Guinness Storehouse Brewer's Feast
The Guinness Storehouse is holding a St Patrick’s Day party for five days from March 16 to 20, showcasing the very best of Irish culture. Celebrating across its seven floors, there will be an array of festivities including food, dance, music and of course a complimentary pint of Guinness. Visitors can also buy tickets to the Brewer’s Feast in the Brewer’s Dining Hall for an immersive culinary experience and performances with deliciously crafted dishes using Irish ingredients.
Tickets for the Guinness Storehouse Brewer’s Feast are €90 per person. Tickets include food and drink pairings, a ticket for a self-guided tour of the Guinness Storehouse, and one complimentary pint of Guinness or a soft drink. For more information visit guinness-storehouse.com
Home of St Patrick, Armagh
The Home of St Patrick Festival in Armagh also returns. It was in Armagh, now the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, where Patrick began his Christian mission. The festival in his honour this year, running from March 10 to 19, promises a lively and varied showcase of the best of the city’s culture, spirituality, music, song and dance.
For more information visit visitarmagh.com/festivals/st-patricks
Titanic Hotel, Belfast
The Titanic Hotel is preparing to welcome visitors this St Patrick’s Day with a special offer. The hotel was previously the original Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices where the story of the Titanic truly began. Now transformed into a hotel, the drawing offices have been turned into the hotels’ bar and lounge, and the careful restoration has ensured all authentic spaces have been retained. This St Patrick’s Day guests will get to enjoy a traditional Irish stew, a pint of Guinness or an Irish cocktail and tickets to the famous Titanic Belfast attraction.
The Titanic Hotel St Patrick’s Day package is available throughout March and starts from £199 per room, per night. For more information visit titanichotelbelfast.com
St Patrick's Eve Concert, Belfast
Tickets are now on sale for Belfast’s St Patrick’s Eve concert taking place on March 16. Bringing together some of Ireland’s most beloved musicians and rising stars for one night only at an outdoor live concert in Custom House Square.
The St Patrick’s Eve Concert takes place at 5pm on March 16. Tickets and more information are available from visitbelfast.com/event/st-patricks-eve-concert
St Patrick's Day festival, Waterford
A fun-filled and exciting weekend is also promised at Waterford’s St Patrick’s Day Festival from March 17 to 19, where the theme of the parade is ‘Waterford – Ireland’s Best Place to Live’. The city will be alive with amusements, the traditional parade and St Patrick themed walking tours in the city’s famous Viking Triangle. The three-day event is billed as ‘Waterford, Where St Patrick’s Day began’, as Waterford was the first city in Ireland to hold a St Patrick’s Day parade more than a century ago.
For more information visit stpatricksfestivalwaterford.com
St Patrick's Day festival, Kilkenny
Among the great places to experience the national celebrations in Ireland’s Ancient East will be the St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny, from March 15 to 20. Look out for American marching bands, a parade of local colour, street performers, fire shows, creative workshops for all ages and the best in live Irish music, all in a small medieval city.
For more information, visit stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com
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