Kilkenny is set to rival Dublin this St Patrick’s Day as organisers confirm the return of their parade as well as a massive six day extravaganza celebrating the patron saint of Ireland.
It comes after The Star revealed last month that Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day festival organisers announced the annual parade, which had been cancelled for the last two years, would be held on March 17.
Organisers for the Kilkenny festival have now announced a six-day programme of events which will include the St. Patrick’s Day Parade; performances by American marching bands; street entertainment including acrobats, children’s shows and stilt walkers; a carnival, Rogu Fire Show; fireworks display; street food vendors; drum workshops with live music.
Beginning on the Tuesday with the Hardin Simmons Cowboy Band from West Texas and taking in the double bank holiday weekend, this year’s festival extends to six days, making it the biggest St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny to date.
Chairperson of the St. Patrick’s Festival Committee, Cllr. Joe Malone, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the crowds back to Kilkenny for the St. Patrick’s Festival this year. Kilkenny has made a name for itself as a Festival City and the St. Patrick’s Festival has grown a lot in the last few years. Last year it went virtual with participants from all over the world featuring in the seven hours of content.
“This year we’re excited to welcome everyone in person to enjoy everything Kilkenny has to offer”.
Festival Director Marian Flannery said: “We’re itching to get back to the streets and to be able to bring events to people in person.
“We’ve a bumper programme this year with our biggest festival yet. We’re delighted to welcome Marching Bands from across the states, who will be performing at special performances in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle in the days before and after St. Patrick’s Day.
“The Parade Plaza will be a hub of activity with the Mayors Walk Street Feast, carnival rides, and street performers. Kilkenny has a great tradition of music which we’re delighted to be able to showcase through our performance stage on Canal Square. There really will be something for everyone to enjoy.”
It comes after Dublin organisers have confirmed the annual parade will return and tickets for seats at the grandstand, priced at €77, where people can have the best view to watch all the action, are on sale now.
The Dublin parade attracts almost half a million people to the city and will provide a massive boost to the hospitality sector.
Aileen Galvin, Director of Public Engagement & Strategy of St. Patrick’s Festival, Dublin, told us: “We are currently planning for the long-awaited return to live, in-person events from March 16-20 in Dublin, and across Ireland, for St. Patrick’s Festival 2022, including the national St. Patrick’s Festival Parade on March 17.
“SPF TV will also be reignited, with a packed online programme of arts, culture, entertainment, wellness and spectacle from all four corners of Ireland, available to enjoy globally, on demand, free of charge at stpatricksfestival.ie from March 16-20.”
The celebrations will be broadcast around the world to a potential audience of 80 million people.
“The full programme of festival events will be announced soon.
“All live events are of course subject to prevailing public health guidance.”
Kilkenny bosses said their parade will take on March 17 at 1.30pm in Kilkenny city centre.
The theme of this year’s Parade is ‘Run with the Wolves’ based around the famous Kilkenny Animation Studio Cartoon Saloon’s latest Oscar nominated movie, Wolfwalkers.
The movie which is set in Kilkenny in 1650 takes inspiration from famous Kilkenny landmarks and forests. Communities are invited to help bring the story to life as they take inspiration from their surroundings and join together to run with the Wolf, the main feature of the parade.
