Dublin celebrates St Patrick's day
Joyful national pride resonates through every event!Although New York has a bigger St Patrick’s Day parade, it is Dublin that stretched it into a week-long celebration! Culminating in the parade on the Big Day, March 17th, which transforms the city into a green throng of cheery patriots, it attracts people from all around the globe, with flights running from Birmingham.
Saint Patrick has been the patron saint of Ireland since shortly after his death (4th C), but March 17th was not made his feast day until the 17th C and the Festival was only established in 1996. Dublin celebrates in style; from March 16th until the 20th, it is filled with music and family fun.
For athletic types, there is a 5km road race through the streets of Georgian Dublin; improvised comedy shows performed at the Laughter Lounge; there are events in Gaelic celebrating traditional Irish culture.
Although the day is notorious for drinking and celebrating, the festival is child friendly. Various locations across the city, including Merrion Square, Wolfe Tone Park and Custom House Quay light up with roller coasters and Ferris wheels as a part of the funfair program. A literary hunt and arts and crafts workshops are sure to keep children entertained.
Leading from Parnell Square to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the parade itself is fantastically extravagant, featuring Dublin's biker clubs on Harley Davison motorcyles following the mayor's gilded coach, with floats, dancers and musicians.
Before and after the parade, the streets come alive with visual artists entertaining the public in the most unexpected places as they dance through the crowds. A variety of live bands ride the festival fever, and many open air performances are free.
