The St. Patrick’s Day festival officially runs from the 17th-20th of March, and there are plenty of events on around the city to keep you occupied. Whether you’re up for a family day out, a couple of drinks with friends or just up for a bit of a laugh there is something for everyone.
1. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade
This year’s parade is themed ‘Imagine If’ and is influenced by the imaginations of the youngsters of Ireland as they look to the future and the next 100 years. The parade will begin at Parnell Square at 12 midday, and will continue through the city centre. It takes place on St. Patrick’s Day, today, and is a free event. This is a great option for those of you who are looking to occupy children.
2. The Funfairs
There are funfairs located in several parts of Dublin for the Thursday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival. The main fairs are in Merrion Square and Custom House Quay. The times and prices vary so be sure to double check before you leave, but most are open between 11am-8pm. There are family rides such as the Walzters or more intense ones where you are suspended upside down so depending on how adventurous you are, this could be the event for you.
3. A visit to Croke Park
Why not head to Croker and watch the All-Ireland Senior Club Football and Hurling Championships? It promises to have a great atmosphere and will be a fantastic display of GAA skills. While there you could visit the GAA museum to soak up some Irish sporting history, or dare to try the Skyline Tour.
4. Have a green pint
Although we Irish love a drink any day of the week, we especially like to enjoy one on our national holiday. There are over 1,000 pubs to choose from in Dublin but why not try out some of the oldest pubs on offer and take in all the heritage. We recommend Mulligans, Whelan’s or O’Donoghue’s.
5. The Love Brunch
The Love Brunch is at The Odeon on Harcourt Street this St. Patrick’s Day. All attendees will receive a cocktail on arrival, followed by canapés and appetisers. If that’s not enough you can also indulge in the amazing brunch menu at The Odeon. There will also be DJ’s and performers there to keep you entertained into the evening. This is a strictly ticketed event so be sure to get them in advance.
6. Harbour to Harbour Walk
If you wanted to do something more active this Paddy’s Day why not try the Harbour to Harbour walk in aid of Aware. The walk is approximately 16 miles long and takes roughly 5 hours to complete. The walk begins at 10:30 and you can choose to start it from either Howth or Dun Laoghaire harbour, and walk to the other. The weather is set to be nice this year, so what a perfect way to get some fresh air and help a great cause.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!