Dublin is set to host half a million people on its streets for the National St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Over four thousand street performers, showpieces and marching bands hailing from Ireland and across the world will take part in the festivities.
This year’s national parade celebrates Irish culture and heritage through the theme ‘Eachtraí’ – the Irish word for adventures.
Organisers expect upwards of 500,000 spectators to attend the event in the city centre. Tickets, priced at €250, were also on sale for seats on the ‘grandstands’ on O’Connell Street.
More than 4,000 participants are set to begin the parade on Granby Row, near Parnell Square, on the northside of the city centre at 12pm, midday. This year’s parade will be led by actress Victoria Smurfit
Extra trains will be operating between Dublin city centre, Maynooth and Dundalk this weekend, including some late-night services. Irish Rail services will be operating extra Dart and Commuter services before and after the parade.
Between 4pm and midnight, tonight, Tara Street station in the city centre will be closed. Six late-night trains will be running after midnight:
On Dublin Bus, enhanced services will be operating for daytime and 24-hour routes around the capital today. Nitelink services will be operating tonight as well.
All public transport passengers are asked to check timetables before leaving for the city centre and are warned that a number of diversions will be in place across both networks today.
In Cork city, a parade will get underway on the South Mall at 1pm.
This year’s theme is ‘building a better world’, based on a UN initiative, and participants have been encouraged to keep this in mind when curating their performances and displays.
Rap collective Kabin Krew will lead the St Patrick's Day festivities in Cork this afternoon.
The kids group will act as Grand Marshalls for the event which is due to feature 2 thousand 500 participants.
In the evening, Cork-based band, Celtic Knights, will kick off their performance on Washington St at 7pm. If you’re in the mood to hear some music sooner, the Céilí All-Stars will be hosting a trad session on Douglas St at 6pm.
This year’s theme in Munster is ‘A More Fun Limerick’ as dozens of cultural events and activities are planned across the streets this afternoon.
Limerick city’s parade will begin on Roden Street at 12pm.
Swimmer Róisín Ní Ríain, who won a silver medal at the most-recent Paralympic games, has been chosen as this year’s grand marshal.
Street performances, music events, story-telling sessions and block parties are on offer in Limerick this afternoon.
More than 3,000 people will participate in the parade in Galway city today, with thousands more expected to turn up to spectate.
The event will begin on University Road at 11.30am and pass by some of the most well-known sites in Galway, including going over the Salmon Weir Bridge.
Eyre Square, near the end of the parade’s route, will be hosting music from 2pm to 8pm today. Traditional music and up-beat performances are on offer for families and more.
It is the last night of the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Galway, which has been hosting craic agus ceoil around the city since Saturday afternoon.
