Redheads, leprechauns and Queen Elsa: can only be St Patrick’s Day
It’s the country’s most internationally renowned celebration, and everybody knows it. All across the world, people with itchy feet are making bucket lists — Brazil for Carnivale, India for Holi, and Ireland for St Patrick’s Day.
While the sheer opulence and splendour of New York on this feast day is a force to be reckoned with, the Emerald Isle is surely the best place to be on the national feast day for the most authentic ceoil agus craic.
So while the ministers and the roses are flying out to parades across the world, a chunk of the world is flying in — to experience a truly traditional St Patrick’s Day in the island of saints and scholars. An expected half a million people from Ireland and further afield will line the streets of Dublin today to witness the country’s largest celebration.
The parade — which kicks off at noon and winds from Parnell Square to St Patrick’s Cathedral — will feature performers from around the globe, and will be led by Grand Marshal Brendan O’Carroll of Mrs Brown’s Boys fame.
Down south, the streets of Cork will be bursting with life, continuing the revelry of this year’s four-day festival.
The extravaganza, which began at the weekend, boasts an impressive array of music, crafts, and culture — daring street performers entertain the masses on St Patrick’s St and Grand Parade while a festival food map is tickling taste buds at over 20 locations throughout the city.
For the first time, some of Cork’s best-loved eateries feature St Patrick’s Day-inspired dishes. Participating outlets include Electric, Isaac’s, Elbow Lane, Market Lane, Coqbull, and Jacques.
The highlight of the festival, expected to attract upwards of 50,000 spectators, will be the St Patrick’s Day Parade at 1pm today. Led by Grand Marshal George Hook, it will begin on South Mall and travel via Grand Parade and St Patrick’s St to end on Merchant’s Quay at around 3.30pm.
The Irish Redhead Convention will take a starring role in this year’s festivities, inviting carrot tops to strut their stuff during the parade, while other interesting additions include the Dowtcha Puppets and Cork Community Art Link, as well as street theatre companies Spraoi, Buí Bolg, and LUXe.
Down the road in Ballincollig, parade organisers have set their sights on a world record — gathering the most Queen Elsas together in one place.
To the best of their knowledge, they will be the first to attempt such a record and have invited all the Elsas, and their parents, to gather in the SuperValu carpark near the town’s cinema at 2.30pm, ahead of the parade’s 3pm start on Main St.
In Limerick, more than 70,000 spectators will line O’Connell St to watch “a carnival of colour” including daredevil circus acts and aerial acrobatics, while Galway’s parade features the world’s strongest man.
A pop-up reptile zoo is one of the highlights in Waterford, while Belfast’s celebrations include a free gig by Blue singer Simon Webbe.
Though festivities start at the craic of dawn in Dingle, with the Fife and Drum Band marching through the town at 6am, the merriment is set to go right into the night — so no matter where in the country you find yourself, today is the day to paint the town green.
From redheads to Elsa, there’s a St Patrick’s parade for all
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