Cork's St Patrick's Festival bigger, better, and greener than ever
The parade on March 17, with the theme of 1916 — The Legacy, will kick off a four-day St Patrick’s Festival, details of which were announced yesterday.
Up to 80,000 people are expected to attend the parade and festival events across the weekend.
Councillor Chris O’Leary said this year’s festival would be bigger, better, and greener than ever before, with City Hall and Bishop Lucey Park being illuminated green.
“It once again focuses on free family entertainment and offers a fresh alternative to the other festivals. I am so proud to invite visitors home to our magical city to experience the very best in local, national, and international talent,” he said.
The parade will set off from South Mall at 1pm on March 17, winding its way onto Grand Parade and St Patrick’s St before finishing on Merchant’s Quay.
It will be streamed live on www.corkcity.ie/tv and www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie. Organisers have encouraged people around the world to send messages or selfies to be broadcast on the day. People can take a 10- or 20-second video on their phones and tweet it to @LivefromCork, tag it on your Facebook page, or email livefromcork@gmail.com.
Up to 3,000 people representing community arts, sports, and music groups will march alongside the Smoky Hill High School Hill Regiment Marching Band; members of the Massachusetts State Police; Ridgeview High School Band; and the Timmins Police Pipes and Drums Canadian Police Band. They will be joined by five specially commissioned giant art pieces, created by renowned street theatre companies, to reflect on the past 100 years. LUXe has created a piece entitled the Legacy of Optimism; Dowtcha have created a giant Pádraig Pearse puppet; Spraoi’s entry focuses on Irish fauna; and Buí Bolg’s entry focuses on Irish creativity, traditional music, and literature.
The closing date for parade entries has been extended to Friday.
A traditional music concert, Aiseiri 1916, will be staged in Cork Opera House on St Patrick’s night, featuring Mary Hegarty and Joe Corbett, Pulses of Tradition, and the Cork ETB Youth Orchestra. Free trad sessions will also take place in pubs, with details available from theleesessions.com.
The city’s streets will come alive with mime artists, jugglers, and magicians from around the world, with a food and crafts market, and live music on a stage on Grand Parade, featuring The Roaring Forties, Douglas Comhaltas Céilí Mór, Suzie Q, Los Paddys de la Pampas, a fusion of Celtic roots with South American rhythm, Soul Reazon, the popular Two-time Polka, and the Céili Allstars.
Bishop Lucey Park will host creative workshops with the Wobbly Circus from 12 noon on Saturday, and on Sunday with French magician Paul Henri Jeannel.
An exhibition telling the story of the 1916 Rising runs from 11am to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday, at St Peter’s Church on North Main St.
The Crawford Art Gallery 1916 Art Trail takes place Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, with Sisters of the Rising by Christiane O’Mahony showing at The Everyman Theatre on Thursday and Friday at 8pm.
Cork St Patrick’s Festival is organised by Cork City Council.
Full details on the festival are available on www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie.



