St Patrick's Day parades in Munster and Dublin: Start times, routes, latest weather forecasts

Sophie and Grace Harris from Cork with their dog 'Lola' at last year's parade in Bantry. Picture: Andy Gibson.

St Patrick's Day parades are set to take place across the length and breadth of the country, as up to half a million people are expected to line the streets of Dublin. 

Across Munster, final preparations are underway as people come together to celebrate Irish culture and heritage.

In Dublin, the weather is expected to be relatively mild but breezy, but mostly dry throughout the day with the occasional sunny spell. 

In Munster, outbreaks of rain and drizzle are to be expected from the west early on. East of the region, the weather will remain mostly dry for the day with sunny spells - with highest temperatures of 9C to 12C.

Dublin

The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 12pm this Tuesday,  running from Parnell Square in the north of the city, down O’Connell Street, over O’Connell Bridge and through the south side of the city, ending at the Cuffe Street/Kevin Street junction.

The parade will feature 12 large-scale floats from independent parade companies, with over 3,000 participants involved, as Vogue Williams is set to be the parade's Grand Marshal.

Cork

The Cork City St Patrick's Day Parade kicks off at 1pm at the top of the South Mall near Parnell Bridge. Groups will then make their way toward Grand Parade, St Patrick's Street and along Merchant's Quay before finishing near the junction with Parnell Place. To mark the 50th anniversary of Irish Guide Dogs, the CEO Tim O'Mahony will be the Grand Marshal of the city parade.

Limerick

The city parade themed 'Legends of Limerick' will depart from the Roden Street junction of O’Connell Avenue at 12pm on March 17, with Ireland's national women's marathon champion, Ava Crean, to serve as Grand Marshal for the day. A post-parade block party will take place at Arthur's Quay Park. 

Clare 

The annual Ennis parade will take place on Tuesday at 11am, starting at Áras Contae an Chláir. Artist Mick O'Dea will serve as Grand Marshal for this year's parade, themed 'Wicked for Good'.

Tipperary

In Carrick-on-Suir, the St Patrick's Day Parade will kick off at 1pm at Tirlan, the co-op in Carrick Beg, then proceed across the New Bridge and finish up in the Fairgreen Library car park. The theme this year is ‘The Parade of Champions’.

In Clonmel, the march will take place on St Patrick’s Day from 3pm to 6pm, from West Gate to the Town Hall, with Grand Marshal Mary Prenderville - a Comhaltas lifelong member.

Kerry 

While festivities started bright and early with the Traditional Dingle Fife & Drum March setting off at 6am, the town’s main parade takes place at half past 12.30pm.

The Tralee St Patrick’s Day parade will commence at 12pm, while the parade in Killarney will start at 2pm, with Grand Marshal Brendan O'Brien, the Chair of Tralee Tidy Towns.