Back in the day, the St. Patrick’s Day parade was a couple of tractors pulling a trailer that had boys dressed up as housewives on it, little girls as sheep crawling beside it and the town elder as the Patron Saint of Ireland himself (or something along those lines.) These days, towns, cities, villages and crossroads around Ireland pull out all the stops to ensure that the coffee-cup holding citizens of this green isle are entertained. Or at least distracted from the inevitable rain/snow/freezing fog.
Although, this year, it looks like maybe, just maybe it might be a little bit dry and dare we say it...sunny *furiously knocks on wood* so the organisers of the hundreds of parades taking place around the country can expect lots of people tapping their flip-flops (it might be, like, 20 degrees!) in anticipation and waiting to be wowed.
Parades ARE Paddy's Day, no matter what the shysters behind other social events try to tell you, and you must pop down to the one closest too you, wear some shamrock in your button hole and wave a mini tri-colour as the floats go by.
We can’t possibly highlight them all, so let’s take a look around the Four Corners of Eire to see what’s in store for St. Patrick’s Day revellers this year.
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The Cork St. Patrick's Day Parade, running from the South Mall to the Grand Parade, along St. Patrick's Street and finishing at Merchant's Quay, will take place in the heart of the City on Monday 17th March 2014 at 1pm.
Marvel at the colourful performances from a wide variety of groups from all over the city and county representing sports, community and the arts and be awed by the five specially commissioned pieces inspired by legendary tales and created by renowned street theatre companies. See Johan and the Whale by SPRAOI, The Phoenix by Bui Bolg, the Tractor Factor with Dowtcha puppets, Life Beats from Cork Community Art Link and large scale inflatable floats by LUXe.
As well as the parade, check out Barry’s Tea Market for artisan food and crafts stalls and enjoy music in various locations with the Lee Sessions and on the festival stage, located fittingly on St. Patrick’s Street.
Limerick promises that this year their parade will be the biggest yet! The theme is Limerick City of Culture 2014 and it will feature over 4,000 participants, on floats on on foot and representing their communities and groups and including internationally renowned street theatre group Mancas, Buí Bolg Productions and Centre Stage Theatre School. It will start at 12pm at Punches Cross, will march down O'Connell Street and end at the Island Road.
This year, the Grand Marshals of the Parade are Special Olympics athletes from Team Munster.
Over 60,000 spectators are expected to line the streets of Limerick City Centre to watch this special City of Culture St Patrick's Day Parade.
As ever, one of the highlights of Limerick's Saint Patrick's celebrations is the Limerick International Band Championship which is now impressively in its 44th year but please note this event is held on Sunday, March 16th.
This year marks the 111th year of Galway St. Patrick's Day Parades and the theme for 2014 is The Sea. Galway has a volatile but romantic (some would say) relationship with the sea and that relationship will be brought to life throughout its medieval streets.
Claire Greany - six time Irish Dancing World Champion - will be the guest of honour.
The parade will start at 11.30am, on Lower Dominick Street (at Monroes Pub), will then move up Dominick Street over O'Briens Bridge, continue up Shop Street and then on to Eyre Square. It will end at Galway County Council Buildings.
Kamil Krolak - who created the YouTube hit Galway is also HAPPY - will be shooting another video project for the parade. So make sure to come fully dressed - with a smile - and confirm to everyone that there's mighty craic to be had in the City of the Tribes.
The Galway Dance Project will be in Woodquay Square after the parade from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Their series of workshops in an alcohol free zone will highlight Galway's vibrant dance community with a mix of martial arts, movement and international dance styles.
Families can enjoy a Teddy Bear's picnic in association with Enable Ireland in Woodquay Park from 1.30 - 3.30pm, with a family disco and performances by Galway Community Circus.
Please take note that the Belfast Carnival Parade is on Sunday, March 16th.
The story of our Patron Saint is re-imagined with the Carnival Parade's 2014 theme; St Patrick - to the Future. Be one of the happy people who will come from far and wide to see the saint travel through time on a vibrant journey to Belfast of the future. There'll be floats, performers and music and a brilliant festival atmosphere.
The Parade will start from Belfast City Hall at 12 noon and will end up at Custom House Square where where a totally free outdoor concert will take place from 1pm to approximately 3pm, hosted by Citybeat's Stephen Clements and Sara Neill. Performers include X Factor winner Shane Ward, Irish-folk singer Emerald Armada, teen group Sontas, the Tir na N'Og Dancers and the South Asian Dance Academy.
This year's St. Patrick's Festival Dublin is heee-oooge! There is so much to do from Friday to Monday who knows if you'll even have the energy for the parade. We advise that you buck up for it and get down to the city centre to experience this unique and special spectacle.
2014 is the first year of a three-year theme and narrative for the Festival Parade; Past, Present and Future will be explored over the next three years. So that makes 2014 'Past' and the theme is: Let's Make History.
It is going to be very interesting to see what the eight pageant companies that will feature in the Parade will deliver and judging from the topics that have been chosen we are waiting with high anticipation: The Battle of Clontarf - 1000 years on by SPRAOI, The Merman's Tale by INISHOWEN CARNIVAL GROUP, What The Ostrich Sees by BRIGHTER FUTURES, Let's Make History Colourful by ARTASTIC, The Wheel's of Time by CITY FUSION, History of Love by MACNAS, Ex-Creatures Great and Small by BUÍ BOLG BY BUÍ BOLG.
Where ever you are, whatever you do and who ever you see - we hope you have a very merry St. Patrick's Day!
