We visited the SOURCE of St. Patrick's Day celebrations! The one and only Dublin, Ireland home of the Saint Patrick's Cathedral! Here are all our tips for having a BLAST during this lucky week of March in Dublin. Watch the video above to get a glimpse of what your Irish celebration could be like during Saint Patrick's Day week in Dublin!
Pre-Holiday Fun
Saint Patrick's Day in Dublin, Ireland goes on for a few days, not just on the 17th! Here are some fun holiday themed activities you can do before the day of the parade!
š¤ Festival Quarter on Saturday March 15th and 16th at the National Museum
There's live music held at the National Museum of Ireland in the Collins Barracks. It's a big free daytime festival space with live music, food trucks, comedy, talks, and pop-up performances. Daytime programming typically runs around 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM and is free, with live music, Irish dancing (cĆ©ilĆ), food stalls, circus acts, games, and cultural performances.
š The Festival 5K Road Race. I wouldn't do this because I have arthritis. BUT if you are an active and sportsy person than this would be a blast! This race usually happens a couple days before St. Patrickās Day and runs through the city center. Even if you donāt run, itās fun to watch because many locals dress up in green costumes.
The Parade Route
If you are visting Dublin during the week of March 17th then make sure you book a hotel that's on the route of the parade. There will be no way to hail taxis, Ubers, or drive yourself around the crowded streets during this day so it's best if you can walk to the parade. We booked our stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Dublin City Center. We were right on O'Connell Street and it was so easy to view the parade right outside from our place! Also staying on the route is convenient for if you need to go the bathroom, refill your water and or get a snack.
The St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin is held every year on March 17th, the route is usually very similar for most years.
In most recent years, the parade has followed a roughly 2.5 km route through central Dublin, typically:
Starts: Parnell Square
Goes down O'Connell Street
Crosses the River Liffey via O'Connell Bridge
Continues through Westmoreland Street, College Green, and Dame Street
Passes Christ Church Cathedral
Ends near: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Organizers tend to keep this same central route year-to-year because it goes through the widest streets and major landmarks, making it easier for large crowds and TV coverage. However, small changes can happen depending on construction, crowd management, or special events so make sure you research the route for the year in which you are visiting.
Also make sure to wear your green! Everyone is in their best green outfits, locals and tourists alike, see looks from this year below:
After The Parade
You don't need to worry about planning this too much because every bar and restaurant will be a party after the parade! You only need to remember to travel by foot or subway because there's no way you'll be catching a car to get home by the end of the night on the 17th. Here are some fun activities to do after the fabulous parade!
š¶ Festival concerts & nightlife
The official St. Patrick's Festival often schedules concerts, DJ sets, and ticketed shows around the city on the night of the 17th, especially at venues like 3Arena for larger concerts.
āļø Greening of the city
During St. Patrickās Day before and after, many landmarks light up green at night, including: St. Patrick's Cathedral, Samuel Beckett Bridge and Custom House. Walking around at night during the festival weekend feels really festive. We saw one of the city bridges lit up brightly green!
š» Traditional music sessions
Some pubs host fabulous trad music sessions before and after the festivities! Great spots include: The Cobblestone (famous for authentic local musicians), O'Donoghue's (historic pub known for Irish folk music) and The Brazen Head (one of the oldest pubs in Ireland). We went to the Oliver St. John Gogartys bar and of course the famous Temple Bar
Overall if you are headed to Dublin on the week of Saint Patrick's Day then you have the time of your life! Comment on my parade video which float was your favorite! Follow all of our Ireland fun and get great travel tips in my Iconic Ireland Playlist! And subscribe to this blog for detailed Ireland itinerary tips and tricks! Check out more experiences around the world on my YouTube channel.
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