Every year, the city of Dublin prepares for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. And with each new edition, the program promises to be even more ambitious than the previous year! The proof is in the pudding for 2023: Tourism Minister Catherin Martin has announced that the festivities will attract half a million visitors to the capital for the March 17 parade alone!
Dublin is already in full swing: preparations have begun, and the capital is gearing up for an unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day for Irish people and foreigners alike, who have come to celebrate Ireland’s history and culture.
And the program, already unveiled, looks more than tempting.
St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin – Tourism Ireland
The parade will be a celebration of Irish arts, culture and heritage, with bands, dancers, floats and musicians!
This year’s theme is “One”. A way of celebrating uniqueness and inclusion in Ireland.
For the Minister for Tourism, it’s all about welcoming everyone, Irish and foreign alike… while showing the world the unique values of Irish hospitality!
The parade promises up to 7 creative competitions and 10 shows, brought to life by hundreds of passionate artists and intermittents. Expect music, historical and cultural references, colorful floats and ultra-festive shows.
But that’s not all: the St. Patrick’s Day program in Dublin will also include other events in addition to its Grand Parade, including concerts and celebrations (notably concentrated in the Festival Quarter, within the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, on the city’s north quays).
Artists such as Kila, Panti Bliss and Pillow Queens will be on hand. There’s also a funfair with a Ferris wheel, and an Irish village market devoted to food and crafts.
All daytime events will be free of charge.
The evening events on March 16 and 18 will require a ticket purchased in advance, which will be valid for the full evening program.
But don’t forget that the party will be going on everywhere: especially in Temple Bar, where the Irish pubs will be celebrating in style. There’ll be plenty of opportunity to sing and dance, meet new people and enjoy the famous Irish craic, both inside the establishments and on the streets, where the neighbourhoods are usually packed!
Numerous nightclubs will also be extending the party late into the night, with themed entertainment, in partnership with the St Patrick’s Day Festival. (Click here for the full program: www.stpatricksfestival.ie.)
A key question for tourists remains: will it be easy to find accommodation in Dublin, when the Irish capital has fallen victim to its policy of welcoming Ukrainian refugees? As a reminder, Dublin’s hotel system is said to be literally saturated, leading to an explosion in rates and an impoverishment of available rooms, following the arrival of the Ukrainians.
According to Tourism Minister Martin, many hotels will now be opening rooms for the festivities. She also points out that the Ukrainians are a minority, that it is necessary to welcome them, and that the hotels should be able to withstand the pressure, between their welcome and that of the St Patrick’s Day festival-goers.
Ms Martin added:
It’s said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and we warmly welcome this inclusion. It’s a day to celebrate our heritage and history, and we invite the whole world to join in the 2023 celebrations.
All that’s left to do is enjoy, and check out the detailed program of festivities on the official website: www.stpatricksfestival.ie.
Don’t forget to get a head start by booking your accommodation as soon as possible: book a hotel, B&B or youth hostel room in Dublin. The earlier you get started, the better the rates!
And don’t forget to bring some masquerade costume: leprechaun hats, green outfits, Irish flags… Most Irish people celebrate the event with many cultural references to Ireland, so you’ll be decked out in local colors to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2023!
And don’t forget to enter our special Saint Patrick’s Day competition: there are lots of prizes to be won!
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