Longford celebratons, centred on Tuesday, 17 March (Saint Patrick’s Day), start with an early community parade on Sunday, 15 March. The county features strong, inclusive parades in its main towns, organised by Longford County Council and local committees, emphasising community participation, accessibility, and local themes.
- Longford Town Parade (1:00 pm): The flagship event assembles floats at Connolly Barracks and proceeds via Main Street, Dublin Street, New Street, Ballymahon Street, and Killashee Street. Themed “Amuigh Faoin Spéir – Out in the Open”, it features over 40 colourful floats, marching bands, community groups, schools, clubs, and creative entries celebrating outdoor life, nature, and freedom. Led by Grand Marshal Michael Keenan (a respected local figure), the parade includes a prize-giving ceremony at Temperance Hall from 2:00 pm. Accessibility features include a sensory viewing area on Bridge Street (above the computer clinic) with reduced noise and a wheelchair-accessible viewing zone at Centenary Square. Children participating gather at the Aldi Car Park (Athlone Road) before joining.
- Ballymahon Parade (4:00 pm, assembly from 3:30 pm on Creevaghbeg Road): A lively afternoon procession themed “Our Story”, spotlighting local schools, parishes, GAA clubs, and community organisations. It highlights personal and collective narratives through floats, music, and displays in this town.
- Lanesboro / Ballyleague Parade (2:30 pm): A cross-border celebration uniting Longford and Roscommon communities along the River Shannon. The parade fosters shared heritage and friendship with local groups, bands, and festive entries from both sides of the border.
Early Celebration (Sunday, 15 March 2026)
- Ballinamuck Parade (3:00 pm): A popular pre-holiday event in this historic village, featuring face painting, live street music from “The Rurals”, and refreshments at Johnny’s Cottage. It kicks off the weekend with family-friendly activities and community spirit.
These events are free, community-led, and designed to be inclusive, with designated accessibility zones in Longford Town. Road closures are expected in parade areas—check Longford County Council alerts (longfordcoco.ie), local social media for the latest on routes, parking, and any additions.
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Saint Patrick’s Day county by county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Saint Patrick’s Day state by state in the USA
Alabama – Alaska – Arizona – Arkansas – California – Colorado – Connecticut – Delaware – Florida – Georgia – Hawaii – Idaho – Illinois –Indiana – Iowa – Kansas – Kentucky – Louisiana – Maine – Maryland – Massachusetts – Michigan – Minnesota – Mississippi – Missouri – Montana – Nebraska – Nevada – New Hampshire – New Jersey – New Mexico – New York – North Carolina – North Dakota – Ohio – Oklahoma – Oregon – Pennsylvania – Rhode Island – South Carolina – South Dakota – Tennessee – Texas – Utah – Vermont – Virginia – Washington DC – Washington State – West Virginia – Wisconsin – Wyoming –
Saint Patrick’s Day province by province in Canada
Alberta – British Columbia – Manitoba – New Brunswick – Newfoundland and Labrador – Nova Scotia – Ontario – Prince Edward Island – Quebec – Saskatchewan
Saint Patrick’s Day state by state in Australia
New South Wales – Northern Territory – Queensland – Tasmania – Victoria – Western Australia
