Here are the details of the big seven Saint Patrick’s day parades in Ireland:
- Dublin 12pm. Begins at Parnell Square North, proceeding down O’Connell Street, crossing the River Liffey, and continuing through Dame Street, Lord Edward Street, Nicholas Street, and Patrick Street, finishing near Kevin Street by St. Stephen’s Green. Ireland’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade, expecting around 400,000 spectators, features over 4,000 participants, including 7 large scale pageants, 6 showpieces and 12 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Austria and street theatre. The theme of this year’s Festival and Parade is Eachtraí(Adventures). Pageant companies including Macnas, Bui Bolg, Art FX, Spraoi, Inishowen Carnival, The Outing Queer Arts Collective, and Artastic. A special pageant celebrates 40 years of Pavee Point, created in collaboration with Pavee Point and the Roma Traveller Centre.
- Belfast: 1:30pm. Starts at Belfast City Hall, loops through the city center, and returns to City Hall.. A vibrant celebration of Irish heritage, the Belfast parade includes local community groups, musicians, dancers, and floats. A broader St. Patrick’s Day programme is accompanied by traditional music sessions across the city
- Cork: 1pm. Begins on South Mall, moves along Grand Parade, and ends on Merchant’s Quay. Cork’s parade is a colorful showcase of local talent, featuring marching bands, community floats, and performers. Theme for 2025 is Building A Better World, celebrating 2025 as the UN International Year of Co-operatives, groups participating are encouraged to include this them in their presentation on the day.
- Derry 3pm: The theme of the city’s parade this year is ‘Flowers, Fur and Feathers.’ It will start from Bishop Street Car Park, and pass through The Diamond, Shipquay Street, Whitaker Street, Foyle Embankment, Harbour Square Roundabout and down the Strand Road to finish at Strand Road carpark.
- Galway: 11:30am, Starts at University of Galway, winds along University Road, over the Salmon Weir Bridge, to Eglinton Street, past the viewing stand at Eyre Square and onto Prospect Hill, where the parade will end. Galway’s parade highlights the city’s artistic heritage with street performances by groups like Macnas, featuring giant puppets and youth ensembles. It’s a family-friendly event with a bohemian vibe, part of a three-day celebration.
- Kilkenny: 1:30pm, the 2025 parade will follow a new route, starting at Johns Priory on John Street, proceeding over Johns Bridge, turning right down Bateman Quay (past Dunnes Stores), taking a left up High Street, continuing on to The Parade (past the Castle) and finishing on the Castle Road. The Review Stand and parade participant performances will be on The Parade, outside Boyd’s Auctioneers, across from the Castle. A medieval-themed celebration in Kilkenny, the parade blends Irish traditions with local legends. Expect acrobatics, American marching bands, and street entertainment, complemented by food stalls and a vintage carousel.
- Limerick: 12:00pm. Begins at O’Connell Street (near Roden Street), travels to Henry Street, and finishes on Rutland Street.. Limerick’s parade is a key part of its “A More Fun Limerick” festival theme, featuring local groups and international marching bands from the Limerick International Band Championship. It’s a spirited, community-driven event with a playful atmosphere.
- Sligo 12 noon, Theme of the parade is Queen Maeve, it will start at Mail Coach Road at noon on Monday and wind through the streets of Sligo, including Temple St, Wine St, Quay St, O’Connell St, Grattan St, and ending on Pearse Road Roaming face painters will be around from 11.30am.
- Waterford: 1:00pm. The theme for this year’s parade is ‘Saints and Scholars’. The parade starts at Waterford Bus Station, moves along The Quays past the Clock Tower, and finishes at the Parnell Street end of The Mall.. Claiming Ireland’s first Saint Patrick’s Day parade in 1903, Waterford’s event mixes history with festivity. It includes floats, bands, and performers, enhanced by a festival offering river cruises, Celtic workshops, and a fairground, appealing to all ages.
