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St. Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated around the world, but festivities in Ireland are the best. The return of the world-class parades, street theatre, and live music promises lively and engaging experience for locals and visitors alike throughout the country. Cities and towns come alive with a plethora of events and activities that showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ireland. Whether you’re participating in events or simply wandering through the streets, St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique and memorable experience that captures the spirit of Ireland.
This year we are lucky to be able to celebrate St. Patrick with a 3 day bank holiday weekend; a perfect opportunity to take a mini-break after the long winter days. It is time to dust off the caravans and motorhomes and make plans for the weekend. Many caravan & camping parks will be opening their gates for the season ahead in time for St. Patrick?s weekend. Check out the opening dates for all your favourite sites by clicking here
If you are undecided where you want to go for the weekend let us give you a taste of some of the great events and festivals that will be taking place over St. Patrick?s weekend.
The St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin truly offers a vibrant and immersive experience for locals and visitors alike. The world-class parade sets the stage for a celebration that perfectly blends tradition and modernity, showcasing Ireland’s rich cultural tapestry.
The Festival Quarter at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks adds an extra layer of magic to the festivities. The day-to-night urban festival on Saturday and Sunday promises a diverse range of events for families, with a 3,000-capacity covered main stage hosting music and entertainment. The inclusion of a CéilÍ Mór on Sunday afternoon adds a traditional Irish dance element, inviting everyone to join in the fun.
The City Funfair on Custom House Quay is a delightful addition, bringing the excitement of a classic carnival to the heart of Dublin. With favourite attractions, the funfair provides an opportunity for families and friends to enjoy thrilling rides and games in a picturesque setting along the quay.
Book into one of the caravan & camping parks in Dublin or Wicklow for the weekend and take the Bus, Luas or Dart into the city to experience the thrills and excitement of this great festival.
Kilkenny will also celebrate St. Patrick?s Day with a host of activities taking place in the city over the weekend and will include acrobatic performances, street food and a vintage carousel alongside the centre piece parade. There will also be a Pop-up Gaeltacht where you can put your Irish language skills to the test. Alongside these festivities Kilkenny Tradfest will also take place. With over 90 free sessions on the Music Trail, top class traditional music workshops and an unprecedented 14 Headline Shows you will be spoilt for choice.
Did you know that the first St Patrick?s Day parade held in Ireland was in Waterford City back in 1903? This year not alone will they have a parade but a four-day festival which will run from 15th to 18th March and will celebrate the very best of what the city has to offer. You can take in views of the entire festival from the comfort of a river cruise, or admire the talent showcased at the Irish Dancing Booley House Trad Show. Bring the kids to the City Centre Fairground, or learn more about the historic county on one of the walking tours taking place across the four-day celebration.
So whether you are staying in Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford or Tipperary take a trip to Kilkenny and or Waterford over the weekend for some great performances and music.
It sounds like Cork has a fantastic lineup of events for St. Patrick’s weekend! Whether you’re interested in circus performances, traditional Irish dancing, or a night of laughter with talented comedians, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a quick summary of the highlighted events:
Circus High Jinks at Elizabeth Fort:
- Location: Elizabeth Fort, off Barrack Street
- Activities: Towering aerial acrobatics, fire juggling on a tightwire, hand balancing displays, Circus Disco with hula hoops and soft juggling balls.
Céilí Mór at City Hall:
- Location: City Hall
- Activities: Traditional Irish dance event, no experience necessary, with experienced dancers guiding participants through the dances.
Funny Fridays St. Patrick’s Weekend Special at The Comedy Club – City Limits:
- Location: City Limits
- Activities: Enjoy a night of comedy with talented Cork comedians like Chris McShane, Micheal Roche, and more presenting their best material.
Ball run
- Location: St. Patrick?s Hill
- Twelve thousand multi-coloured balls will race down Patrick?s Hill on Monday March 18th at 2.00 pm. Each ball in the Ball Run is individually numbered and released from a cage at the top of Patricks Hill in a colourful cascade. They are then guided down the hill and gathered in a trap at the bottom where the first 6 balls win a prize
These events offer a diverse range of entertainment for people of all ages and interests. Whether you want to marvel at circus performances, dance to traditional Irish music, or share a good laugh with local comedians, Cork has you covered for a memorable St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Pitch up for the weekend at one of the sites open in Cork and take a trip into Cork City to enjoy all the great events taking place.
In Kerry, the theme for this year?s St Patrick?s Festival Killarney is “Echoes of Killarney Past,” so you can expect to see elements of Killarney’s tales and folklore incorporated into the colourful floats. Killarney town will be buzzing with activity in the days and nights leading up to St Patrick?s Day in anticipation of the main event which, of course, is the gala St Patrick?s Day Parade. Listen to classic Irish tunes by candlelight in St Mary’s Church of Ireland. Or admire some of Killarney’s most famous landmarks lit up in green. If you have little ones, stop by the Anam Cultural Centre for Myths and Legends for Families and watch as the kiddos get lost in Irish folklore. From March 10 to March 26, buildings throughout the whole town and its surrounds join in the fun by illuminating their properties in a very fetching shade of green. Landmark buildings, including St Mary?s Cathedral, the Franciscan Friary, St Mary?s Church of Ireland, Methodist Church, Ross Castle and Killarney Courthouse all join in the fun as well as hotels, shops, restaurants, pubs and numerous other local buildings.
And, if you are planning an extended break following St. Patrick?s weekend why not take in the Wander Wild Festival from 22nd to 24th March in Killarney. Wander off the beaten track,swim at sunrise in a lake, climb Carrauntoohil to see Ireland from its peak, bike, run, horse ride, stroll, kayak, refuel with a food trail and recharge with a wellness session. Experience Killarney?s National Park, its lakes and its mountains ? like never before! Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or like to slide into the weekend with some mindfulness there is something to suit all our wanderers.
Kerry has some much to offer all the family and some top caravan & camping parks in Killarney and throughout the county. Book a few nights in Kerry and experience the joys of the Kingdom.
The Wild Atlantic Way is known for its breathtaking coastal views, and the St. Patrick’s Festival in Galway seems like a great way to celebrate the holiday with family-oriented entertainment and traditional music concerts. The free concerts in Eyre Square are a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant Irish culture.
The complimentary screenings of documentaries at the Town Hall Theatre on Monday 18th March also offer a unique chance to explore the essence of Galway through visual storytelling. Additionally, the Galway Head of the River rowing event on Saturday 16th March promises to be an exciting and competitive spectacle. Watching rowing clubs from all over Ireland participating in the long-distance race from Lough Corrib to Woodquay in Galway City would be a memorable experience.
Make sure to capture the moments, enjoy the local hospitality, and embrace the festive atmosphere during your journey along the Wild Atlantic Way and the St. Patrick’s Festival in Galway. It sounds like an unforgettable adventure awaits you!
Book into one of the many great sites in Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon and head into Galway City to experience at the great events taking place over the weekend.
Armagh City is the “Home of St Patrick,” the place where Patrick began his mission and to celebrate St. Patrick a host of events, parades and events take place throughout Northern Ireland over the weekend.
Armagh’s Home of St Patrick’s Festival returns with an exciting programme of music, art, theatre, film and dance. This is a chance to reflect on the legacy of St Patrick and have fun celebrating his influence on history and culture. One of the highlights is the Vigil Walk which takes place between the two St Patrick’s Cathedrals, the only city in the world to have the honour of having two Cathedrals that share the same name. The Festival programme runs Sunday 10th March to Sunday 17th March 2024 and offers a thrilling showcase of history, culture, traditional music, dance and plenty of good food and drink to sustain you.
Belfast St. Patrick?s Music weekend presents a programme of traditional arts encompassing a diverse, cross cultural and cross traditions celebration in honour of St Patrick. The range of free and ticketed events celebrate the very best of our traditional arts and include concerts, céilís, displays, taster sessions, workshops, outdoor music stages and more.
Check out some of the top quality caravan & camping sites in Northern Ireland to pitch up for a few days over the weekend and celebrate St. Patrick in his home town.
So wherever you plan on visiting you will be assured of loads of great events and celebrations taking place. Check out Camping Ireland for loads of great ideas on sites to pitch up over the weekend.
Camping Ireland has so much information to help you plan your caravan & camping trip away. The new website is very user-friendly and has a number of great features which makes it very easy to navigate. One of the new features is that you can now add filters to your selection. This will allow you to get information on parks that are specific to your needs.
You can now filter for sites as follows:
Camping type ? camping, glamping, mobile home hire, etc.
Holiday type ? beach holiday, countryside, family-friendly, dog friendly, etc.
Facilities ? beach nearby, playground, games room, shop, etc.
County
Region ? Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland?s Ancient East, Ireland?s Hidden Heartlands, Dublin or Northern Ireland
Also, many sites are now offering online booking which will help you secure your pitch at the click of a button.
Whatever you want Camping Ireland has something to suit everyone. Enjoy the independence and flexibility that camping in Ireland can offer in quality approved sites. We look forward to welcoming you to Ireland?s outdoor living.
