Parade Day Announcements
Cork city celebrates Ireland’s national festival in style
Organised by Cork City Council, the Cork St. Patrick’s Festival begins on Friday March 14th and runs until Monday March 17th. Cork celebrates our national festival through music, dance, comedy, film and of course the much-loved Parade on Monday March 17th.
The St Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 1pm on St Patrick’s Day and will feature over 3000 participants and 57 groups. The Parade will welcome international groups including The High School Spartan Legion Marching Band from Colorado and Batala, the international collection of local Samba groups from several areas in the UK and further afield, who wowed the crowds at their first appearance last year.
The Kabin Studio whose iconic song “The Spark” has just won the RTE Choice Music Song of the Year will lead out the Parade as a Grand Marshal group.
The parade will begin at the junction of South Mall and Parnell Place, before it makes its way along South Mall and Grand Parade, then up St. Patrick’s Street to finish on Merchants Quay.
Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland says '
Festivals and events are a key component of Ireland’s tourism offering and they provide unique and compelling reasons for a visitor to choose a destination. They also have the ability to drive footfall for local businesses, supporting jobs and revenue generation. Fáilte Ireland is working closely with the festival organisers and the local community to develop and promote a compelling programme of events and experiences that celebrate both our national holiday and all that Cork has to offer.'
Local arts organisations Cork Community Art Link and Cork Puppetry Company also bring large scale floats to wow the public, while national arts organisations joining the parade include Spraoi from Waterford.
Cork Community Art Link’s participation in the St Patrick’s Day parade is a collaborative improvisation featuring members of wide variety of local organisations including Ballyvolane Hub, Cope Foundation, CAP, National Learning Network, Simon Community, Headway and the Cork Volunteer Centre.
As part of the Cork Puppetry Festival float, the majestic figure of Saint Patrick will be represented by a giant puppet version of himself accompanied by a happy DJ monk pushing a Gaelic cross, followed by four gigantic snakes - symbolising the changing landscape of the city and the different cultures in Cork.
The Parade will be streamed live from 12.45pm on Monday March 17. If you would like to send a message to the livestream – a greeting from near or far to be read out on air - please message the livestream or our social media links
Wheelchair users and those with special needs will be accommodated in a special area in front of Dunnes Stores on Patrick Street, and there will be ISL Interpreter services available beside the Grandstand, which this year is situated near the Tourist Information Office on St. Patrick’s Street. KC, Presenter of Breakfast on Cork’s RED FM will MC the Parade.
Information on road closures and diversions, bus re-routing and Park and Ride bus facilities will be posted on the webpages, along with a full listing of festival events.
Other events happening over the festive weekend include:
- Night Market on Cornmarket Street, Fri March 14, 5pm to 10pm
- Cork Coffee Lates, Cork City, Fri March 14, after 6pm
- Ceol Chorcaí, City Hall, Fri March 14, 7.30pm to 9.30pm
- The Lee Sessions Trad Trail in Cork City Centre Pubs, Fri March 14 to Mon March 17
- Tailteann Games: Traditional Games with Twist, Elizabeth Fort, Sat March 15, 11am to 1pm
- Raving to Reels, Trad Music Disco, Elizabeth Fort, Sat March 15, 2pm to 3.30pm
- The Afternoon Céilí Mór, City Hall, Sun March 16, 3pm to 6pm
- Eoghan O’Ceannabháin, St Peter’s Church, Sun March 16, 7.30pm
Cork’s RED FM and the Echo are the media sponsors of the Cork St. Patrick’s Festival, which is supported by Fáilte Ireland