Organised by Cork City Council, the Cork St. Patrick’s Festival will take place from March 16 to March 19, when the city will showcase the very best of Cork’s culture and tradition to celebrate our national day.
The Cork St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on March 17 at 1pm, on the familiar route from South Mall to Merchants Quay. The 2023 Festival will see Cork’s largest parade ever. The feast of colour and pageantry will feature over 3,500 participants in 55 groups, to a theme of “A Century of Stories”.
Also on the agenda for the weekend are trad music performances from the Lee Sessions, art, theatre, live music, guided tours, an outdoor market and workshops.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Deirdre Forde said: “It is with delight I welcome all of Cork city to this celebration of all that makes us Irish. It’s been a difficult few years, but this March we move further from the shadows of the recent past with a Festival full of celebration and joy”
The Sanctuary Runners have been announced by Cork City Council as the Grand Marshal of the 2023 Parade.
Beginning five years ago in Cork, the Sanctuary Runners' movement is a worthy reflection of Cork’s welcoming nature. This organisation, through running - and now also swimming - brings the local community together with migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in a spirit of solidarity, friendship and respect. Over 100 members of the Sanctuary Runners representing countries from all over the world will form the Grand Marshal group and will lead the Parade.
Graham Clifford, CEO of the Sanctuary Runners said: "We are so honoured to be asked to be Grand Marshals at this year's parade. Cork is a huge part of us, and we of Cork so to get this recognition is just amazing. We believe in positive energy and we'll be bringing that to the streets of Cork on St. Patrick's Day."
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a celebration of the international communities, sporting groups, voluntary groups, community groups and dance schools who call Cork their home. Also expected are large colourful and fun floats from arts organisations Cork Community Artlink, Cork Puppetry Company and renowned street art company Spraoí.
Joining Corkonians from the United States – for the first time since 2019 - will be marching bands from Florida and Aurora, near Denver in Colorado.
The University of Florida Gator Band are bringing 350 students to Cork for the Parade. A very prestigious college band, the Gators performed at the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics, while the teenagers from Grandview High School in Colorado will be on their first international performance trip.
Friends and family at home can also view the parade via the livestream, which is viewable via the webpage for the parade. Messages of goodwill can be sent to the live stream by messaging the festival on social media www.facebook.com/corkstpatricksfestival and on Twitter @corkpaddysfest. In the days leading up to the festival these Facebook and Twitter pages will also carry lots of information on the parade and other events over festival weekend, while brochures will be available in Cork City Library branches, and around the city centre.
See www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie for further details of the Cork City St. Patrick’s Festival.
The Echo and Red FM are the Media Sponsors of the Cork St. Patrick’s Festival.
