St Patrick’s Day Parade returns to city streets – as a full-blown festival
For the first time in three years, the St Patrick’s Day parade returns to the streets of Galway city – with plans for an outdoor village with vintage amusements and family activities tipped to add to the carnival theme of the parade.
It will be first major public gathering since Covid restrictions brought the country to a standstill ahead of St Patrick’s Day in 2020.
And already there are predictions it could be the biggest St Patrick’s Day spectacle the city has ever seen.
The parade will take place on St Patrick’s Day, March 17, but a new initiative will be a special outdoor village being all throughout the extra-long weekend due to the additional bank holiday on March 18 to thank all the frontline workers and as a day of remembrance for the more than 6,000 people who died as a result of Covid-19.
There will be a full outdoor programme offered over four days, according to Tourism Officer Ruairí Lehmann.
“We’re looking to have music in Eyre Square every day, 2pm-8pm, maybe jazz music one day, different types on other days. We are looking to partner with different groups for activities, such as guided walks, activities for kids based in an outdoor village in the square,” he explains.
“It’s early days yet so the programme hasn’t been finalised but already we’ve had groups who wouldn’t normally get involved in the parade asking to take part as it’s been so long since they’ve been able to do anything."
Asked if it be on a par with the Dublin spectacle, the tourism officer was quick to downplay overly ambitious expectations.
“It won’t be anything on the scale of Dublin as their budget runs in the millions. This year I have €100,000 to stage a festival. It will be my third time trying to stage it and first time going ahead so hopefully it will be a success.”
Talks are underway to ‘green’ public spaces and buildings that have proved a hit in other cities.
Patricia Philbin, Director of Services at Galway City Council, said the Council was encouraging as many groups as possible to get involved.
“As the majority of Covid-19 restrictions are eased, the St. Patrick’s Day Festival will be one of the first real opportunities to gather together and celebrate as a community once again and put on display the vast abundance of creative and artistic ability in Galway City.”
The parade will begin on University Road, crossing onto the Salmon Weir Bridge and turning right onto Eglinton Street before heading onto Williamsgate Street and past the official viewing stand in Eyre Square and finishing on Prospect Hill and Bóthar na mBan.
Galway City Council is now calling for applications for the parade which will have carnival as its theme. Entries involving costumes, performance, audience interaction, musical instruments are especially welcome.
Log onto the galwaycity.ie for the application form. The deadline for applications is February 21 and should be submitted by email to [email protected]