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St. Patricks Day in Dublin - 10 spectacular events
With St. Patrick's Day less than a month away, it may be time to start making some serious plans. If you have tired of drinking stale green beer and attending arbitrary parades that rarely coincide with the real St. Patty's Day, then maybe it is time to celebrate the Irish festival in the land where it all began - Ireland.
In a country with pubs older than the Magna Carta, history abounds. You come to Ireland for this history, and perhaps the Guinness. Beyond these draws though, the kindness, spirit, and wit of the Irish is what truly sets Ireland apart. What better way to take in St. Patrick's Day than with some gregarious locals in the Irish capital of Dublin?
Since Ireland was hit with a particularly nasty strain of the financial crisis, great deals are to be had. You can rent a car and take to the countryside for less than 10 Euros per day. Posh hotels like the Merrion that used to cost fortunes can now be had for just a hair over one-hundred US dollars per night. Round-trip flights from major U.S. travel hubs hover around $600. If ever a time existed to visit the Emerald Isle, that time is now.
Dublin throws an amazing party for St. Patricks Day with events catering to both the boozy crowd and culture seeking revelers. The festivities last from March 16 to March 20, with the big parade on March 17. You can view the events program at the St. Patrick's Festival website, but ten of the highlights include:
1. In the footsteps of St. Patrick walking tour - walking tour of Dublin based on St. Patrick, with the tour comes discounted entry into the Guinness Storehouse - free if your name is Patrick
2. Kilfenora Ceili Band - a 100 year old traveling Irish dance band
3. CEOL St. Patrick's Day Eve - several well known Irish musicians perform on Vicar Street
4. Ganon Cup University Boat Race - a 60 year old tradition pits University College Dublin against Trinity College Dublin on a boat race down the River Liffey
5. St. Patrick's Day Parade - Ireland's top performance acts line the streets in an unforgettable parade
6. City at Play Funfairs - parts of Dublin are turned into Carnival fairgrounds
7. Text in the city - the audience texts topics to the Irish comedians onstage that perform hilarious skits similar to "Whose Line is it Anyways"
8. Between the Canals Premiere - movie premiere for a "gritty energetic urban tale"
9. Sharon Shannon - One of Ireland's top musicians performs at the National Concert Hall
10. The Commitments 20th Anniversary Reunion Concert - the stars of the 1991 Irish film - The Commitments, will be performing a full concert together for the first time ever, at the O2.
flickr images via Infomatique
1. In the footsteps of St. Patrick walking tour - walking tour of Dublin based on St. Patrick, with the tour comes discounted entry into the Guinness Storehouse - free if your name is Patrick
2. Kilfenora Ceili Band - a 100 year old traveling Irish dance band
3. CEOL St. Patrick's Day Eve - several well known Irish musicians perform on Vicar Street
4. Ganon Cup University Boat Race - a 60 year old tradition pits University College Dublin against Trinity College Dublin on a boat race down the River Liffey
5. St. Patrick's Day Parade - Ireland's top performance acts line the streets in an unforgettable parade
6. City at Play Funfairs - parts of Dublin are turned into Carnival fairgrounds
7. Text in the city - the audience texts topics to the Irish comedians onstage that perform hilarious skits similar to "Whose Line is it Anyways"
8. Between the Canals Premiere - movie premiere for a "gritty energetic urban tale"
9. Sharon Shannon - One of Ireland's top musicians performs at the National Concert Hall
10. The Commitments 20th Anniversary Reunion Concert - the stars of the 1991 Irish film - The Commitments, will be performing a full concert together for the first time ever, at the O2.
flickr images via Infomatique
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Festivals and Events, Stories, Europe, Ireland, Budget Travel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fagol Feb 22nd 2011 12:35PM
Ghost festival events are loved mainly by children. St. Patricks Day showed on pictures looks very nice. Good experience to participate in it and breathe it`s atmosphere. I think every country has some special one. Slovakia has ghost festival at Bojnice castle for example. It is organized every year. For more attractions see ubytování slovensko www.
Juarj Feb 22nd 2011 12:39PM
See http://www.ubytovanieslovensko.net for detailed attraction in Slovakia that are mentioned in Falog comment.
Kat Feb 22nd 2011 3:37PM
Am I correct to think that you meant to write that the festivities last from March 16 - 20, with the big parade on March 17? I suppose the month of February wants to steal some attention for itself. :)
johnmc Feb 23rd 2011 6:11PM
Never *ever* refer to Paddy's Day as "St. Patty's Day" in Ireland. You will get skinned alive. In Ireland, Patty is either a girl's name or, even worse, cow excrement.
Just in case you think I'm full of it, I grew up there and lived there for 24 years.