St Patrick's Day on 17th March is the biggest day in Ireland 's cultural calendar and a national holiday with a host of events throughout Ireland in celebration of the nation's patron saint. Here is an overview of the type of activities and events that take place in Ireland for St Patrick's Day .
The St. Patrick's Day Festival in Dublin is a five-day event of outstanding Irish and international entertainments, with a huge street carnival held on the 17th March with parades along O'Connell Street and through the centre of Ireland.
Tullamore in Co. Offaly hosts a five-day Irish festival called Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrating Irish food, music and song with fun for all the family, including a colorful street parade on St Patrick's Day.
Outside Dublin, the coastal town of Bray in Co. Wicklow holds a St Patrick's Day carnival and parade with celebrations including live music, carnival fair and a street parade on the day.
Close by, Wicklow Town hosts a vibrant and colourful St Patrick's Day Parade on the 17th March, with something for all the family.
Also on 17th March Longford Town in the centre of Ireland holds a St Patrick's Day Parade with floats representing different Irish traditions.
Cork City explodes into life for its St Patrick's Day Parade. Ireland's second city holds one of the country's biggest events, celebrating St Patrick with marching bands, dancers, street theatre performers and community carnival groups. Co. Cork is famed for its cuisine and foodies will be spoilt for choice with the Barry's Tea Market and Mahon Point Farmers Market on Emmet Place, where specialist local food producers bring the freshest and tastiest delicacies into the heart of the city.
The Co. Kerry town of Killarney hosts one of Ireland's most colourful St Patrick's Day Parades with a fun festival combining street music and dance in a fabulous emerald green event.
Limerick City offers a St Patrick's Day festival with a difference, when it plays host to the St Patrick's Day Spring Fest and Limerick International Band Festival with something for all the family.
The small Co. Mayo town of Kiltimagh hosts the St Patrick's Week Festival with music, dance and art events based around the St Patrick's Day Parade.
Letterkenny in Co. Donegal hosts it annual St Patrick's Day Festival on the 17th an event that gets bigger each year attracting people from around the region.
Downpatrick, the town where St Patrick built his first church and where Ireland's patron saint is buried, hosts its St Patrick's Festival. This cross community festival has a fun packed programme of live entertainment and family events.
Armagh is another town with strong connections with St Patrick. It was here that he set up his bishopric and the cathedral St Patrick established here was to have pre-eminence over all in the country. Still today Armagh is the principle seat of both the Catholic and Protestant church in Ireland. The St Patrick's Day celebrations in Armagh, City of St Patrick include a week long festival in honour of Ireland's patron saint.
Northern Ireland's chief city, Belfast holds a St Patrick's Day Parade through the city centre with live music and a concert in Custom House Square. While in Northern Ireland's second city, Derry a spectacular St Patrick's Day Parade is held throughout the walled city culminating in live music and a concert in the Guildhall Square.
Where ever you are in Ireland or the world on St Patrick's Day, be sure to wear green and raise a glass in honour of Ireland's patron saint.