Head north for fun-filled St Patrick’s Day celebrations
With parades in spades, music galore, tours, talks, trails and more, Northern Ireland celebrates St Patrick in style.
St.Patrick's Day Celebrations in Belfast. Co. Antrim
Across Northern Ireland there will be plenty of lively St Patrick’s Day celebrations with parades and festival fun in the main towns and cities. But when it comes to celebrating Ireland’s patron saint and Irish culture, Belfast goes big.
Starting on 1 March, Féile an Earraigh welcomes spring. Over 17 days the festival celebrates Irish language, traditional music and culture across the city. A wide variety of arts and cultural activities including workshops, concerts, tours, walks, talks, literary events, sporting events and family-based activities make up the hectic programme that culminates in the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
As befits a UNESCO City of Music, Féile an Earraigh has music at its core with numerous concerts and a 10-day trad trail that sees pubs across Belfast host Irish music sessions. The music and dancing ramps up on the St Patrick’s Day weekend (14–17 March) with St Patrick’s Music Festival, presented by Belfast TradFest. The inclusive festival presents performances of Irish music, Ulster-Scots pipe bands, and fusion music as well as céilí dancing and city tours.
St Patrick's Day Spring Carnival, Derry - Londonderry
On the big day itself, the St Patrick’s Day Belfast parade will be a dazzling display of costume, music, dance and theatrical performances. The parade is a cross-community, multi-cultural celebration with participants from Belfast and around the world.
Over in Northern Ireland’s second city, Derry~Londonderry, the St Patrick’s Day celebrations will focus on the arrival of spring. The St Patrick's Day Spring Carnival will feature a colourful parade through the walled city that reflects the joy of spring and includes characters from Irish folklore. Before and after the parade there will be Irish traditional music at the historic Guildhall and the Craft Village. Adding to the carnival atmosphere will be street entertainers and food stalls selling delicious local fare.
In Newry, the parade is just one of the many fun activities to mark St Patrick’s Day. On the outdoor festival stage, performers will present an afternoon of music from trad to country and pop, and nearby there will be an open-air céilí. The city museum will also host a range of family-friendly activities including arts and crafts, and tours of the exhibitions.
Slemish Mountain, Co Antrim
The Northern Ireland landscape has strong connections to St Patrick and those who value a quieter celebration of the saint can visit one of these sites. In County Antrim, Slemish Mountain is said to be where the young Patrick tended sheep. For many, a trek to the top of Slemish is a traditional St Patrick’s Day pilgrimage. The 1.5km round walk to the top is not arduous and afterwards there is traditional Irish music and dancing in the car park.