Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! With hundreds of thousands of people set to attend parades across the country, it's important you and your family get your bearings. Before the craic commences, here are some tips on how best to prepare.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Use public transport where possible for ease. Bus and train timetables may change for the day as it is a bank holiday.
- Beware of pick-pockets among the large crowd during the parade - keep things like cash, your mobile phone etc, in a safe place.
- Be careful when taking photographs with expensive cameras and/or selfies with phones - again, be cautious of your surroundings.
- Plan your route/day, and arrive to events early. Check when they are over and plan a definitive route home.
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No alcohol to be consumed on public streets.
- Do not bring large objects (ladders, deck chairs etc.) as they are banned!
- Because of the sheer size, pets may not be ideal at parades.
Bringing your kids?
- Hold hands when walking through crowds, especially at peak times during the parade where there are an overwhelming number of people.
- Keep kids hydrated throughout the day with suitable drinks.
- Set up a meeting place for later if older children are going on their own and/or if young children get separated.
- Children should carry contact information for parents (mobile phone number etc.) in case of emergency.
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Stuck for something to do after the parades, or want to try something new? Check out our family friendly events
Below are the start and end times for some of the major parades around Ireland. Remember that parade routes change year by year, so refresh your knowledge with the maps and links below.
Dublin
Kicking off at 12:00pm, the Dublin parade promises to be even bigger and better than last year's. Starting from Parnell Square, there have been some slight changes to the parade route this year. For more details visit the website.
Cork
Celebrating the theme of Cork - A City of Community, Culture & Commerce, the parade runs from South Mall to the Grand Parade, finishing at Merchant's Quay. The parade starts at 1:00pm. For more info visit the website here.
Galway
The Galway parade kicks off at 11.30am and is expected to finish at 1:00pm, where local heroes Macnas present their youth ensemble along with Gamelan na Gaillimhe chime the end of the parade with their Indonesian gongs.
Belfast
From 12 noon, Belfast City will play host to a Paddy's Day parade extravaganza. The parade will start at Belfast City Hall, ending at Custom House Square where a free concert will start at 12.45pm sharp. For more directions, click here.
RTÉ LifeStyle would like to wish all our readers a happy, safe and fun St Patrick's Day. Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!
