Cork St Patrick’s Festival 2023
Why not go to Cork for the 2023 St Patrick’s Festival! The centre of the city is set to be transformed by a riot of colour and sound. With food markets, street performers, musicians and marching bands there will be something for everyone. Check out the comedy antics of circus workabouts or get creative at a children’s workshop. The 2023 St Patrick’s Festival in Cork is not to be missed.
With so much to choose from and free events, Cork is definitely the place to be for St. Patrick’s weekend
To Find Out More About …. Cork St Patrick’s Festival
Cork – St Patrick’s Day Parade 2023
The Cork St Patricks’ Day Parade 2023 has chosen A Century of Stories as it’s theme
This reflects the last phase of the ‘Decade of Centenaries’ programme, a most significant time in which we have grown as a nation.
The Cork City St Patricks’ Day Parade is an annual pageant presented by the wonderful and varied communities who make up this ‘beautiful city, so charming and pretty’. A vibrant and colourful display, Cork’s parade features members of communities from all walks of life across the city – sporting groups to dance schools, new communities, our long-established brass bands, and special guests from around the world.
2023 updates on the way – visit here Cork St Patrick’s Festival
Cork St Patrick’s Festival 2017
The Cork St. Patrick’s Festival will madness as the street bursts into life with FREE family-fun entertainment including music, circus walkabouts and children’s workshops in the City Centre over the St Patrick’s weekend.
Come join Cork as the centre of the city is set to become transformed by a riot of colour and sound. There will be something for everyone with food markets, street performers, musicians and marching bands bringing high-octane entertainment and lots of laughs. This year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever.
With so much to choose from and free events, Cork is definitely the place to be for St. Patrick’s weekend
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The main event, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, will take place on Friday March 17th at 1pm. You will marvel at the spectacular performances, which will include arts, community and sporting groups from all over the city and county, along with specially commissioned giant art pieces, created by renowned street theatre companies.
The parade runs from the South Mall to the Grand Parade, along St. Patrick’s Street and finishes at Merchant’s Quay.
On the Streets
The festival kick-starts with FREE family fun on Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th of March when the streets of Cork come alive with big band sounds and the best of traditional Irish music. Sample some tasty treats at the Festival Market while you enjoy the comedy antics, circus performers and music performers at this year’s Festival
While the Parade kick’s off at 1pm in the heart of the City Centre, the festival continues on the Grand Parade and Bishop Lucey Park.
Take a stroll through the festival market and sample Cork’s food culture as you enjoy some local trad music, live swing or the onstreet comedy.
There will be a great selection of craft stalls to browse around.
Come join in on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March as the Cork St Patrick’s festival continues in Emmet Place with the festival market, music and free family entertainment.
The fun continues on Sunday 19th March with music, street performances and free family entertainment.
The Big Picture
Join this children’s workshop creating artwork that responds to the classic storybook Peter Pan as part of the Big Picture Exhibition in March 2017.,
Date: Sunday 19th March
Where: The Glucksman, UCC, Western Road
Time: 3pm – 4pm,
Free Event –
Planetarium Shows, Tours and Exhibition
Visit Blackrock Castle Observatory for Planetarium Shows, Castle Tower Tours and science exhibition Cosmos at the Castle!.,
Date: Friday 17 to Sunday 19th March
Where: Blackrock Castle Observatory, Castle Road
Time: 10am -5pm
Cost – €4.50/€5.50/€6.50
Cork City Gaol Tours
Get a fascinating insight into prison life as visitors are taken back in time to the 19thcentury A fascinating insight into prison life in the 19th century
Date: Friday 17 to Sunday 19th March
Where: Cork City Gaol, Sunday’s Well,
Time: 10am -5pm
Cost – €5/€7/€8/€25 (Family)
The Lee Sessions Trad Trail
An extensive series of free traditional Irish Music sessions in Cork City Centre pubs featuring masters of traditional music.
Friday 17 March
- 1pm The Oliver Plunkett (Oliver Plunkett St)
- 2.30pm The Long Valley (Winthrop St)
- 3.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 5pm The Oliver Plunkett (Oliver Plunkett St)
- 5pm Counihans (Pembroke St)
- 5.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 6pm Corner House (Coburg St)
- 6pm Charlie’s (Union Quay)
- 6pm The Rock Bar (Gillabbey St)
- 7.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 9.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 10pm An Spailpín Fánach (South Main St)
- 10pm The Gables (Douglas St)
Saturday 18 March
- 3.00pm The Oliver Plunkett (Oliver Plunkett St)
- 6.30pm Céilí @ The Oliver Plunkett (Oliver Plunkett St)
- 6.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 8.00pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 9.30pm The Long Valley (Winthrop St)
- 9.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 10pm An Spailpín Fánach (South Main St)
- 12.30pm The Oliver Plunkett (Oliver Plunkett St.)
Sunday 19 March
- 3pm Charlie’s (Union Quay)
- 3pm The Oliver Plunkett (Oliver Plunkett St)
- 5.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 7.00pm Céilí @ The Oliver Plunkett (Oliver Plunkett St)
- 7.30pm The Ovens Bar (Oliver Plunkett St)
- 8.30pm Sin É (Coburg St)
- 9.30pm The Gables (Douglas St)
- 9.30pm Counihans (Pembroke St)
- 9.30pm An Spailpín Fánach (South Main St
Family Fun Tip – All Times will need to be confirmed before you travel to any event
To Find Other Family Things To Do In Cork