Celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Newry with a spectacular festival
Everyone is invited to join the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Newry on Monday 17 March, for a festival filled with music, culture and family fun.
As the home of St Patrick, this annual celebration is a highlight of the Newry, Mourne and Down cultural calendar, showcasing the very best of our local arts, heritage, food and music.
The traditional carnival parade will depart from Albert Basin at 1pm, winding its way through the heart of Newry before finishing at The Mall. Spectators can enjoy a vibrant spectacle of street performers, community groups, dancers and pageantry.
This year, no fewer than four local marching bands make a welcome comeback. They will be joined by the exhilarating Samba rhythms of Brazil, the vibrant dance of India and an array of giant parade puppets.
Cllr Pete Byrne, said: “I am delighted that our traditional St Patrick’s Day festivities are returning to the heart of Newry on Monday, March 17. Everyone is welcome to join us in celebrating this special day and experiencing the spectacle of our parade, family-friendly entertainment, and cultural delights.”
Beyond the parade, there will be free entertainment across Newry focusing on Hill Street and McClelland Park, ensuring a fantastic day out for all ages.
Margaret Square will host the Ceili Tent, featuring the traditional Ceili-calling of Raymond Carroll with Oisin McCann and his musicians. The Kilted Dance Company, accompanied by Mark Wilson’s Ulster-Scots Band, will showcase an electrifying Ulster-Scots fusion dance performance. The family fun will continue with a Kids’ Zone for facepainting, arts and crafts and even a climbing wall for those looking for adventure.
Hill Street will be lined with local street traders, linking onto Marcus Square where the main stage will feature the lively Nooks, country sensation Gavin Gribben, up-and-coming trad band Gaolta, and a performance from Warrenpoint Comhaltas. And there’s the fun of the fair with rides from Dizzylands Funfair.
McClelland Park, just off Monaghan Street, will offer a quieter retreat for younger children, with mini crazy golf, puppet shows, games, dance sessions, arts and crafts activities and a climbing wall.
The Casino Dixieland Jazz Band, The Crooked Lake Arts Collective Choir, the Yew Tree Ukes and the beautiful harp music of Sharon Caroll will all be livening up the streets and shopping centres during the day.
Meanwhile Newry and Mourne Museum will host a variety of activities for families, including arts and crafts, music and sensory play sessions from Mini and Mind Explorers — a perfect stop for families with young children.
But it’s not all about the parade and events on the day, the celebrations kick off early this year with an exciting fire performance of Fireside Stories on Saturday 15 March at Albert Basin, featuring a dramatic, flame-lit retelling of the legend of Beowulf. And as always, Newry Town Hall and key buildings across the district will be illuminated in green to mark the occasion and act as a reminder. So come and join the celebrations with a spectacular parade, live entertainment, street performers, family fun and cultural experiences. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council invites everyone to come together for a fantastic St Patrick’s Day celebration in the heart of Newry.
For the latest updates and full event details, visit www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/whats-on/st-patricks-festival