The 17th March is celebrated throughout Britain, and around the world, as the day dedicated to the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick. Expect green attire and shamrocks aplenty in our guide to the best way to mark the event.
St Patrick’s Day 2014 falls on Monday 17 March and so the weekend of 14-16 March is set to be a veritable party throughout Britain, and whether you want to join in the festivities in London, or mark it in the final resting place of the Patron Saint of Ireland in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, we’re sure a good craic will be had by all.
St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade, London
London will play host to the 13th annual St Patrick’s Day Festival in 2014. The festival attracts over 100,000 people and celebrates the best of Irish music, dance, culture and arts. Organised by the Mayor of London, the event will take place in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 16 March. The theme for this year’s free event is ‘World of Dance’ and will include the St Patrick’s Day Parade, in which marching bands and magnificent floats will move through London, led by a 10-metre-tall model of St Patrick himself.
Find out more about the St Patrick’s Day Festival in London and the St Patrick’s Parade in London.
Ireland on screen, London
For cinema fans, Leicester Square’s Prince Charles cinema will have a whole host of acclaimed Irish films to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The Irish Film Showcase will show five different films on Monday 17 March. Films range from animated to historic films from the IFI Irish Film Archive.
Find out more about the Prince Charles cinema screenings.
Party in Belfast
Northern Ireland’s capital will become awash with colour during its annual parade on 16 March. The themed ‘St Patrick – to the future’ parade will depart Belfast City Hall at 12pm and will include eye-catching floats, performers, music and support from the local community, and as the next day is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland the celebrations are sure to continue long into the night.
Find out more about Belfast St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Downpatrick celebrations
St Patrick’s Day will be celebrated in a colourful carnival parade through the historic town of Downpatrick in Northern Ireland, known as the burial place of St Patrick. The popular St Patrick reenactment celebrates St Patrick by tracing his journey from when he arrived back in Ireland as a bishop. There is a seven-day programme of events and this year celebrations will also include a drive-in cnema for the first time.
Find out more about the Downpatrick celebrations.
St Patrick’s Shindig, HMS President, the Thames
Moored at Victoria Embankment, HMS President will be hosting the St Patrick’s Shindig on the Thames on Friday 14 March. Live traditional music will get the evening started in true Irish celebratory style. Tickets cost £25 but £5 from each ticket will be donated to the Irish Cultural Centre in London.
Find out more about the St Patrick’s Shindig.
Find a good old fashioned pub
Waxy O’Connors is one of the biggest Irish bars in London and it will be the base for a week of Irish-themed events. From whiskey tastings to a special St Patrick’s Day menu, the pub will explode into a seven-day celebration, culminating with a St Patrick’s Day parade party on Sunday 16 March. For a more historical pint of the Black Stuff you could nip over to the Tipperary in Fleet Street, which at over 400 years old is London’s oldest Irish pub.
Find out more about the Waxy O’Connors celebrations.
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