St Patrick’s Festivals

Various venues Fri-Mon

www.stpatricksfestival.ie

www.corkstpatricks

festival.ie

www.festivalslimerick.com

www.stpatricksgalway.com

For many families, the trip into town for the St Patrick’s Day parade is an annual highlight. Parents brave the crowds with buggies, babies in pouches or young children on their shoulders peering for the best view of the marching bands and colourful, cartoonlike characters.

In Dublin, the St Patrick's Festival begins today as the fun fair in Merrion Square opens for five days of thrill-seeking rides. The annual city treasure hunt tomorrow offers children a chance to explore the city centre in search of clues (registration in City Hall, Sat 10am-1pm). On Sunday, from noon to 6pm, children can join workshops, listen to stories or watch hip-hop dance and skateboarding displays held as part of the Denny Big Day Out in Merrion Square.

In Limerick, the St Patrick's Festival begins on Sunday at noon with the annual International Band parade. The theme of the St Patrick's Day parade, which starts at noon on Tuesday, is Go Green.

You can expect characters of all shapes and sizes in Galwayfor the St Patrick's Day parade there which starts at 12.30pm from Lower Domnick St. And in Cork, the Cosmos is the theme of this year's St Patrick's Festival. There will be street entertainment tomorrow, Sunday and Tuesday from 10am-6pm. The parade itself starts at 1pm in the South Mall.

And, finally anyone in Waterfordshould make their way to the Quays for the Skyfest fireworks display which promises to dazzle all onlookers between 6.30pm and 8.30pm tomorrow evening.