Bí Beo, Bí Linn, this year’s Parade theme invites you to come alive and be with us as part of our community as we animate the streets of Kilkenny in celebration of Ireland’s national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day! Showcasing our Irish heritage and the diverse local community with a parade of spectacle, colour and creativity through Kilkenny’s medieval streets!
Join us in Kilkenny March 17th at 1.30pm.
New Route for Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade!
To facilitate the growing number of attendees and to enhance the spectacle of the Parade this year, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kilkenny will follow a new route! The Parade will start at Johns Priory on John Street, proceed over Johns Bridge, turn right down Bateman Quay (past Dunnes Stores), take a left up High Street, continue on to The Parade (past the Castle) and will finish on the Castle Road. The Review Stand and parade participant performances will be on The Parade, outside Boyd’s Auctioneers, across from the Castle. The new route allows for more space for spectators to view the Parade and avoids the narrowest street (Rose Inn St). Organisers are encouraging spectators to spread throughout the city streets by adding live broadcasts and entertainment at different stages along the route. KCLR 96fm will be taking over Bateman Quay with a live broadcast, roving reporters and pre-parade entertainment! With the new route comes some changes, and attendees should note that Johns bridge and the Lady Desart footbridge will throughways only and it will not be possible to stand and view the Parade from there, this will also be the case on some of the narrower corners throughout the route. Organisers ask that spectators stay in their Parade position for the duration of the Parade to allow everyone to enjoy the experience fully.
For those with additional needs there will be a Relaxed-Parade Viewing Area, for neurodiverse spectators on Bateman Quay and a Wheelchair Accessible Viewing area at the Review Stand on The Parade. Both areas require pre-registration. For full information check out The Festival Info page on stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com
Those that can’t make the Parade, don’t have to miss a thing, as the Parade and pre and post Parade entertainment will be broadcasted live on the St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny Facebook page and YouTube channel (@StPatricksFestivalKilkenny). Tune in for a birds eye view of the proceedings or tune in on KCLR96fm.com to listen to the live Parade coverage from Bateman Quay. So, if you are unable to travel to Kilkenny for the festivities or if you are now living abroad, you can still be part of the St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny celebrations!
On St. Patrick’s Day, there is not just the Parade, there is a wealth of pre and post Parade activities with the Festival Funfair, Festival Market, Street Entertainment, OFX Irish Legends Golf Putt and Hurling Challenge (on The Parade), Deise Medieval Viking demonstrations (Craft yard), Trial of Dame Alice Kieler (Rothe House), live music on the Festival Stage and live performances throughout the city including St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band, Samba Katz, The Brass Monkeys, Karbunklis dancers, The Hit Machine, and more! The day will finish with the festival finale a free performance by Kíla on the Festival Stage at 5pm.
St. Patrick’s Day is one of 4 days of festival fun at St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2025! Taking place from the 14th – 17th March, with American Marching Bands, street entertainment, kids shows, workshops, live music, fire shows and fireworks!
