Full programme announced for St Patrick’s Day 2023 Festival Weekend

The full lineup of events for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Galway City has been announced, with the promise of a weekend of fun.

The weekend festival will kick-off with the iconic St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday morning, which promises to be the biggest ever seen in Galway City.

But that is only the beginning of a weekend of music, film, and craic, with the usual Eyre Square concerts, family fun in Salthill, and a brand new cinematic experience.

To bring some ambience, Bádóirí an Chladaigh will once again light up their iconic Galway Hookers to bather the Claddagh Basin in a stunning green glow.

Eyre Square Music Fest: March 17 – 19

Running for free all through the weekend will be a series of free outdoor concerts taking place at the festival village in Eyre Square.

This amazing experience will feature an array of local musicians and artists who will bring a great buzz to the city for the weekend and celebrate Galway’s musical heritage.

Each day will begin with a youth band from the Music Generation programme, giving young people a chance to shine for the audience.

The weekend line-up will include great local bands including Colm Seoighe & na hEasógaí, MacDara, BackWest, Telebox, The Rosecaps, Livefeed from Music Generation Galway, Moondance Jazz Band and Tracy Bruen & Band.

The Full Line-Up Is:

March 17
15:10 – Colm Seoighe & na hEasógaí
16:00 – Drumadore
16:30 – MacDara
17:45 – BackWest

March 18
14:10 – Telebox
15:10 – The Rosecaps
16:10 – Anna Mullarkey
17:15 – Curley Organ & The Catharsis Collective

March 19
14:15 – Livefeed from Music Generation
16:00 – Tracy Bruen & Band
17:15 – Moondance Jazz Band

Unesco City of Film: March 17 & 18

Coming for the first time in 2023, this event will give people a chance to enjoy some great films that would never enter your radar.

Ardán will have an outdoor film screening of short films in the Fishmarket at The Spanish Arch on St Patrick’s Day from 14:00 until 16:00.

The Cinephile Paradiso will host a two-day walk-in exhibition of the early silent films of Ireland in the Pálás Cinema Bar and the Silent Cinema on Dominick Street.

This will include the O’Kalem company films that were made in the 1910s, as well as a short documentary on the importance of these films that was produced by the Irish Film Institute.

Family Fun Day – Salthill Park: March 19

Galway Sports Partnership and Healthy Galway have put together a great sports day programme that will entertain all the family.

A huge array of sports for people of all ages to participate in will be on offer including tag rugby, tug of war, athletics, pilates, yoga, tai chi, dance, facepainting, corn hole and activator poles. Just pop by and give them a go – all are welcome to join and no experience is required.

Drumadore, Galway’s Drumming masters will also be giving drumming lessons along the Salthill Promenade and all are welcome to go along and give it a go.

Activities will take place between 12 and 4 on the prom and in Salthill Park.

St Patrick’s Day Parade – March 17

Of course the lynchpin of St Patrick’s Day is always the amazing parade attracting massive crowds to the city.

This year’s promises to be the biggest put on in Galway to date, with over 1,500 people and more than 50 locals groups taking part.

The first of two Grand Marshals for this year’s parade will be Connacht Rugby’s Andy Friend, who has been a wonderful ambassador for the province since joining in 2018.

Joining him on the open top bus at the front of the parade will be 11 year old Saoirse Ruane, who has raised million for cancer research since her appearance on the Late Late Toy Show in 2020.

“Saoirse has captured the hearts of the people of Ireland and we are delighted she will be leading our St Patrick’s Day parade,” the city council said.

Some of the groups participating include Macnas, 1st Port of Galway Sea Scouts, Salthill Devon Football Club, Ability West, GCS Judo, Funky Drums School, Galway Bay Rugby Club, Get Rhythm.