Waterford's St Patrick's Day festival line-up revealed
The schedule for this year's St Patrick's Festival weekend in Waterford has been announced.
Waterford City and County Council, in association with Fáilte Ireland, has announced details of a five-day programme of events for this year's St. Patrick’s Festival which will run from Friday, March 13th to Tuesday, March 17th.
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Waterford; Where St. Patrick’s Day Began’, and will be marked by parades, performances, carnivals, craic agus ceol, right through the Bank Holiday weekend and most of the events will be free of charge to access.
Commenting on the festival programme, Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals and Events at Fáilte Ireland said her organisation was pleased to support St. Patrick's Festival Waterford. "Festivals and events like this showcase the very best of Irish culture, music, and entertainment, inspiring both domestic and international visitors to explore new destinations across the country," she said.
She that by investing in the festival Fáílte Ireland is strengthening Waterford’s position within Ireland's Ancient East as "a must-visit destination" and helping drive economic benefits for local businesses and communities across the county and wider region.
While the festival is a celebration of Waterford’s communities, culture, heritage and diversity, there will be tribute paid to Waterford’s very own Scholar, Luke Wadding, a 16th Century academic, author, historian and Franciscan, who listed March 17th as St. Patrick’s Day on the Liturgical Calendar.
There will be free, family-fun events in the heart of the city over the St. Patrick’s Festival weekend. Over the five-day festival, the city centre will be the location for the much-loved City Centre Fairground, always a hit with the younger members of the family. The Wobbly Circus has been enthralling and delighting for years, so don’t miss them throughout the weekend, along with Little Irish Folklore Friends, and Playful Streets for what promises to be an eclectic mix of fun activities.
Visitors and locals will have the opportunity to explore copper wire jewellery making at the Southeast Craft Studios Workshop and younger crafters will be able to try their hand at crafting with the Lucky Little Crafters. On the music front, local talent will feature prominently throughout the festival weekend.
Waterford Music Centre, Music Generation and Waterford Youth Bands will showcase some of the best Waterford young music talent. The Absurdist Pipe Band will be clowning around with pipes and drums, while WAMA will mixe it up in the Cultural Quarter. The Booley House will also be on hand for its members to perform what will likely be an enthralling range of original step dancing routines. Those attending the festival will be able to follow the musical trail from the Waterford Cultural Quarter (WCQ) to John Roberts Square, to the Applemarket Stage.
The music will continue into the evening across the city with performances from Pat Cooney, Derek Flynn, Liam Merriman & Bill Stewart, Kings of the Wild, Divorce Party, Knockadollys, Monticelli, Spancill Jills, Damn Dirty Apes, Hey Presto, The Unusual Suspects and the music of Green Day will features at Electric Avenue.
Blowtorch Boogie, a high-octane collision of traditional music, modern beats and a spectacular fire performance, will also feature during the festival.
The Urban Greenway self-guided tour will, quite literally, put the 'green' spotlight on the city’s historical monuments and iconic buildings. People will be able to take the route the Vikings once took and see the city from the majestic River Suir aboard the Osprey Viking Cruise, join James Doherty for a Walking Tour of Waterford or explore local connections to our national public holiday on the Soldiers, Saints and Scholars Walking Tour.
The Legend of Queen Medb will tell the story of Ireland’s warrior queen, while the Dark History Walking Tour will introduce you to ghoulish and ghostly tales from the past. Lovers of literature, poetry and storytelling are in for a treat with Spoken Word, while Deise Medieval will reenact Viking life.
The Theatre Royal has a St. Patrick’s Weekend programme that will appeal to lovers of rib-tickling comedy with Serena Terry’s Therapy tour and Cliona Hagan will bring her Nashville flair to the stage.
As mentioned the theme for this year’s parade is ‘Waterford; Where St. Patrick’s Day Began’ and it will begin at 1pm sharp on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17th.
The parade will begin at Waterford Bus Station and proceed along the Quay, past the Clock Tower and the Plaza, moving around to the Mall, with entries gathering at the Bridge Street end of the Quay at the start of the parade. Optimum viewing positions are from the Quays, where there will be plenty of room, as well as at the Mall.
The parade will end at the Mall/Parnell Street junction and the organisers are asking patrons do not congregate in Parnell Street as that area is designated for post-parade and production staff.
This year's Parade Grand Marshal will be Dr Morgan McMonagle, recipient of the RCSI Humanitarian and Community Award 2025, for his commitment and service to protecting the lives of others and the welfare of humanity. He will lead out what is expected to be around 2,000 parade participants.
Dr McMonagle will be joined by All-Ireland Club SHC Champions, Ballygunner and Waterford’s All-Ireland Minor Hurling Champions. He will also be joined the David Nott Foundation, which trains doctors in countries impacted by conflict and catastrophes. His first mission with the Foundation was in the West Bank in Palestine and he has since been to Ukraine - on two occasions - once to Lebanon and more recently on two missions to Gaza.
A spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council said the local authority is also delighted to announce an Autism Family Friendly Area at the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
"Working with Autism Friendly Waterford and 50 Shades of Exceptional we are proud to introduce this initiative as the First Autism Friendly City in Ireland," said the spokesperson.
"A special area has also been reserved and sign-posted for wheelchair users / special access at Mall Lane," she added.
"This is on a first-come, first-served basis and intending patrons should make themselves known to stewards. An ISL interpreter will be present on the day."
Last minute entries to the parade are still open to community groups from throughout County Waterford and beyond.
"If your community group wishes to participate, the application form can be found on the St. Patrick’s Festival website," said the spokesperson.
There will also be an online streaming of the Parade this year, so those who cannot attend but still wish to enjoy the celebrations.
To find out more details of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the five-day festival in Waterford visit www.stpatricksfestivalwaterford.com and keep an eye out on Waterford St. Patrick’s Day Festival social media channels and her on waterford-news.ie
