St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin 13-17 March 200870 million people worldwide claim Irish heritage and the St. Patrick's Festival is their opportunity to celebrate Ireland. The Feast of St. Patrick is now celebrated in nearly every country throughout the world where Irish descendents or influences have continued to reinforce its popularity. Among the countries with strong traditions of celebrating St Patrick’s Day are the United States, Canada and Australia, but also France, Argentina, Russia, Japan and even the Caribbean island of Montserrat.
But nobody does it quite like the Irish at home in Ireland! While the rest of the world tuck in to Irish stew and Guinness, those in Ireland are enjoying a 5-day feast of street theatre, music, dance, carnivals, fireworks, food, film and parades.
The jewel in the Festival crown is the St. Patrick's Festival Parade on 17 March: a fantastical array of pageants delight the crowds of hundreds of thousands in Dublin, adding colour, energy and excitement to parade 2008!
Produced for Tourism Ireland