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Belfast's annual St Patrick's Celebrations returns 10-19 March with a fantastic, authentic, welcoming line-up.The focus in 2023 will be a celebration of local music across various genres, paying tribute to the city's UNESCO City of Music status.
Belfast City Council is delighted to be working with The Duncairn, Beat Carnival, Féile an Phobail and MayWe to deliver our St Patrick's Day 2023 celebrations, with creative input from local artists and communities.
Belfast’s Custom House Square will come alive with the sound of some of the island’s most exceptional musical talent this St Patrick’s Eve for a family-friendly, fun packed concert presented by The Duncairn Arts Centre. Headlining the alcohol-free event will be award-winning Dublin singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan, who has captivated audiences across the world with her mesmerising vocals and soulful folk-pop sound. Also on the bill are Trad supergroup Jiggy, mixing Irish traditional music, world rhythms and cutting-edge dance grooves, dance group Shamrock Bangra, and singer-songwriter David Keenan. The concert is free to attend but admission is by ticket only (all tickets now allocated, although you can check for any returned tickets here https://visitbelfast.com/event/st-patricks-eve-concert-2/).
This year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade by Beat Carnival is a colourful pageant of costume, music, dance, circus and theatrical performance. The theme is ‘Voices of Belfast’ and it will celebrate Belfast’s vibrant music heritage from pop to punk and traditional to disco. This year’s parade route starts from Belfast City Hall at 1.30pm, weaving its way through the city centre via Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place, back to City Hall. The route will enable good viewing opportunities for the public, and people are encouraged to gather along footpaths on both sides of the streets right around the route. See https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/Events/Voices-of-Belfast-St-Patrick-s-Day-parade
Some temporary traffic measures along the city centre route will be in place on 17 March to allow the St Patrick’s Day Parade to pass safely.
The SPAR Craic 10k also returns in its full green glory on Friday 17 March.
Trad Trail by Féile an Phobail will take place from 10 to 19 March in venues across Belfast and throughout the city centre, with local musicians and musicians from all over the island. For more details see https://feilebelfast.com/mec-category/trad-trail/
Enjoy live traditional music from members of Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) at St George's Market on 17 March. Ards CCÉ, established 1st July 1976, is a non-profit music organisation formed to promote and foster the love of Irish traditional music, song and dance to people from all community backgrounds. All their musicians and dancers are super talented and they love to perform to audiences all over the world. Feet-stompingly brilliant!
St Patrick’s Celebrations at 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast’s newest cultural venue, features a sound installation of stories as told by local residents, lively traditional Irish music and family fun. From 13-19 March, experience Tales of Our City as told by local residents through a sound installation that explores life in Belfast through the decades. On Thursday 16 March, St Patrick’s Eve Tea Dance takes place 2pm-4pm. On Friday 17 March create your own St Patrick-themed art in the Family Art Workshop (12pm – 2pm), and enjoy live Irish Traditional Music from local band, Shindig (3pm-5pm). On Saturday 18 March, Celtic Storm - a globally acclaimed stage production of Irish Traditional Music, Song and Dance by Ards CCÉ, take to the stage. The group includes All Ireland World Champion musicians and vocalists, and the dancers are also world class artists in their field and includes Lauren Smyth, ex-lead dancer from Riverdance! This is a free but ticketed event (all tickets now allocated). For more information see https://www.maywe.co.uk/2ra
