The Kinsale St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is all systems go for the 2023 celebrations of our National Holiday! After a break of 3 years we are hoping this will be our biggest and best yet!
Friday night, March 3rd, sees the annual Monster Family Bingo Fundraising Night where great fun and great prizes are guaranteed. The wonderful White Lady is the venue for the event, with doors opening at 7.30pm, eyes down at 8.00pm. A night not to be missed!
Thursday March 16th sees the unique Maritime Parade in the harbour where you can enjoy the wonderful sight of beautifully lit boats sailing in under the night sky. There will be music, free family fun and of course the evening will culminate in a spectacular fireworks display, festivities commence at 7.30pm. In 2019 the Maritime Parade featured on the RTE Six One St. Patrick’s Day Parades round-up, this was wonderful publicity for our beautiful town at the start of the season.
The committee is delighted that the Grand Marshal for this year’s Street Parade on St. Patrick’s Day is Mr. Paul Shea of Newport, Rhode Island, USA. Mr. Shea has been very actively involved in the Newport – Kinsale Twinning Association since its inception and indeed continues his involvement by organising the Newport/Kinsale Chef Exchange. Many parents in Kinsale and surrounding areas, whose children have travelled to the US on J1 visas, will also know that Paul and his wife Janet have been wonderful hosts and mentors to the hundreds of college students who have travelled to Newport over the years. He will be accompanied by an official delegation who will also march in the Street Parade on St. Patrick’s Day.
On St. Patrick’s Day itself the Blessing of the Shamrock will take place at 11.00am Mass in the Friary Church. Festivities will then commence around town from 1.00pm with free face painting, balloon modelling and music. Buskers are also welcome to come along on the day. The prize giving for the Children’s Art Competition will take place at 1.15pm in the Tourist Office before the Street Parade, which will start at 3.00pm from the New Road car park. The theme for this year’s Parade is ‘Brighter Days Ahead’, participants are welcome to interpret that in a multitude of ways.
The Parade will weave its way along The Glen, Pearse Street, Barry’s Place and the Pier Road to the reviewing stand near the Pier Head.
Since the revival of the Parade in 2012 it has been wonderful to see the support from local businesses who ‘Go Green’ for the occasion in the weeks before the event. Combined with the wonderful effort the businesses make to decorate their premises, and the flags & bunting erected by the Parade committee, Kinsale always looks spectacular for our National Day. Once again there will be prizes for the Best Dressed Window in advance of the festival weekend.
If you are interested in sponsoring or contributing funding for the many events or wish to help out with stewarding on the day please email [email protected]
Check out how much fun we’ve had in previous years and come along and enjoy the fun in Kinsale on St. Patrick’s weekend!
Street Parade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbOt30lNa3I&feature=youtu.be
Maritime Parade:
https://vimeo.com/325695508

For more info contact Celine at [email protected] or Niamh at [email protected]
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Photos by John Allen Photography