Dublin: How to Survive St Patrick’s Day As A Tourist
St. Patrick’s Day Dublin Guide
Use our realistic guide to learn how to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Dublin. St. Patrick’s Day is a world famous celebration of the Irish culture.
We attended St. Patrick’s Festival during our spring trip to Ireland. This post summarizes some of the tips we wished we knew before joining the celebration.
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History of St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17th. When this day became a religious holiday in the 17th century, it commemorated Saint Patrick. Now the patron saint of the country, St. Patrick played a key role in the Irish conversion to Christianity in the 5th century.
Over time St. Patrick’s Day expanded to celebrate the Irish heritage. You can find St. Patrick’s Festivals in other countries and cities with large Irish diaspora.
But the main celebrations take place in Dublin. Visitors from all over the world travel to the city on this day. They come to join the parade and listen to the Irish music during the day. To taste a pint of beer or a shot of whiskey in the evening. And to enjoy the Global Greening at night.
St. Patrick’s Parade
The parade is the core of the St. Patrick’s Festival today. But it was not always like that. This tradition first began within the Irish diaspora in the US. The parade joined the celebration in Ireland only after St. Patrick’s Day became a Bank Holiday in 1903.
Route
The Dublin Parade starts at the Parnell Square North near the Hugh Lane Gallery. It proceeds south via O’Connell St. The parade crosses the River Liffey via the O’Connell Bridge.
Then it takes a turn west on Dame St. The procession continues west until Nicholas St, where it makes a turn south. After passing the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the parade makes its final turn east on Kevin St. The parade ends at the intersection with the Wexford St.
Time
On a normal day you could walk the parade’s 3-km (1.9-mi) route in about 40 minutes. But St. Patrick’s Festival is no ordinary day.
The parade starts at 12pm and runs for about 2 hours. Nevertheless, the streets on and around the parade’s route get crowded much sooner. You have to be at the parade route by 10am to secure a good viewing spot.
This is a view of the packed College Green at 11am. It was impossible to get even a glimpse of the parade. If you make the mistake of arriving late, proceed west on the Dame Street in pursuit of a better view.
Tickets
You do not need a ticket to watch the parade from the Dublin streets. But there are other options if you find the very thought of standing for 4+ hours exhausting.
You can look into purchasing the Grandstand tickets. These tickets enable you to enjoy the parade from the comfort of your seat. This comfort does not come cheap. This year you had to pay €100 per person. Most of the Grandstands still sold out.
If you would like to avoid the crowds, consider booking a hotel stay in the properties facing the O’Connell St. or Dame St. As you could imagine, these hotels come with a hefty premium on St. Patrick’s Day.
But you pay for convenience and being in the center of the action. Almost every window on Dame St. had spectators in them during the St. Patrick’s Parade we joined.
Festivities
You will spend most of the time waiting for the parade to begin. This is a great opportunity to socialize with your group and other spectators. Once the parade begins, you can expect to see a few major things.
First, you will observe weird but memorable displays. Like this gentleman in a bathtub.
After a handful of displays, you will start hearing traditional Irish Gaelic music. That would signify the marching bands, a true highlight of the parade. The marching bands represent their universities and schools during the parade every year.
The sequence continues several times until all the displays and bands pass your viewing spot.
How to Join The Celebration
There are a few guidelines to follow to enjoy the festivities. Continue with our St. Patrick’s Day Dublin Guide to learn more.
At Home
The preparation starts at home.
- Dress for the weather. Wear multiple layers to enjoy several hours in the chilly Irish spring weather. The average daytime temperature for St. Patrick’s Day is between 48°F (9 °C) and 32°F (0 °C).
- Prepare for the imminent rain. Bring a waterproof jacket or poncho since umbrellas are useless in the crowd.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk a lot due to public transport (bus and tram) disruptions. Consider waterproof shoes to withstand the rain puddles.
- Pack snacks. You will lose your spot if you step out to grab lunch. Snacks will keep you going during 4+ hours outside before you can go to the restaurant or pub.
- Bring green items or shamrocks. You will blend in if you proudly carry green hats, scarfs, and flags of the Republic of Ireland.
At the Parade
You can follow the next set of tips to get the most out of your experience at the parade.
- Arrive early, ideally, before 10am to secure a spot with a good view of the parade. The first leg of the parade around the Parnell Square tends to be slightly less crowded than other legs.
- Safety first. Spectators often go out of their way to get a better view of the parade. We observed countless people climb on the buildings, streetlights, and information poles. Some people enjoyed the celebration from the roof. Know your limits and act accordingly.
After the Parade
Most spectators head to the nearby pubs after the parade ends. The pubs provide warmth, snacks, and spirits if this is your cup of tea. Or, rather, a pint of beer or a shot of whiskey.
- Avoid Temple Bar. As almost any local would tell you, skip the Temple Bar area. It gets very crowded. And you run a risk of falling into a tourist trap. Because this is where most tourists go. Instead, proceed to pubs around St. Stephen’s Green since they get slightly less crowded.
- Drink responsibly. St. Patrick’s Day festivities for most people involve Irish spirits. Give space to intoxicated people. Be a good Samaritan and look out for people in need of help.
- Enjoy Global Greening. At night, the city turns green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. This tradition started in 2010 and really caught up around the world. Here is a look at the Department of the Taoiseach, or Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, covered in green light.
Takeaways: St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day completely transforms the city of Dublin. If you do not enjoy parade and crowds, you might not want to visit the city on St. Patrick’s Day.
But if you are brave enough to venture into this carnival like celebration, you can follow our St. Patrick’s Day Dublin Guide to make the most of your experience.
Join the parade early and then proceed to St. Stephen’s Green. You can enjoy the chilly Irish spring in this city park. And then socialize with friends and strangers over a pint of Guinness in one of nearby Dublin pubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you enjoy carnivals, parade, and Irish culture, Dublin is the place to be on St. Patrick’s Day. But there are trade-offs. Airfare and places to stay are more expensive around St. Patrick’s Day than during other spring months. And joining the fun is a strenuous physical activity that involves a fair amount of walking.
Dublin is the center of St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the entire country.
Some locals and most visitors celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by going to the Parade to enjoy Irish music, beer, and Global Greening afterwards.
Dublin gets extremely crowded on St. Patrick’s Day. An estimated 500 thousand people join the city’s festivities every year. All pubs, restaurants, and other establishments around the city center will be packed.
Safe realist travels!
