{"id":5470,"date":"2013-03-04T16:55:20","date_gmt":"2013-03-04T15:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whatsonni.com\/news\/?p=5470"},"modified":"2013-03-04T16:55:20","modified_gmt":"2013-03-04T15:55:20","slug":"st-patrick%e2%80%99s-day-craic-will-be-mighty-in-northern-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2013\/03\/st-patrick%e2%80%99s-day-craic-will-be-mighty-in-northern-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"ST PATRICK\u2019S DAY CRAIC WILL BE MIGHTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND"},"content":{"rendered":"

WITH St Patrick\u2019s Day just around the corner, Northern Ireland has a packed programme of festivities lined up to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland.<\/h2>\n
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ON THE HUNT FOR ST PATRICK\u2019S DAY FUN... Aileen O\u2019Neill of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) and Hannah McQuillan (10) explores the Shamrock Trail at Springhill House, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, as part of the Shamrock Shenanigans event running in celebration of St Patrick\u2019s Day. Northern Ireland has a packed programme of events lined up to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland and NITB is encouraging people to make the most of the holiday and explore what\u2019s on offer. From street carnivals to open air concerts and even wakeboarding leprechauns there is something for everyone during this year\u2019s festivities. To find out more about Northern Ireland\u2019s St Patrick\u2019s Day events and festivals or for further information on places to stay or things to see and do, click on www.discovernorthernireland.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From street carnivals to open air concerts and even wakeboarding leprechauns there is something for everyone during this year\u2019s celebrations and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is encouraging people to make the most of the opportunity and explore what\u2019s on offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery county in Northern Ireland will be putting on celebrations for St Patrick\u2019s Day and will include a whole host of free activities and days out that the entire family can enjoy,\u201d said NITB\u2019s Destination PR Officer Pauline Gormley.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorthern Ireland will come alive with celebrations, parades, concerts, traditional music and great craic guaranteed no matter which county you visit.\u00a0 The focus is, as always, on family friendly, inclusive events and there really is something for everyone this St Patrick\u2019s Day weekend\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

To help get the celebrations underway NITB has put together a guide to St Patrick\u2019s Day events across Northern Ireland:<\/p>\n

Belfast<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Belfast will host many events from March 15 \u2013 18 as part of the St Patrick\u2019s Festival<\/em><\/strong> including the annual St Patrick\u2019s Day Carnival<\/em><\/strong> which will take to the streets on March 17.\u00a0 Community groups from all areas of the city will join professional and amateur performers, musicians and acrobats. The spectacle will finish with a free concert in Custom House Square where visitors can enjoy traditional Irish, Ulster Scots, pop and multicultural music and dance.<\/p>\n

The Ulster Hall<\/em><\/strong> is hosting a ceili with the Cathal McAnulty Ceili band and the McPeake Family, alongside singers, musicians and Irish dancers while St George’s Market<\/em><\/strong> will have live music and family entertainment throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n

This year will see a special St Patrick\u2019s Kiddie Zone<\/em><\/strong> at the Big Fish on Sunday March 17 from 1pm \u2013 3pm which will allow toddlers and younger children to enjoy the buzz and music of the concert away from the crowds, plus enjoy lots of free, family entertainment.<\/p>\n

F\u00e9ile an Earraigh<\/em><\/strong> is Belfast’s leading traditional music festival taking place in the run up to St Patrick’s Day in the city every year. \u00a0The 10th F\u00e9ile an Earraigh will run from March 11 \u2013 March 17 in various venues throughout the Falls area of the city and the City Centre.\u00a0 With a mixture of gigs, dramas, exhibitions and discussions, F\u00e9ile an Earraigh marks the beginning of Spring with something for everyone.\u00a0 For the first time in 35 years Van Morrison<\/em><\/strong> plays in Belfast on St Patrick’s weekend too.\u00a0 The intimate gigs, restricted to 250 tickets per show, take place in the Exhibition Centre at the Europa Hotel on March 16 \u2013 17 and each event includes a two course supper prior to the show.<\/p>\n

County Antrim <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Slemish Mountain is a traditional place of pilgrimage and the annual St Patrick\u2019s Day Walk<\/em><\/strong> will be taking place on March 17. \u00a0Visitors can learn about St Patrick and his historical legacy as well as the history, wildlife and geology of Slemish followed by traditional fayre and afternoon entertainment in the Ecos Centre, Ballymena.<\/p>\n

Why not celebrate the St Patrick\u2019s bank holiday on March 18 with the Ballycastle & District Horse Ploughing Championship<\/em><\/strong> on the Glenshesk Road, Ballycastle<\/em><\/strong>. This popular, traditional ploughing match has been taking place in the Ballycastle area for over 100 years and attracts ploughmen from all over Ireland. It is a great day out for the whole family.<\/p>\n

County Armagh<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Where better to celebrate Saint Patrick than his chosen city of Armagh?\u00a0 The Saint Patrick\u2019s Festival, Armagh<\/em><\/strong>, is jam-packed with traditional music sessions, busking, concerts and family entertainment across ten days from March 8 \u2013 March 18, making it one of the longest festivals in Ireland.<\/p>\n

Join international singing sensation \u2018The Priests\u2019<\/em><\/strong> at the spectacular setting of Saint Patricks Catholic Cathedral<\/em><\/strong> for an evening of classical music on Friday 8th<\/sup> March, enjoy live music at the City\u2019s busking festival on Saturday 16th<\/sup> March and make sure you don\u2019t miss the main event on March 17 which takes the form of a carnival parade, where marching bands, colourful floats, dance performances and music will fill the streets.<\/p>\n

County Down <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

St Patrick\u2019s Celebrations, Downpatrick<\/em><\/strong>, boasts a seven day programme of events from March 11 – 18 which includes the spectacular St Patrick’s Day Cross-Community Carnival Parade which attracts over 30,000 spectators as it makes its way through the streets of Downpatrick on the big day itself, March 17.\u00a0 With over 50 events to choose from and a wealth of FREE entertainment on offer, Downpatrick’s St Patrick\u2019s Celebrations has something for everyone including a range of concerts, exhibitions, sporting and family events.<\/p>\n

Down County Museum<\/em><\/strong> in Downpatrick is also inviting people to join them for a day of family entertainment with Irish dancing, traditional and folk music, storytelling and circus style entertainment including clowns,\u00a0acrobats and jugglers on March 17.\u00a0 The Saint Patrick Centre<\/em><\/strong>, Downpatrick, is a must for anyone interested in the story of St. Patrick.\u00a0 The state-of-the-art centre is an exciting interpretative exhibition which tells the fascinating story of Ireland\u2019s Patron Saint.\u00a0 Enjoy a truly traditional St Patrick\u2019s Day with a unique festival of music, crafts, food, dance and song at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum<\/em><\/strong> in Cultra on March 17.<\/p>\n

The cross community St Patrick\u2019s Day Festival<\/em><\/strong> parade in Newry has become a focal point on Newry & Mourne\u2019s<\/em><\/strong> calendar of events. Live music, street theatre, comedy, and street performances of Irish Dancing will provide an exciting carnival atmosphere not to be missed, which promises to be a fun-packed day for all the family.<\/p>\n

County Fermanagh <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

The St Patrick\u2019s Day Parade in Enniskillen<\/em><\/strong> will see marching bands and floats parading through Enniskillen town on March 17 with a range of activities also taking place throughout the day, including the return of the popular wakeboarding leprechauns as well as RNLI displays and hovercraft, jet skiing and jet pack action on the water.\u00a0 St Patrick himself will arrive and there will be face-painting, balloon modelling and other inflatable fun for the kids.\u00a0 \u2018Snakes\u2019<\/em> is the theme this year and all participants must incorporate this into their floats or display on the day. \u00a0A Guinness World Record will also be attempted at this spectacular family fun day as the people of Enniskillen attempt to have the world’s largest snake on parade through the town.<\/p>\n

Or why not celebrate with a St Patrick\u2019s Family Day <\/em><\/strong>at Castle Barracks, Enniskillen – a celebration of the local history and culture with archaeological digs, siege machines, medieval food demonstrations, quill writing, bouncy castles and other activities.<\/p>\n

County Londonderry <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

With Free entry for anyone who can prove they are called Patrick, Shamrock Shenanigans<\/em> at Springhill House, Magherafelt<\/em>, is the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.\u00a0 Discover the shamrock trail around the grounds, enjoy craft activities for the children as well as traditional food, music and more. \u00a0The 2013 UK City of Culture St Patrick\u2019s Day Spring Carnival, Derry~Londonderry<\/em>, will be a celebration of language, history, culture and tradition with a family friendly focus.\u00a0 With carnival parades, concerts, dancing, storytelling and colourful characters the event is the perfect way to celebrate St Patrick\u2019s Day with the family.<\/p>\n

County Tyrone<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shamrocks and Shillelaghs<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong>at The Argory, Dungannon, <\/strong>offers a fine way to celebrate St.Patricks Day in Tyrone. \u00a0Children will love the Shillelagh trail and craft activities and adults can enjoy the traditional music and Irish food – a fantastic day of fun for all the family.<\/p>\n

The Ulster American Folk Park<\/em><\/strong> in Omagh will be celebrating the tradition of The Emigrants Farewell <\/em><\/strong>on from March 17 – 19.\u00a0 For many, the hours before departing Ireland for America during the 1700s and 1800s become known as the American or Living Wake and these scenes will be re-enacted with music, song and dance.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

To find out more about Northern Ireland\u2019s events and festivals, or for further information on places to stay or things to see and do in Northern Ireland, click on www.discovernorthernireland.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WITH St Patrick\u2019s Day just around the corner, Northern Ireland has a packed programme of festivities lined up to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland. From street carnivals to open air concerts and even wakeboarding leprechauns there is something for everyone during this year\u2019s celebrations and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is encouraging people … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5470"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5470"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5472,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5470\/revisions\/5472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}