Festive fun planned for Paddy’s Day

By Sara Dalton and Keelin Riley

There is a number of Irish-themed events in store for the Liberties area, and around the city, as part of the Saint Patrick’s Day festival which is on from Friday 16^th to Monday 19^th of March.

It will kick off on the Friday with an outdoor Céilí in Stephen’s Green.  Expert callers, dancers and musicians will be there to guide the participators and teach beginners the steps.

The national parade is drawing inspiration from Dublin’s new status as the European City of Science.  Ireland’s leading pageant companies have animated science questions posted by school children, such as ‘how is a rainbow formed?’ and ‘how is electricity made?’

A selection of the imaginative and creative science projects sent in from schools around the country will be showcased on the live parade coverage, which will be viewed by over 395,000 people.

Local schools in the Liberties will be doing their part in the Saint Patrick festivities by taking part in Seachtain na Gaeilge.  This encourages students to speak Irish and host their own Céilís.

Local community group Robert Emmet Community Development Project have been rehearsing weekly since the beginning of February to take part in the parade.  Their pageant will take a whimsical look at the question “If the earth is spinning, why don’t we fall off?”

A number of the local pubs will be embracing the celebrations with table quizzes and special Paddy’s Day drinks, including apple martinis and lime green cocktails.

Around the corner at the Guinness Storehouse they will mark the day by trying to break the Guinness World Record and make Saint Patrick’s Day the friendliest day of the year.

On Sunday March 18^th The Festival Big Day Out will take place in Merrion Square with street performances, theatrics and workshops.  Then on Monday Discovering Science host a science themed treasure hunt through some of Dublin’s landmark buildings and venues.

At the launch of the Festival on February 23^rd Minister for Transport,Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, said “The Saint Patrick’s Day Festival is a fantastic showcase for Ireland and for Irish tourism, and is a centre piece of our tourism calendar.”