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13th March 2024
09:54am GMT
St. Patrick's weekend is officially upon us and if you were planning on making the trip into Dublin to watch the parade, you're not alone. In fact, half a million people are expected to turn out to enjoy the annual spectacle so it's definitely worth making your way in early, having a rough idea of where you want to stand and of course, an exit strategy for when it all gets too much.
Luckily, we're here to help with all that - here are four tips for enjoying the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin.
Typically, the best places to stand for the parade are at the start of the route - anywhere from Granby Row, or onto Parnell Square. Standing in these areas is preferable because parade performers are just getting started, full of festive energy.
If you really want to ensure a relatively unspoiled view, there's also the option to pay for a place on one of the St. Patrick's Festival Grand Stands - they're covered and tiered with allocated seating, strategically located at five different areas along the Parade route. Grandstand Hosts also provide lively commentary to guests, telling the story of the parade as it unfolds in front of you. If this sounds like the option for you, you can book a grandstand spot via the St. Patrick's Festival website.
This is Ireland, so it'll probably come as a shock to no one that we advise preparing to experience all four seasons in the space of about ten minutes. This is currently what Met Éireann is saying about Sunday's weather, but you'd be wise to check back closer to the time - sure we got snow a few weeks back without a bitta warning, so stranger things have certainly happened:
"Mist and low cloud is expected to clear on Sunday to leave a day of sunny spells and scattered showers. However, there is the chance of a spell of persistent rain developing in the southwest later. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in a moderate southwest breeze."
While we're not buzzing about the mention of rain, it is good news for anyone hoping to catch a rainbow (silver linings and all that). Be sure to bring along a raincoat or water resistant jacket of some sort - we wouldn't recommend having an umbrella up while watching the parade, you'll obstruct other people's views and somebody will probably end up with a rib in the eye.
We also recommend a pair of runners or other sensible, comfy shoes - if they're waterproof, even better.
The parade starts at 12pm, kicking off from Granby Row off Parnell Square North, and we recommend getting in nice and early to secure your spot - if you're taking public transport, allow yourself extra time incase buses or trains are too full and be mindful of road closures - you can see a list of all the closures scheduled for the weekend in Dublin here.
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh, enjoy the festivities!
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