Pictures: Bumper Kilkenny festival weekend gets underway

Kilkenny's dual festival weekend is now underway, with a vibrant programme of music, culture and family entertainment continuing across the city until St Patrick's Day on Tuesday.

's dual festival weekend is now underway, with a vibrant programme of music, culture and family entertainment continuing across the city until St Patrick's Day on Tuesday.

The celebrations kicked off with a special performance by Iarla Ó Lionáird, Cormac McCarthy and Aoife Ní Bhriain, blending classical, jazz and traditional Irish influences at St Canice's Cathedral.

Opening the concert was the popular Lady Desart Choir. Pinch of Snuff, Japan's finest Irish traditional musicians, sold-out performance at The Set Theatre, supported by CLADA, was electric.

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The Parade Plaza is buzzing as locals and visitors gather to enjoy the lively festival atmosphere. The plaza has once again become the heart of the celebrations, featuring the festival market, carnival rides and a vintage carousel, as well as pop-up performances that bring music and street entertainment to the city centre.

Festival-goers can also look forward to a thrilling Fire & Drum Spectacular featuring the incredible Pyro Collective fire show, with Jeremy Hickey, best known as a member of RSAG, setting GAA's hallowed ground ablaze at twilight at UPMC Nowlan Park, 16 March and the popular Bulmers Music Trail, which will see more than 100 free gigs take place across venues throughout the city.

The celebrations will culminate on St Patrick's Day, when the city's colourful parade takes centre stage, followed by a free post-parade performance from the uniquely entertaining Jerry Fish on the festival stage on the Parade, bringing the festivities to a fitting close.

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