Call to bring big Kilkenny energy to the St Patrick’s Day parade!

With seven weeks to join the celebration, St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny is calling on local clubs, communities, charities, performers, cultural organisations, schools and local businesses to come alive and animate the medieval streets of Kilkenny to celebrate Ireland's national holiday on March 17.

The St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny parade applications are now open; entries close on Monday, February 17. This year's parade theme is Bí Beo, Bí Linn – 'be alive, be with us'. The organisers are looking for groups to showcase their talent and bring big Kilkenny energy to celebrate Irish heritage and the diverse local community, to create an unforgettable spectacle of colour, local stories, live music, and community spirit to the parade.

Five prizes are up for grabs for the groups that embody the theme with high-octane pageantry on March 17. The winners will be chosen for the most creative and entertaining, the best young people, the best rural, the best school, and the best interpretation of the theme.

“We’re looking forward to an unforgettable St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny packed with surprises and special moments for everyone to enjoy," says Festival Director Marian Flannery. "Of course, the main event is an action-packed parade along the Kilkenny streets. We are thrilled to invite local clubs, schools, businesses, and community groups to take part in this year’s parade.

"Our theme, ‘Bí Beo, Bí Linn’ - be alive, be with us, encourages everyone to celebrate the heritage and diversity of Kilkenny by bringing energy, creativity, and pride to the streets. We want to see a spectacle of colour, pageantry, and performance that puts a big smile on the faces of everyone who turns out to celebrate our patron saint and our vibrant city.”

St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny and Tradfest
St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny will take place from March 14 to 18, with events across the city and county. Once again, Kilkenny will come alive with face painting, jugglers, stilt walkers, street theatre, funfair rides, the big wheel, marching bands, dancers, the big dig, a pop-up Gaeltacht, festival markets and much more craic and ceol in the city.

Visitors can expect a mix of free and ticketed events, including live music, walking tours, and family entertainment. The sister festival, Kilkenny Tradfest, offers gigs and music in venues around the city, taking visitors from day to night to enjoy live music and toast St Patrick.

Some 80,000 visitors took to the streets of Kilkenny to celebrate Irish music, culture and creativity in 2024. Each year, the festival has grown bigger and brighter than the year before, with 100,000 expected to visit in 2025, culminating in the grand parade that sees over 60 organisations adorn the streets of Kilkenny City.

St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny is run by Kilkenny County Council with support from Fáilte Ireland. Groups that wish to take pride of place in this year's parade and raise a flag for Kilkenny can visit www.stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com for more information.