Kilkenny City streets were packed this afternoon as throngs of visitors flocked from locally and abroad to see what this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade had to offer.
Although rain was threatened with intermittent drops throughout the morning and early afternoon, the showers held off for the most part as people found their vantage spots as the 1.30pm start time approached.
Commencing from John’s Priory and making its way across John’s Bridge, the parade then snaked around Bateman Quay before moving up through High Street and finishing at the Parade Plaza.
At the head of the parade was Grand Marshal George Candler, accompanied by the Army Colour Party and the Ballycallan Fife and Drum Band who were closely followed by Mayor John Coonan and elected members of the Kilkenny City Municipal District.
Around 1,500 participants marched the parade route under the 2026 theme, Together - Le Chéile.
Some particularly striking entries included large-scale puppets representing The Morrigan, a shape-shifting goddess of Irish folklore, as a youthful woman and a snake.
The post-parade celebrations continued with The Hit Machine and Jerry Fish on The Festival Stage, Karbunkulis Latvian Dancers, Rhythm Riot, Hakuna Matata acrobats, and street entertainment at the Festival Market.
5.
6.
7.
