Paddy’s Day Unlocked
Where: Meeting House Square, Dublin
Searching for drink-free family activities this St. Patrick’s Day? As an alternative to the messy streets, Paddy’s Day Unlocked will transform Dublin’s Meeting House Square into a buzzing ‘beerless’ bunker supplied with creativity and culture; new Irish music, mouth-watering local food and inspiring activities for all ages. Enjoy a special programme of music curated by Nialler9, with food, healthy goodies and inspiring words from The Happy Pear, then learn how to screen-print bags and t-shirts with Damn-Fine Print, or make shamrock seed-bombs with Boltz Sustainability. Doors open at 3pm, €5 entry, free for under 12s.
Put Your Foot in It
Where: Skerries
Did you know that Skerries is the original home of St. Patrick? Legend has it that while St. Patrick was away, some Skerries locals went out to Red Island and stole his goat. Furious, St. Patrick stepped onto Red Island, leaving a footprint which can still be seen to this day. This year our patron saint will be returning to his historic roots and revisiting the footprint he once made on Skerries harbour. He is asking the public to join him on his journey home so they too can also put their foot it in. #putyourfootinit. St. Patrick will be arriving on the shores of Skerries via row boat at 1.30pm.
Follow the Food Map
Where: Cork
If you’ve got some adventurous eaters among your number, 22 of Cork’s best loved restaurants will be putting special dishes on their menu for St Patrick’s Day. Electric, Market Lane, Fenns Quay, Isaacs, Farmgate, Nash 19 and Elbow Lane, among many others, will be featuring one-off specials. A food map showing all restaurants and their dishes is available here. Expect interesting twists on boxty and corned beef and cabbage.
Picnic in the park
Where: Galway
After the Galway parade finishes at 3.30pm, families are invited to take part in workshops with the Galway Dance Project in an alcohol free zone. Try swing; tango, bachata, capoeira and tai chi for free before heading for Woodquay Park, where a Teddy Bears picnic has been planned in association with Enable Ireland. Music will be provided by Will Softly and this will also be an alcohol free zone.
