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Home Page > Roots > Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day ‘People’s Parade’ to include 8,000 marchers from around the world- VIDEO

Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day ‘People’s Parade’ to include 8,000 marchers from around the world- VIDEO

Only 23 days left before National Irish holiday celebrated around the world

IrishCentral Staff Writers,

Published Sunday, February 24, 2013, 7:58 AM

Updated Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 3:23 PM

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O'Connell Bridge, Dublin City, on St. Patrick's Day

Photo by Google Images

Organizers of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade have promised the annual celebrations will be the best yet, with the greatest ever number of overseas participants set to take part.

To mark the year of ‘The Gathering’ the Dublin parade on March 17 will explore the theme 'Great Things Happen When We Get Together.'

One of the main highlights of the 5-day festival will be a ‘People's Parade’ made up of 8,000 participants from around the world.

Visit IrishCentral’s St.Patrick’s Day section here

Transport and Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar said the 2013 festival will be bigger and better than ever.

He said: "The festival grows every year, it's a five-day event with lots of things happening on the streets.

"It is added to this year because of The Gathering and also because of the fact we have the People's Parade with 8,000 people from overseas taking part.

"There are 5,000 places booked already so there is still a chance to get in there."

Edelle Moss, acting CEO of St. Patrick’s Festival said: “We are delighted in the year of the Gathering Ireland to be offering the opportunity for so many overseas visitors to be active participants in our world renowned Festival Parade.

“It will certainly be a memorable experience for all and with participants from over 45 different countries it’s bound to be a truly international celebration. The fantastic five day programme is packed with street theatre, pageantry, music, culture, family events and lots of surprises ensuring that regardless of age or tastes there is something for everyone to enjoy.”

Previously, St. Patrick’s Festival has added €43.7million to the economy annually in spending by tourists with the number rising to a staggering €50.5million when the spend by Dubliners attending was included.

This year’s festival runs from the 14-18th March.

Streamabout - St Patricks Festival Launch on MUZU.TV.

See more: Ireland Vacations , Irish News , Irish Roots , St Patrick's Day , The Gathering

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bunkerhill | Mar 08, 2013, 04:06 PM EST

We have always loved the St. Patrick's Day parade in NYC, and have also been present at the one in Savannah, Georgia. The NYC parade is a celebration of a people who overcame a holocaust as is the one in Savannah, Georgia, a parade which was especially poingnant. In Savannah, nstead of counties or organizations, family groups marched holding their family names to show that they had indeed survived and were thriving. We had seen on their local TV on St. Patrick's day eve what these survivors had gone through to be accepted in Savannah and what they had accomplished against all odds. Watching those families marching by so proudly behind their family names brought tears to our eyes. We were also so impressed by the people of Savannah, one of the most beautiful cities in the US, who eventually took the Irish victims to their heart and cherish them today. The St. Patrick's day parade in the US is indeed a celebration of survivors of a holocaust. Possibly the Irish in Ireland thrived on the legacy of their family members who left and became so successful in other countries. The expatriots always helped those remaining in Ireland, help acceptd by those remaining in Ireland without any insight into what their expatriats went through to achieve success. Indeed to this very day, some will ask shamelessly for help while admitting they were not always welcoming when the expatriots returned to pay a visit. We have seen the Dublin parade and as Americans it is truly foreign to us, but then we are not Irish Citizens and it is none of our business.

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cillowen | Feb 24, 2013, 03:57 PM EST

that mardi gras shameful parade in dublin features mostly swisher types

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CitizenWhy | Feb 24, 2013, 02:41 PM EST

Great idea. My Irish born and raised parents had no great use for the American celebration of St. Patrick's Day and so I did not pick up the habit, but this globalization is a way to give some extra fun, zest and meaning to the event.

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