St. Patrick's Festival is Ireland's official celebration for Ireland's national holiday - St. Patrick's Day. Around the globe on the 17th March, Ireland is celebrated with parties and parades but the BIG party is here in Ireland where we celebrate in style with five days and nights of fantastic celebratory events, most of which are free!

From March 13th to 17th 2008 there will be so much on offer - music, street theatre, family carnivals, comedy, street performances, dance, a treasure hunt, night spectacles .... culminating on Monday March 17th with the world famous St. Patrick's Day Parade. Over five days, 4000 performers and 1 million people will be celebrating Ireland. So whether you are Irish or just wish you were, Ireland is the place to be next March to enjoy Ireland's biggest party.

MAIN EVENTS

Christ Church Cathedral Choir Concert - Friday 14th

Location: Christ Church Cathedral
Time 7pm
Admission €24/18.50

This unique concert is directed by Judy Martin and will include such gems as Bach’s Cantata Himmelskönig, sei willkommen and Mozart’s Missa Brevis.
An intimate evening of Choral music, not to me missed!

Festival Funfair - Friday 14th - Monday 17th

Location: Merrion Square
Admission: Free entry & ride tickets from €2

Ever-popular, the festival funfair returns: chills, thrills and near-spills guaranteed

Comedy Circus - Friday 14th March

Location: Tripod, Harcourt Street
Admission: €25
Dave McSavage, the one-of-a-kind guitar wielding street comic hosts this unique comic gathering for the festival.

Film at the Festival - Friday 14th

Location: Cineworld Cinemas, Parnell Street
Admission: Free

Filmbase, in association with Cineworld Cinemas and Samson Films, is delighted to present a special free screening of the Oscar® nominated Irish feature Once followed by a post-show talk with the filmmakers.

Public Art-Migrations - Thursday 13th - Monday 17th

Location: various locations in Dublin City Centre
Admission: Free
2 artists, 2 environments, a boat and a caravan.

Gaelspraoi - Thursday 13th - Monday 17th

Location: Dublin City Centre
Admission: To Be Confirmed

GaelSpraoi is an exciting series of events taking place during Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival that promote the use of the Irish language in fun and novel settings. Coinciding with Seachtain na Gaeilge and supported by Foras na Gaeilge it offers an informal itinerary of workshops, tours, gigs, and film suitable for all ages. All levels of language competency welcome and allowed for!

Baby Rave - Friday 14th - Sunday 16th

Location: SS Michael & John Temple Bar
Tickets: €7.50

The music and dance sensation for babies comes to Dublin. Venue, SS Michael and John will be transformed to provide an ambient setting, complete with DJ, lighting, projections and sensory floor coverings. Dance facilitators will also be on hand to assist parents and children in an exploration of movement and rhythm. This is guaranteed to be a fun interactive experience for babies and parents alike. Don't miss out the opportunity to see your baby raving!! Age 0-4 years.
Show details –
Fri 14th – 2 shows – 11am / 2pm
Sat 15th – 4 shows – 11am / 12.30pm / 2pm / 3.30pm
Sun 16th – 3 shows – 11am / 12.30pm / 2pm

Tickets €7.50 and required for both parent and child
Tel. 01 8721122 or Visit http://www.ctb.ie

Pearl - Friday 14th - Saturday 15th

Location: Dublin Docklands
Time: 7.30pm
Ticketed Free Event

St. Patrick’s Festival and Dublin Docklands presents the Irish premiere of Pearl by the world renowned street theatre company Plasticiens Volants (France). This is an outdoor spectacle for a family audience. Giant inflated puppets will take over the dramatic surroundings of Georges Dock to tell this enchanting story of the precarious journey of a precious pearl. Audiences will be immersed in an extraordinary underwater world of flying fish, 'joker' squids, bewitched jellyfish and a scary sea snake. An extraordinary aerial aquarium on a city scale which is not to be missed.

Denny Treasure Hunt - Saturday 15th

Location: Dublin City Centre
Free Team Event
Registration: 10.00am – 1.00pm in City Hall
Finish: 5.00pm
Pre-register on: http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie

The Denny Treasure Hunt is a fun-filled free event for all ages, providing a unique opportunity to explore and rediscover the city of Dublin. Participants can investigate hidden haunts and gain free entry to prestigious cultural centres. Get out your mermaid, pirate and underwater themed costumes and compete for spot prizes along the way. The swiftest, smartest and sassiest swashbucklers are in with a chance to win.

Denny Big Day Out - Sunday 16th March

Location: Merrion Square

Merrion Square will become an oversized playground for children and adults alike for the 2008 Denny Big Day Out. Come along and check out all the different zones with lots to do for all the family from tots to teens.

St. Patrick's Day Parade - Monday 17th March

Location: City centre Parade route

The centrepiece of the Festival is the spectacular St. Patrick's Day Parade.With the 2008 Festival theme being Energy, this promises to be the most memorable St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world! For over two hours you will be entertained by a breathtaking display of creative talent as the Parade weaves through the city centre. Irish street theatre companies, ceremonial groups and international marching bands will create an exciting carnival atmosphere.

Arts Council Céilí Mór - Monday 17th

Location: Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.
Time: 2.30-5.30
Free Event

This head-spinning, foot-twirling afternoon of Irish dancing is a uniquely Irish phenomenon. Thousands of people will be kicking up their feet to the infectious sound of the Matt Cunningham Céilí Band performing with Seamus Begley. Additional Sean-nós dance displays will be provided by Chlann Uí Chuinneagáin (the Cunningham Family) performing with the Matt Cunningham Céilí Band. Dáithí Ó Sé will be MC / Fear a’Tí for the day at this, the liveliest outdoor Irish music and dance event in the world. This year’s Céilí Mór is an event that will have your smile lasting long after the music fades.

Mary Black: Celebrating 25 years - Monday 17th March

Venue: National Concert Hall
Time: 8.00pm
Tickets: €20/€45
Booking: +353 1 417 0000 or http://www.nch.ie

An intimate musical gathering with one of Irelands most celebrated artists - legendary Irish vocalist Mary Black and her Band bring St. Patricks Festival 2008 to a close with a special concert that covers her 25 years as one of the finest female vocalists in the world.

Kila in concert - Monday 17th March

Venue: The Olympia Theatre
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: €36/38
Booking: http://www.ticketmaster.ie

One of Irelands most innovative bands, their diverse line-up (the seven-piece play a variety of instruments including whistles, fiddles, pipes as well as brass and woodwind) fuses Traditional Irish with an eclectic blend of World music influences. Expect a high-octane Trad group performance infused with a world music sound!

OTHER EVENTS

Fossett's Circus - Friday 7th -Monday 17th

Venue: Phoenix Park Visitor Centre
Tickets:Adult: Side €16; Centre €20; Ringside €24
Child: Side €13; Centre €15; Ringside €20

The St. Patricks Festival Circus will run from March 7th and will feature two massive circus Big Tops. An international cast of circus stars will thrill and entertain long standing circus fans from Dublin as well as the thousands who visit the Dublin for the festival. Our special pre-show area contains shops, a carousel and a circus café where the audience can meet the cast prior to entering the main Big Top.
Show details:
Friday 7th - 1 show 7:30pm
Saturday 8th - 2 shows 3pm/6pm
Sunday 9th - 2 shows 3pm/6pm
Thursday 13th - 1 shows 7.30pm
Friday 14th - 1 show 7.30pm
Saturday 15th - 2 shows 3pm/6pm
Sunday 16th - 2 shows 3pm/6pm
Bank Holiday Monday 17th - 2 shows 3pm/6 pm

Booking: http://www.fossettscircus.com

Céilí House Live - Saturday 15th

Venue: The National Concert Hall
Time: 8pm
Tickets: €25/30/35
Booking: http://www.nch.ie

The first Céilí House in Concert live from the National Concert Hall was broadcast on St Patrick’s day last year. In 2008 we plan to engage a similar lineup of old and new to showcase the many exciting diverse traditions alive in traditional music today. Expect a night of high-energy music with a distinctive Céilí House flavour.

For More information on St. Patrick's Festival 2008 See:
http://www.stpatricksday.ie