St Patricks Festival

15-19 March 2006. The famous St Patricks Day Parade in Dublin has grown into a five-day festival with events all round the Irish capital from noon till night. The Opening Night in Smithfield Square has 400 drummers from round the world, circus acts, acrobatics and thrilling choreography admission only to ticket holders free tickets can be booked on the festival website. The main event is the big Parade starting at noon from Parnell Square on 17 March when Dublin citizens dress in green to watch as the bands, the colourful floats and a multitude of performers, dancers, street theatre and musicians parade through the city centre. Festival awards are presented to the eight best performers in the pageant. Other events over the five days include an evening of traditional Irish music mixed with jazz and blues from Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill at Vicar Street on 16 March, the Economist Boat Race on 18 March and Denny Big Day Out on 19 March, when Merrion Square will be transformed into an outdoor circus from 12.00-18.00.