2025 St. Patrick's Festival Parade

This year’s parade embodies the famed and legendary Adventurous spirit that lives inside us all, known and loved the world over as a defining symbol of Irishness. It is that innate ability as a nation to transform fear into courage, face any challenge head on and turn it into an adventure, forging new paths as we go. This year’s St. Patrick’s Festival invites locals and visitors alike to a celebration like no other across a city of tales, trails, and treasures, where every street tells a story of history, of magic, of adventures.

Dublin native and newly announced lead in Ghosts, Victoria Smurfit, has been named Grand Marshal for this year’s parade. Known for her roles in Once Upon a Time and Rivals, Victoria is a celebrated actress with numerous accolades, including a Best Supporting Actress IFTA for The Lears. The Grand Marshal has the civic honour of leading the National St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Some of the country’s most talented and creative parade companies will provide a spectacular display as the parade winds its way through the streets of Dublin. This year’s parade features an exciting lineup of talented parade companies, showcasing incredible creativity and artistry. Highlights include The Outing Queer Arts Collective’s ‘Rainbow Pageant - Love is an Adventure’, celebrating 10 years of marriage equality in Ireland with dazzling floats and performances from LGBTQ+ youth groups. Macnas returns with ‘Turas Alf’, featuring Alf the Giant Newt, a visual masterpiece about climate change and habitat loss. Spraoi presents ‘Pirate Queens’, a celebration of Irish women such as Grace O’Malley and Anne Bonny, while ArtFX brings ‘Fierce Mild’, a playful tribute to Ireland’s unpredictable spring weather. Other creations include ‘Nellie’s Parade Adventure’ by Artastic, ‘An Púca’ by Inishowen Carnival Group, and ‘Domhan Dorcha – A Dark World Under the Sea’ by Bui Bolg.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade also features seven incredible showpieces, including Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre’s ‘40 years of Pavee Point’, celebrating Traveller and Roma rights. This piece honours the wagon wheel, a shared traditional symbol for both communities, bringing them together to share stories and skills. Curious State presents ‘Skylarking’, following Betty Skylark and her flying inventions, with two floats and live music. Allta Creations brings ‘The Voyage of Bran’, inspired by the Irish myth Immram Brain, while City of Dublin Youth Services presents ‘D Wondrous Quest of Youth’, an upcycled take on the “Hero’s Journey”. VolkiDána’s ‘First Contact’ features mystical intergalactic shamans accompanied by a bird-like creature float. Meanwhile, the Amateur Athletic Union Baton Twirlers will showcase their precision and skill, dressed in dazzling green costumes and white boots, while the Cork Puppetry Company presents ‘Near and Dear,’ highlighting the endangered Irish Elk and our connection to nature.

A highlight of the day as always is the marching bands and this year is no different, with 14 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Austria taking part. Our very own Clondalkin Youth Band are set to take part for the 35th time debuting their brand-new uniform, which has been 3 years in development. Also involved is North-Dublin's Artane Band, who are referred to as ‘The Biggest Little Band’ in the country.

Festival goers are also welcomed to step into the spirit of traditional Irish dance at the Céilí Mór at Merrion Square West from 2pm - 5pm, where people of all ages can join in the fun guided by former Riverdancer and champion Irish step-dancer, Dearbhla Lennon.

Also featuring in the parade is the 357th Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, who’ll enjoy it from the beautiful Lord Mayor’s Coach which dates back to 1791. It was made for the then Lord Mayor by William Whitton, one of three coach builders based in Dublin’s Dominick Street. The highly decorated coach is 24 feet (7.3m) long, 8 feet (2.4m) wide and 11 feet 6 inches (3.5m) high. Use of the coach declined after Irish independence in the 1920s and it was put into storage in 1932, but lovingly restored in 1975 before making its first reappearance in the 1976 St. Patrick’s Day Parade and has been in every Parade since then.

Back again for a second year running is the Relaxed Parade Space at this year’s national Parade. The Relaxed Parade Space, sponsored by Dublin City Council, supported by the Lord Mayor Emma Blain, with support from AsIAm and Neurodiversity Ireland is a space designed to support the needs of neurodivergent families and individuals, and those with sensory processing differences, allowing many to access and enjoy the Parade, possibly for the first time.

Stretching right around the Bank of Ireland located at College Green, this space has bespoke facilities featuring additional seating, a large shared sensory space and private sensory break areas. A limited capacity area which allows more freedom of movement, the Festival is hoping to create an adapted space that is welcoming, inclusive and still embodies the spirit and fun of this iconic National event.

St. Patrick’s Festival is made possible through the continued support of the Government of Ireland, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Fáilte Ireland, Dublin City Council, and many generous partners and funders.