'It’s finally here': St Patrick's delight as Kilkenny's first full festival returns since Covid restrictions began

The day is finally here: St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny begins six days of festival events today, Tuesday, March 15.

With American Marching Bands, Fireworks, Fireshows, Concerts, St Patrick’s Day Parade, street entertainment and more, the city expects to welcome 30,000 visitors over the coming days. 

The spectacular Ferris Wheel has been erected on the Parade plaza, an area which will serve as the central hub of the festival. Offering birds eye views of the Medieval city including Kilkenny Castle, The Medieval Mile Museum and the Nore, the wheel sis so imposing it can be spotted from across the city.  

The 2022 St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny is the biggest yet and boasts lots of free events for children including workshops, stilt walkers and street entertainment shows. For families there is the Festival Street food market and picnic area, carnival rides, live music on the Festival Bandstand and interactive drumming shows. For the adults looking to celebrate there are workshops, Kilkenny Tradfest gigs and the Medieval Mile Museum Music Series.  

At just an hour and a half from Dublin and less than an hour from Waterford and Wexford, the Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Festival has the potential to make a great day out.  

The main event, the St Patrick’s Day Parade returns after a 2 years absence. Communities and groups from around the county, as well as musicians, creatives and ‘wolves’ will be taking to the streets led by Grand Marshal, Irish Paralympian Mary Fitzgerald. This year’s theme ‘Run with the Wolves’ is inspired by Kilkenny based Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar nominated animated movie ‘WolfWalkers’ which is set in Kilkenny in 1650 and inspired by the city’s buildings and the county’s woods. Wolves of all shapes, sizes and costumes will be seen throughout the Parade – and spectators are told to watch out for the biggest Wolf of all!  

2022 Grand Marshal Mary Fitzgerald said: “It's a great honour to be the 2022 Grand Marshal. I’m hugely excited to be a part of the festival and can’t wait to see all the creative entries in the Parade. Being chosen as Grand Marshal is one of the greatest honours which can be bestowed on a Kilkenny person and is a recognition of my own personal sporting achievements, but also those of all who participate in Paralympic sports.” 

Mayor Andrew McGuinness “It's great to see our festivals back up and running. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the city and enjoying six days of festivities here in Kilkenny. We are delighted to welcome visitors from all over the world and in particular visiting mayors from our twinned towns of Formigine Italy and Kilkenny Minnesota.

He continued; “The excitement is mounting for festival and in particular for the annual St Patrick’s Day parade which has been  part of Kilkenny culture for over a century”

 The parade will begin at 1.30pm Thursday 17th March with over fifty fabulous groups participating. Led by the Army Colour Party representing St Stephen’s Barracks, the parade will start at Upper John’s Street, cross John’s Bridge, pass by the reviewing stand at the parade, turn up High Street and will finish at The Market Yard. 

Musical highlights include the renowned St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band, the Ballycallan Drum and Fife Band, who have a proud local music heritage going back 5 generations, 

The Hit Machine - powerful Celtic Drummers and The Irish Prison Service Pipe Band, formed in 1992, by officers from prisons across Ireland.

Participating for the first time are the county’s  neighbours Enniscorthy Wexford Re-enactment group. Dressed in period costume, they will portray local Norman history featuring historical figures like Isabel and William Marshall, Strongbow and Aoife, who together built up Kilkenny and Kilkenny Castle. 

A special ‘Run With The Wolves’ pageant has been created by local community groups under the guidance of artist Bridget Ni Dhuinn and supported by Kilkenny and Carlow Education Training Board and Kilkenny County Council The pageant includes Camphill communities, L’Arche, Deise Medieval and Kilkenny Rhythm Riot Drummers, to bring the theme to life as the troupe accompany Moll the giant wolf through the streets of Kilkenny. 

Attractions and entertainment on the parade will be full of carnival, street performers, acrobatic shows, alongside great music to celebrate the festivities. There’s stilt walkers, jugglers, a clown band and much more! Major highlights include the Big Wheel, offering a bird’s eye view and amazing panoramic of Kilkenny city; the Vintage Carousel offering locals and visitors of all ages a chance to enjoy the thrill of taking a spin; Nore Valley Pet Farm will be there with some wonderful pet animals for visitors to meet; The Irish Open Pro Golf Putting mini green, hosted by Horizon Irish Open Golf, will also the be on the Mayor’s Walk.  Come along and meet some of your favourite golfers!

To ensure visitors, locals and tourists sustain their stamina and energy for all the fun, festivities and entertainment there’s a range of festival street food available – also on the Mayor’s Walk. 

On Saturday 19th March 8pm there’s a special screening of Kila in concert; the music that features in Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar nominated  - and this year’s festival theme – Wolfwalkers. FREE and taking place outside the city’s Courthouse on Parliament Street 

Local landmarks will be lit up in green, showing many of our beautiful medieval buildings and venues in a new light for locals and visitors to enjoy as they amble through the streets at evening time. 

Speaking about the St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny, Director of Services with Kilkenny County Council Tim Butler said “We are delighted to support the return of St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny. The festival marks the re-opening of Kilkenny following the restrictions which impacted civic, community and business life.  The events and festivities are an important part of our work at Kilkenny County Council. They help ensure that Kilkenny’s reputation for creating quality programme events enhance our communities, businesses, and civic life. This year’s extended programme is designed to deliver that and to help encourage the return of life across our communities and businesses – as well as celebrating and enjoying St Patrick’s festival.”

The full festival programme and everything you need to know about visiting Kilkenny this week can be found at www.stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com. The festival begins today (15th March) and runs until Sunday the 20