The national St. Patrick’s Festival, Dublin, Ireland, returns for 2023 from March 16th to 19th.
The theme of this year’s spectacular global celebration of Irish arts, culture and heritage is ‘ONE’, as the Festival issues an open invite to people from all over the world to come to Dublin, Ireland to share, to connect, to participate and to celebrate together as one.
Returning for 2023 after an incredibly successful debut last year is the St. Patrick’s Festival Quarter at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks which will be home to a magical day-to-night urban Festival for all, from March 16th to 19th.
The stage is set for a very special weekend of music and it’s no surprise that St. Patrick’s Festival 2023 is playing host to some of Ireland’s best loved musicians with an incredible line-up of traditional music, rock, pop and hip hop at the Festival Quarter.
FESTIVAL QUARTER NIGHTS
Thursday 16th – Saturday 18th March, 6pm – 10.30pm daily (Strictly Over 18s)
When the sun goes down, from 6pm daily, Festival Quarter Nights will explode into life with stunning lighting displays and decor, a bustling food village, bars and hangout areas just for adults.
On Thursday 16th March, Cultúr Club will see St. Patrick’s Festival and LGBTQ+ Club promoters, Mother, collaborate once again on the eve of the world’s largest celebration of Irish culture for one big party across 4 stages at Festival Quarter in the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks.
Playing host to some of Ireland’s finest DJs, drag queens, artists, cabaret talent and performers from across the LGBTQ+ community and traversing musical styles including pop, disco and electro to techno and beyond.
Cultúr Club will host the first ever LGBTQ+ Géilí (pronounced Gay-Lee) on the mainstage with the fabulous PJ Kirby, Panti Bliss and her partner Denys Salmon will take to the main stage for a very special dance performance. Elaine Mai with MayKay and Sinéad White come together for a very special, one-time-only performance of club classics who will be joined by Bobbi Arlo, Lewwab, Pastiche, and Tim Chadwick.
Tent mór will see host to Mother DJs who present an all-night queer dance party accompanied by the gorgeous OINK dancers and the drag fabulosity of Pixie Woo, Anziety, Shaqira Knightly and Viola Gayvis.
The brilliant SEANCHOÍCHE (pronounced ‘Shanna-Key-Huh’), a storytelling night founded in Dublin. The party will continue across the Festival Quarter site with DJs Billy Bunzari, Billy Scurry, Bull Horris B2B Rhyzine, Stephen Dowling, DJ Karen, Mango & Tara Kumar and with drag, dancing and divilment on display from artists Annie Queeries, Anziety, Chanel, Donna Fella, Liam Bee, Marian Mary the 6th, Naomi Diamond, Richard Joke, Vicky Volltz, Victoria Secret & more
As Friday 17th, St. Patrick’s Day turns into St. Patrick’s Night, live music will echo across the legendary grounds of the National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks as we celebrate our incredible traditional Irish music artists including Kíla + Brass Band, The Bonny Men, Jiggy, Saltaire, Pólca 4, Paahto & the Bull, Cairde Ceoil, Choice Music Prize nominee Junior Brother, and The Latchikos. Dance the night away in Celtic style with the Trad Rave DJ on the Clarke Square Bandstand & lots more!
On Saturday March 18th St. Patrick’s Festival has invited Pillow Queens to curate an evening that celebrates the best of new Irish music across four stages on the Festival Quarter site, before they take to the main stage and bring it home with a set that is sure to thrill audiences in a true celebration of Irish culture.
The evening will see the iconic site transformed into a unique urban Festival from 6.30pm with live music acts including Katie Kim, Melts, Sprints, Gurriers, Megan O’Neill, Basht, Really Good Time, Girlfriend, RTE 2FM Rising Acts, Cat Dowlings and Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra across 4 stages, live DJs, the best in Irish food and drinks, art installations, pop-up performances and much more.
Music performances at Festival Quarter earlier that day include Mo Cultivation & Friends Alice, Celaviedmai, Code of Behaviour, Grooveline, plus the GOAL Global Citizen Stage featuring performances from international community groups, Adam Mohamed, Curiosity Music Group, Blaq Apollo + Mimmi & many more.
Across the weekend at the National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, the Festival’s annual traditional song and storytelling project ABAIR, funded by the Arts Council, explores the Irish traditions of storytelling, song, and oral history.
Catch The Donegal Tarantella, Yoik and Nyahh, Ukraine & Ulster: Songs in Conflict and The Megaphone Project celebrate the rich oral culture of Ireland from 6pm across the St. Patrick’s Festival.
Night time events on March 16th and 18th will require a pre-purchased ticket that will be valid for the full evening’s programme. Tickets available stpatricksfestival.ie. All daytime events will be free of charge, along with the full day and night programme on St. Patrick’s Day, supported by Dublin Airport.