St Patrick’s Day in pictures: Fine weather and downpours at parades around Ireland
In many locations around Ireland, it was a day of dodging showers. A downpour in Galway ended just before the parade began. The rain held off in Cork, but puppet-watchers and float-fanciers had to endure blustery conditions. In the pictures below, the people of Bantry grin valiantly in what look like quintessentially miserable St Patrick’s Day conditions. In Dublin, the sun shone on parade grand marshal Vogue Williams and a few hundred thousand others. And if you weren’t too exposed to the wind or rain, temperatures were mild for March 17th, hitting 14 degrees in many towns and cities as Ireland reached peak parade. 17/03/2026. Pictured at St Patrick's Day Paraade in Limerick City where runner Ava Crean was Grand Marshal. Pic: Don Moloney NO REPRO FEE 17.3.2026 PIctured is four-year-old Jamine Cummins with the Kavanagh-Porter Academy of Dance taking part in the Dún Laoghaire St Patrick’s Day Parade 2026. With thanks to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dún Laoghaire Business Association, Core Credit Union and RWE for supporting this wonderful community event. PHOTO: Mark Stedman 17/03/2026
Performers from the Limerick Indian Community pictured at St Patrick's Day Paraade in Limerick City where runner Ava Crean was Grand Marshal.
Pic: Don Moloney Bantry, West Cork, Ireland. 17th Mar, 2026. A huge number of people turned out for the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade, despite the wet weather. Grand Marshall for the event was Graham Canty, the Cork GAA Footballing legend. Having fun at the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade. Picture: Andy Gibson. Latta and her daughter Hazel at the Galway St. Patrick's Parade. Photo by Hany Marzouk Bantry, West Cork, Ireland. 17th Mar, 2026. A huge number of people turned out for the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade, despite the wet weather. Grand Marshall for the event was Graham Canty, the Cork GAA Footballing legend. Getting into the St. Patrick's Day spirit was Marie Shanahan from Connecticut, USA. Picture: Andy Gibson. The St Patrick's Day parade in Kilkenny. Photograph: Liam Murphy Saint Patrick's Day in Belfast.
Thousands of people are lining the streets of Belfast, grateful there has been no rain to dampen their St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The sun even peeped out as the parade left the grounds of city hall. The floats, dancers and musicians are snaking their way through the city centre before returning to the city hall.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. Saint Patrick's Day in Belfast.
Thousands of people are lining the streets of Belfast, grateful there has been no rain to dampen their St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The sun even peeped out as the parade left the grounds of city hall. The floats, dancers and musicians are snaking their way through the city centre before returning to the city hall.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. Saint Patrick's Day in Belfast.
Thousands of people are lining the streets of Belfast, grateful there has been no rain to dampen their St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The sun even peeped out as the parade left the grounds of city hall. The floats, dancers and musicians are snaking their way through the city centre before returning to the city hall.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. Saint Patrick's Day in Belfast.
Thousands of people are lining the streets of Belfast, grateful there has been no rain to dampen their St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The sun even peeped out as the parade left the grounds of city hall. The floats, dancers and musicians are snaking their way through the city centre before returning to the city hall.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. Saint Patrick's Day in Belfast.
Thousands of people are lining the streets of Belfast, grateful there has been no rain to dampen their St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The sun even peeped out as the parade left the grounds of city hall. The floats, dancers and musicians are snaking their way through the city centre before returning to the city hall.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. Saint Patrick's Day in Belfast.
Thousands of people are lining the streets of Belfast, grateful there has been no rain to dampen their St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The sun even peeped out as the parade left the grounds of city hall. The floats, dancers and musicians are snaking their way through the city centre before returning to the city hall.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. Kilkenny parade. Photograph: Liam Murphy Performers from Polish Arts Festival in Limerick City. Photograph: Don Moloney Dún Laoghaire. Photograph: Mark Stedman Sisters Imogen (6) and Elodie Barry (8) in Dún Laoghaire. Photograph: Mark Stedman Eight-year-olds Kaizen Aquino and Hillary Tapiwan watch the Dún Laoghaire parade. Photograph: Mark Stedman Members of the local men’s shed in the Dún Laoghaire St Patrick’s Day Parade. Photograph: Mark Stedman Taekwondo Tigers in the Dún Laoghaire parade. Photograph: Mark Stedman Catherine Connolly impersonator at the Galway parade. Photograph: Hany Marzouk Enjoying the Bantry parade, despite some wet weather, was Seán Harnedy from Caheragh. Photograph: Andy Gibson Michael and Michaela Lebe from Germany at the Bantry parade. Photograph: Andy Gibson Big shout out to Oscar Winner Jessie Buckley outside the family Hotel, at the St Patrick's Festival Parade, the amazing Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Float featured Killarney's Hollywood A Listers, Ruiri O'Flaherty, Michael Fassbender. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan Plenty of culture and colour in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney town on Tuesday, organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce. The parade featured over 60 community group in the surrounding area. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan More Shennagans by the famous Fleming Duo Tadgh and Derry Fleming, judges in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade, in Killarney town on Tuesday, organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce. The parade featured over 60 community group in the surrounding area. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan Plenty of culture and colour in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney town on Tuesday, organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce. The parade featured over 60 community group in the surrounding area. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan Denis O'Connor, enjoying his little tipple from his car, in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney town on Tuesday, organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce. The parade featured over 60 community group in the surrounding area. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan Bantry, West Cork, Ireland. 17th Mar, 2026. A huge number of people turned out for the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade, despite the wet weather. Grand Marshall for the event was Graham Canty, the Cork GAA Footballing legend. Ella Stiles from Connecticut, USA had her face painted by Katrina O'Kane. Picture: Andy Gibson. Bantry, West Cork, Ireland. 17th Mar, 2026. A huge number of people turned out for the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade, despite the wet weather. Grand Marshall for the event was Graham Canty, the Cork GAA Footballing legend. Preparing to take part in the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade were Maedea; Sophia Santa Barbara and Sheba Gray from the Bantry Raheen Art Project. Picture: Andy Gibson. Bantry, West Cork, Ireland. 17th Mar, 2026. A huge number of people turned out for the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade, despite the wet weather. Grand Marshall for the event was Graham Canty, the Cork GAA Footballing legend. Pictured at the Bantry Fountain is Cherice Du Plessis from Glengarriff. Picture: Andy Gibson. Charlotte Sherry from Salthill recording the Galway parade with her camera.
Photo by Hany Marzouk Bantry, West Cork, Ireland. 17th Mar, 2026. A huge number of people turned out for the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade, despite the wet weather. Grand Marshall for the event was Graham Canty, the Cork GAA Footballing legend. Pictured at the Bantry St. Patrick's Day parade are Hazel & Hannah Murray from Rochestown, Cork. Picture: Andy Gibson. St. Patrick's Day Spring Carnival at Shipquay Street in the heart of the city. Photo by: Trevor McBride St. Patrick's Day Spring Carnival at Shipquay Street in the heart of the city. Photo by: Trevor McBride
