Today, St. Patrick’s Day Festival announced their programme and theme for this year’s festivities.

It goes without saying it’ll be a virtual affair this year, but with a compelling line-up of live music, art and comedy it’s a welcome bit of news as we come out of the darker months of the year. Running for six days, the Festival will take place on their website and will be available to watch across the world from March 12–17.

The festival is also doing its bit to support the arts, live events and tourism communities and is injecting more than 85 per cent of its programme funding directly back into these communities all across Ireland.

At a glance, the lineup includes comedian behind the indie band reimaginations Michael Fry, legendary poet Pat Ingoldsby, chef Tadgh Byrne who is presenting a series on the history of Irish food, and for those looking to massage their gentle nervous systems Bressie and Michael Ryan are hosting wellness and mindfulness events.

In terms of music, there’s a host of Irish talent including New Jackson, Pillow Queens, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Mary Coughlan, Myles O’Reilly, Gemma Dunleavy, Sorca McGrath, Gareth Quinn Redmond, Matthew Nolan, Lisa Hannigan, Adrian Crowley, Matthew Campbell and more. 

Anna McGowan, Interim Director of St. Patrick’s Festival, said: “As we move from winter into spring, people across the country and our diaspora awaken with a new hope, a new shared vision of positivity for our future. Dúisigh Éire! Awaken Ireland!  will capture this sense of hope and optimism, presented online this year through St. Patrick’s Festival TV, with a huge range of events for every age and curiosity, celebrating our contemporary culture and those who have influenced us. We recognise a year of loss and isolation, and also one of community action, local and international heroes and the indomitable spirit of the Irish. We really can’t wait to share this wonderful programme of events today.”

You can view the full programme here.