by Emily Cathcart

It’s no secret that events commemorating Ireland’s patron saint are a fixture of the national festive calendar. And not only is Saint Patrick fêted in the Emerald Isle; when mid-March rolls around each year, celebrations the world over mark his day (each splashed with their own verdant shade of local colour).

But in 2021, the official St Patrick’s Festival in Ireland will be an entirely virtual affair. In choosing this year’s festival theme of Dúisigh Éire! Awaken Ireland!, organisers invite online participants to “throw off the long, dark months and rise to embrace the brighter days ahead” — and their timing couldn’t be more appropriate.

As spring takes hold in Ireland—with its hints of sunshine and promise of better times on the way — we look forward to yet another reason to celebrate hope; this time, from a front row seat on our sofa. St Patrick’s Festival will present a full programme via its dedicated TV channel (SPF TV) from March 12–17.

There are definite upsides to virtual events. SPF TV broadcasts can be streamed live as they happen, or watched back; locals won’t be at the mercy of the notoriously unpredictable Paddy’s Day weather; and there’s no crowds to navigate, but instead unlimited capacity for festival goers to enjoy taking part... wherever they happen to be watching in the world.

In-person parades, parties and performances will return. In the meantime, in the run-up to this year's events we take a look back at past Dublin festivals, recapturing the special brand of St Patrick’s revelry experienced in Ireland’s capital.

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Stpatricksfestival.ie

Images: Emily Cathcart