In the days and weeks leading up to St. Patrick’s Day through this year’s Easter Rising Centenary in Dublin, there’s a buzz in the air that’s penetrable in every coffee shop, boutique and bar around the entire city.
Unofficially, the St. Patrick’s Day Festival marks the beginning of tourist season in Ireland. Officially, however, it's a four-day celebration with deep religious roots that commemorates what it means to be Irish.
While the revelry has gone from sacred to secular over the years, especially in America, the festivities still differ across the pond, where nary a green beer, unruly leprechaun, or pinching is in sight (ask a local Dubliner about the last one, and they'll have no idea what you’re talking about).
In contrast, Dublin's celebration centers around the annual parade, and this year's procession saw a crowd of more than half a million people from all over the world. Inspired by the creativity of the youth of Ireland, this year’s theme, “Imagine If,” brought to life a display of brightly colored floats, costumes, and entertainment centered around the future prosperity of Ireland’s culture.
Preceeding 19-year-old disability rights campaigner Joanne O’Riordan who served as this year's Grand Marshal, were ten marching bands from the U.S., the U.K., and Ireland, who played to cheering crowds as they marched past historic landmarks throughout the city. And while there was plenty of entertainment to go around, it was the younger generation, brandishing the flags, colors, and spirit of the country from the sidelines, who were the real stars and sights of this year’s show.
And what does it mean to be Irish you ask? In Dublin at least, it means toasting to a bright and prosperous future. Slainte!
Michelle Gross is a freelance producer at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @mtothegnyc
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
Thousands of people line the two-mile parade route across the River Liffey to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
The parade’s Grand Marshal, 19-year-old disability rights campaigner Joanne O’Riordan, greets thousands of cheering fans along the parade route.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
More than half a million people from around the world turn out to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
Young musicians take a few moments before the parade to practice Irish hymns on their bagpipes.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
This year's festival theme marks the final installment of a creative trilogy of past, present, and future. This pageant, inspired by the young people in Carndonagh Secondary School in Donegal, reflects on the pervasiveness of digital technology, portraying a world where all the technical tasks, which are currently carried out by phones and computers, are a part of our physical selves. They’re built into our brains, our eyes, our ears, our hands, our mouths.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
"March to Dublin" is the official celebratory tune of this year’s parade, and serves as “a declaration of the welcoming spirit” toward visitors to Ireland.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
Sunny skies and record crowds marked this year's celebrations.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
Thousands of performers from all over Ireland took to the parade stage on Thursday.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
A troupe performs an interpretive song and dance inspired by this year's theme.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
Bands from the U.S., the U.K., Brittany, and Ireland perform, with top honors going to Shorecrest High School Highlander Marching Band from Washington state—which won best overall band in this year's parade.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
The parade, which started just after noon on Thursday, saw a sea of green attendees eager to cheer on the live entertainment.
In Photos: Dublin on St. Patrick's Day
Young children line the walls of this nearby apartment complex at the start of the parade route.
