Celebrate St Patrick’s Day close to you - here's what's happening this weekend

St Patrick’s Day will be celebrated on Friday and indeed into the weekend with a host of parades and gatherings taking place over the coming days.

Ardara
The parade takes place on Sunday, March 19, starting at 3.30pm from the Church Car Park and all participants are asked to be there before 3pm. The Cup for the best shop window display is up for grabs this year again. All shops are asked to put a feature display in the windows for St Patrick’s weekend.

Ballybofey & Stranorlar
Ballybofey & Stranorlar Chambers of Commerce are super excited to be running our Family Fun Day again this year, from 12 noon until 4pm on St Patrick's Day at Navenny car park.
With a Rodeo bull, duck n dive inflatable obstacle course, bouncy castle, games, kids tractor run, Irish Dancers, Trad music and much much more we are going bigger and better than ever before.

Buncrana
Preparations are well underway for this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Buncrana following fears that the event might not go ahead this year after the long-serving organising committee stood down.
There will be some fun events coming up for the kids in the lead-up to the parade, including a ‘snake hunt’ which is being run by Glor Inis Eoghain as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, and lots of other music and entertainment as well, not to mention some really creative floats.
The Buncrana parade starts at 3pm on March 17 and will follow the usual routes around the town.

Bundoran
The annual St Patrick’s Day parade, will take place in the seaside town on Friday at 3.30pm.
Last year saw the introduction of “St PETrick’s Day” whereby people and their pets were invited to join in the parade. This initiative proved very popular, particularly with dogs and their owners, and will once again form part of the annual festivities.

Ballyshannon
The annual St Patrick’s Day parade has a 2pm start at the Allingham Park/The Fair Green.
The sight and sounds coming down Main Street gives onlookers an amazing vantage point.
It will take the usual route down the Back street, out Belleek Road, back up East Port, over Bridge to the Market Yard.
The uptake so far has been great with four marching bands plus Samba band so far. The theme is "celebrating Irish Art and Culture". Festival celebrations and prize giving in Dorrians afterwards.

Belleek
All roads lead to the border town of Belleek this Saint Patrick's day for the long awaited return of a parade and fun day for all the family.
The parade starts at 1pm from the GAA centre and will travel down the main
Street, It will be followed by live entertainment on the Gig Rig until about 4pm. The Wark Hall is having a jumble sale with some great bargains and serving refreshments when you have a browse from 11am to 2pm. Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre is open 10am to 4pm.

Burtonport
The Annual St Patrick’s Day of cultural celebration will take place this Friday in St Columba’s Community Centre from 12 noon to 2pm, after mass. There will be music, Irish dancing, games, Irish stew and other foods served. It would be much appreciated if traditional fayre could be donated, such as boxty, scones, soda farls. There are loads of amazing prizes and all monies raised will be shared between the RNLI, Burtonport Festival and Burtonport Community Centre.

Creeslough
Everyone taking part in the parade meets in the field behind the Chapel at 11am. In order to get the parade on to the Main Road, it would be appreciated if everyone wishing to watch the parade move up the Street and leave the area around the Chapel clear for the parade to exit.

Donegal Town
The parade will start at the Bosco Centre at 3pm, turning right onto Tyrconnell Street, over the bridge, left onto the Diamond, over past the Abbey, left up past the Bank of Ireland, up Main street, turning left at the Ulster Bank onto Water Street, over the Peter Kennedy Bridge up to the junction at the Bus Station and turning left up Tyrconnell Street. This will be repeated once, before finishing back at the Bosco Centre.
Bus Services
All passengers for Bus Éireann are reminded that the collection point is the picnic area behind Lidl on the Ballyshannon road at planned bus times from 1.30pm to 5pm, after which services will revert back to the Diamond as per normal.

Downings
Downings is traditionally known for its evening parade and that will be the case again this year with the seaside village going green for a 5pm start.

Dunfanaghy
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held in Dunfanaghy this Friday. All are welcome so get your floats ready and the Parade will leave as usual from Moores Garage. This promises to be a great day and there will also be music in The Square.

Dunkineely
Hook up central Dunkineely on Sheelagh’s Day, March 18 at 3pm for their first ever Dunkineely St. Patrick’s Parade.
Entertainment will be supplied by the local Killaghtee Band, O’Donnell’s School of Music, children from local schools and the Ukraine and there is rumour of a dragon.
All children attending the parade are in with a chance to win this fantastic hamper, the prize is for best costume, so pull out the wigs, face paints and green gear. A separate prize for the best Sheelagh.
Food and drink will be available from Samara’s Coffee and Napoli Express Pizza. The pubs will be open too. Prizes for best float, best costume and best Sheelagh in support of last week's International Women’s Day. Parking will be available in the centre of Dunkineely at C Fish Ltd.

Falcarragh
Locals are urged to come along and bring their friends and enjoy the festivities while supporting local businesses and the community, on Friday at 3pm. All community groups, town bands, schools, floats, clubs, are very welcome to participate in the parade and are asked to meet at 2pm at the chapel in Falcarragh to be placed in the running order.

Gaoth Dobhair
A great day of fun-filled events is planned for St Patrick’s Day in Gaoth Dobhair with the theme for the parade this year being teanga and teaghlach, language and family.
The event is run each year by Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair (CFGD).
The parade will begin on Friday at 2pm in Bunbeg and will culminate around Molloy’s supermarket. A band of drummers from Cnoc Fola will be a welcome addition to the parade this year. Irish dancers, Sciobal na mBan and the Harbour Road will take the opportunity to showcase their talents. Members of the emergency voluntary services alongside members of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael will also take part this year. Vintage cars, classic cars and rally cars will certainly attract a lot of attention. There will also be prizes for children in fancy dress.

Glencolmcille
The Glencolmcille St Patrick's Day Parade will take place at 3pm on Friday. The floats will assemble at the Fire Station for the parade through the village to Halla Mhuire, where there will be an exhibition of Irish dancing before the prizes are presented.

Kilcar
Paráid na Féile Pádraig at tosú at 12.00. Coel, flótaí, damhsa gaelach agus níos mó. Fáilte roimhe achan duine. The St Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 12 noon. Music, floats, Irish dancing and more.

Killybegs
The St Patrick’s Day Parade takes place at 2pm with a prize of €200 for the best float sponsored by Mooney Boats.

Letterkenny
This year entertainment will start at the stage at Market Centre at 1.30pm with the parade proper starting at 3pm. At the stage there will be music from the Hillbillies, singing and dancing and then we will be joined by our favourite MC Keith Fletcher for the parade itself.
For those gathering to watch the parade, Callum Keaveney will be playing outside McGettigan's Hotel, sponsored by VP McMullin Solicitor.
Just across the street at the Courthouse take a selfie at our Photoframe, sponsored by TCS.
Folk’n About will play outside Blakes Bar, sponsored by R McCullagh Jewellers.

Kerrykeel
The Kerrykeel St Patrick's day committee is seeking donations for the 2023 parade.
Funds raised will go towards the running of the parade which is becoming ever more expensive. Funds will be spent on insurance, barriers, rental of PA and sound equipment, marketing etc. Your support for this cause is vital to its success and survival. Any surplus funds raised this year will be put to use for the parade in 2024. This year’s participants are encouraged to meet at Kerrykeel National School at 2pm, with tea afterwards at the Old School Community Centre.

Mevagh
It has now been confirmed that RTE or TG4 will be in Carrigart on St Patrick's Day this year.
This year's theme is 'Love of the Irish Language', so any theme with the Irish lanuage on your float. The prizes this year are as follows: 1st - €250, 2nd - €150, 3rd - €50
Remember that Irish must be included in order to qualify for the prizes.
The procession starts at 1om at the Chapel Car Park. If you would like to enter a float, please message our 'Mevagh St Patrick's Day Parade' Facebook page or contact 0871212352.

Moville
This year’s celebrations in the Foyle-side town will begin at 9.30pm on Thursday, March 16 in the Trawlerman bar where musicians and dancers are invited to join in and share their talents and kick off the festivities. The parade in the town on Friday starts at the usual time of 2.30pm. Motorised floats are asked to turn up at Glencrow by 2.15pm.
As well as the parade, there will be music in the Market Square from 2pm to 5pm with the David Craig Band. There will also be bouncy castles in the square during the parade.
Also as part of the celebration, the big tree in the Market Square and the Foyle Hotel will be lit up green all week.