It’s finally falling on a Saturday.

This St Patrick’s Day gives us all a three-day weekend to celebrate our patron saint, so this one calls for some serious planning to make the most of it.

The minute you clock out of work on Friday, there’s a wealth of places waiting to pour you a pint and fill your belly full of free food before the shenanigans get underway.

Here are ten of the best spots to chase the snakes out of Cork:

DEEP SOUTH

There’s an action-packed weekend in store on the Grand Parade. The fun kicks off on Friday with after work drinks and complimentary food. On Saturday Deep South will be showing all the matches and serving lunch (essential soakage) and cocktails before some live music. Then on Sunday they advise you “drag yourself back to us for the cure”. Can’t argue with that.

THE POOR RELATION

Going big on Friday night? County Vinyl will be filling the dancefloor at The Poor Relation with leftfield house, disco and electro to kick off their Paddy’s weekend party. On Saturday you can get down at Cork Ska & Reggae Festival Club – selectors on the day will include Big Daddy Can, Bilbo Bongo, Flipside Selekta and Irish Moss. It’s what St. Patrick would have wanted.

COUGHLAN’S

Crazy Chester take the stage on Friday night for a free show at 10pm. Drive the last of the snakes out of Cork on Paddy’s night with the trad/folk lovelies the Céilí AllStars. 

SOBER LANE

The highjinks swing into action at 2pm (pizza and nachos, anyone?) in Cork’s most ironically named pub. Celebrate Paddy’s Day with raucous fun from 2pm, live music from The Band Anna followed by DJ Luke Reidy.

THE WOODFORD

The Guilty Judges headline the proceedings at The Woodford this March 17th (you can catch them at The Oliver Plunkett on Friday night).