No interest in the parade?

There’s plenty of other fun stuff to see if the main event isn’t your bag.

The Cork St Patrick’s Day Festival kicks off today and runs all weekend, with a choice of interesting events on offer for every member of the family.

Here are four of the best to check out…

St Patrick’s Hill Ball Run

Sunday, 2pm: St Patrick’s Hill

You don’t have to be a kid to be enthralled by the sight of 10,000 coloured balls cascading down the steepest hill in the county. Sponsor a ball for €2 here in aid of the Cork Lions Club Defibrillator Project.

Check out Elizabeth Fort

Friday and Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm

If you’ve never taken in the view from Elizabeth Fort on Barrack Street, you can see it for free all weekend. There’s a guided tour at 1pm daily. Don’t miss the heads on spikes (pictured).

Take a walking tour

Sunday, 1pm: Nano Nagle Place 

The author of ‘Fancy A Scove? Alex Postel will lead a free walking tour around the vicinity of Nano Nagle Place. You can also grab a free self-guided walking tour brochure from the Cork City Tourist Office and follow a trail on your own time.

Stop for lunch on Emmet Place

Saturday, 12pm-5pm

The St Patrick’s Day Market will be setting up on Emmet Place for the day. Stroll through to soak up some culture and grab some hearty local food on the run.