Here’s an assortment of 6 Paddy’s Weekend activities that you might actually enjoy
St Patrick’s Day is a three-day affair these days.
And as the City Council promises Leesiders the biggest parade and celebration ever this year, venues across the city and county are also answering the challenge to bring a jam-packed roster of activities to the Paddy’s Day craic-merchants of Cork.
No matter what your budget is, there is a fabulous mix of free and ticketed events to suit everyone, from revellers to families, all taking place across the weekend.
Here are just a handful of our favourite picks:
1. Paddy’s Night Party in Ballycotton
SeaChurch in Ballycotton is promising a big bash full of shenanigans on the bank holiday Friday. “Party to the point of no return with DJ Billy McGaley (BMG Sound), who will be blasting shamrock rattling house tunes from the 90s to modern day,” said the venue’s crew on Instagram.
The seaside venue promises revellers a spectacular night with “fantastic music curation, music videos, smoke, and disco lighting to fully immerse you in the experience.” Tickets for the St Paddy’s Night Party are €10 and can be purchased through their website. The party begins on Friday, March 17th from 8:30pm-12am with doors at 8pm.
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2. Nano Nagle Market
Gone are the days when celebrating St Patrick’s Day meant locking yourself into a thronged pub for eight hours trying to manifest a pint of Guinness from the bartender. For a quieter weekend, head to Nano Nagle Place which is once again hosting a dedicated series of St. Patrick’s markets over the bank holiday weekend with the help of artists from all over Cork.
The award-winning museum will also host a free drop-in workshop, where you can make your very own shamrock pot using sustainable materials. The Nano Nagle Markets take place on Saturday, March 18th and Sunday, March 19th from 11am to 4pm. The workshops take place 12pm to 2pm. Entry is free for all events.
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3. Take a free Ceilí dancing class at The Pav
Ceilí by the Lee has been a tour de force in Irish dancing teaching over the years and is now a regular fixture in the Crane Lane, where people of all nationalities come to learn our native moves.
This St Patrick’s Day the Ceilí crew is hosting a free class in The Pav and inviting everyone who wants to learn a few steps to come along and have a try. The free ceilí class will kick off at 2pm on Friday, March 17th in The Pav’s upstairs bar. No booking is necessary.
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4. Tunes & Tall Tales at the Franciscan Well
Seanchaí and storyteller Teddy Black grew up in Castletownbere, West Cork, before the advent of television and the many distractions of modern technology. For Teddy, this meant getting together with neighbours in a rambling house to sing and tell stories.
Teddy brings this tradition to the Fran Well on Friday, March 17th from 4:30pm-6pm for a gorgeously traditional night of ‘Tunes and Tall Tales’ in the North Mall brewery.
You can reserve your spot by booking online here. Entry is free.
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5. Dinner and a Hysterical, Historical Show
Hysterical Histories comes to the Bodega with a jam-packed line-up of performances for the whole family. Written and delivered by established professional Irish actors, this performance celebrates all things Cork. Over a two-hour performance, the crew will bring to life important moments from Cork’s 1500-year history and you’ll become acquainted with a county full of quirky characters, their habits, humour, and language.
The evening features a two-hour live comedy show, live Irish music, a two-course meal (main course and dessert) and one welcome drink of choice (stout included).
There are seats left for Hysterical Histories Dinner Theatre Experience on Thursday, March 16th and Saturday, March 18th from 7pm. Tickets cost €52 per adult and €32 per child which you can purchase from their site.
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6. Celebrate at Liss Ard Estate with special guest Kila
Award-winning Irish band Kila will have the roof hopping in the Skibbereen manor house playing traditional Irish music and contemporary favourites all day long. Kila is a 1987 Irish folk music/world music group formed in an Irish language secondary school in Dublin and made up of the renowned Rónán Ó Snodaigh along with Colm Ó Snodaigh, Dee Armstrong, James Mahon, Seanán Brennan, Brian Hogan and Dave Hingerty, who are known for their freewheeling instrumentals, furious jigs, and “primal rhythms” – a bit of a twist on the traditional trad sound.
Food and drink will be available to purchase. Tickets to the two-hour show are €41 and can be purchased here. Doors are at 1pm on Saturday, March 18th, Kila take the stage at 3pm.
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