It’s gearing up to be a decent hoolie.

The Cork St. Patrick’s Festival begins today, Friday, March 15th and runs until Monday, March 18th as Cork goes green and celebrates our national festival in style.

Before you don your green jumper and nip off into the city, here are all the scheduling details you’ll need to move around town over the coming days.

What time does the Cork City St Patrick’s Day parade start?

The St Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 1pm on Sunday at the junction of South Mall and Parnell Place before it makes its way along South Mall and Grand Parade, then up St. Patrick’s Street to finish on Merchants Quay.

Triplet, Josh Holmes pictured trying their warrior costume during a St Patrick’s Day Cork fitting. 

Over 3100 participants and 58 groups are taking part this year, with several international groups including The Knights of Columbus Pipe & Drums from New York, The La Cañada High School Marching Spartans from California, Batala an international collection of percussion bands and the Cologne Cork Twinning Association from Germany.

Iconic Cork band the Frank and Walters will lead the way.

Can I watch the Cork parade online?

Yes. The Parade will be streamed live here from 12.45pm on Sunday March 17th.

What are the facilities like for wheelchair users? 

Wheelchair users and those with special needs will be accommodated in a special area in front of Dunnes Stores on Patrick Street, and there will be ISL Interpreter services will be available beside the Grandstand, which this year is situated near the Tourist Information Office on St. Patrick’s Street.

KC, presenter of Breakfast on Cork’s RED FM will MC the parade.

Any road closures I should know about?

In general – only the very centre of the city is impacted by road closures and these run from early morning to late afternoon on March 17th.

On Sunday, March 17th from 5am to 5:30pm all these streets will be closed to traffic except buses:

• St Patrick’s Street Northbound from Academy Street to St Patrick’s Bridge
• Drawbridge Street from the Junction of Academy Street and Emmet Place
• Perry Street with the Junction of Lavitt’s Quay

If travelling by bus, drop-off and pick-up locations are affected, so please check to ensure you have the information you need. The Park and Ride service is recommended as an inexpensive solution to city access on parade day.

More traffic updates are available here.

What can I check out besides the parade?

Other events happening over the festive weekend include:

• Circus High Jinks, Elizabeth Fort, March 16th, 12pm to 4.30pm
• The Afternoon Céilí Mór, City Hall, March 16th, 3pm to 6pm
• The Lee Sessions Trad Trail in Cork City Centre Pubs, March 15th to March 18th
• Saints and Shamrocks Trail, Nano Nagle Place, March 17th, 9.30am to 5pm
• Portrait Peek- A Boo, Crawford Art Gallery, March 17th, 11am to 4pm
• Traditional Storytelling Telling at the Franciscan Well, March 17th, 2.30pm