Dublin is famous for the friendliness of its people and because there is always something fun going on in the city. You’ll find so many festivals and events here throughout the year that you won’t get bored for sure! Some of the Events in Dublin and Ireland taking place every year have been outlined below.
Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Named after Ireland’s patron saint, celebrates the country’s rich culture and heritage with parades, dancing, music, food an plenty of pints of beer. What started as a one-day holiday on March 17 is now a multiday celebration enjoyed by more than a million locals each year. Although Dublin’s celebration is arguably one of the country’s biggest, you’re guaranteed to find holiday revellers all across Ireland, from small villages to major metropolitan cities.
On St Patrick’s Day it is customary to wear shamrocks and\or green clothing or accessories.
On St Patrick’s Day it is customary to wear shamrocks and\or green clothing or accessories.
Christmas in Ireland
Christmas in Ireland is a grand celebration, lasting from about December 24th to January 6th, though many count December 8th as the official start of the season. Throughout the celebratory season, you’ll find singing choirs and street musicians on the sidewalks and patrons filling local pubs to enjoy this important Irish holiday. Ireland’s large Catholic population crowds churches across the country for midnight mass on Christmas Eve, as well as for Christmas Day mass. December 26th marks St. Stephen’s Day, a national holiday honouring the Christian martyr, which is celebrated with traditional ceremonies, feasts and trips to pubs across Ireland.
Halloween Irish Traditions
The History of Halloween in Ireland has been celebrated for centuries and first originated from the festival of Samhain which dates back over 2,000 years and it marked the end of the bright half of the year and the start of the dark half. It was also a time to honour the dead and gods using pagan rituals.
Today Halloween is a holiday devoted to fun and pranks, feasting, Halloween costumes and of course trick or treating. It is not unusual to see houses in Ireland decked out in all manner of decorations from ghosts and witches to Vampires and Banshees.
Children will run from door to door, dressed in wonderful colourful costumes all shouting, “trick or treat” and they will receive sweets, fruit or nuts so ensuring that the house will be safe from any tricks the children wish to play.
The city of Derry has become the best place to visit for Halloween according to a USA Today poll in 2015 for the top 10 destination to visit for Halloween. Its a long tradition of Derry to celebrate Halloween with thousands taking to the streets to celebrate one night of being in fancy dress. The city boosts a major festival every year including parades, fireworks, and other Halloween festivities. Other cities around Ireland are also following with celebrating Halloween holding large parades and events for families.
What Do The Irish Eat At Halloween?
Colcannon recipe for Dinner:
Boiled Potato, Curly Kale (a cabbage) and raw Onions are provided as the traditional Irish Halloween dinner. Clean coins are wrapped in baking paper and placed in the potato for children to find and keep.
The Barnbrack Cake:
The traditional Halloween cake in Ireland is the barnbrack which is a fruit bread. Each member of the family gets a slice. Great interest is taken in the outcome as there is a piece of rag, a coin and a ring in each cake. If you get the rag then your financial future is doubtful. If you get the coin then you can look forward to a prosperous year. Getting the ring is a sure sign of impending romance or continued happiness.
The Ivy Leaf:
Each member of the family places a perfect ivy leaf into a cup of water and it is then left undisturbed overnight. If, in the morning, a leaf is still perfect and has not developed any spots then the person who placed the leaf in the cup can be sure of 12 months health until the following Halloween.
Today Halloween is a holiday devoted to fun and pranks, feasting, Halloween costumes and of course trick or treating. It is not unusual to see houses in Ireland decked out in all manner of decorations from ghosts and witches to Vampires and Banshees.
Children will run from door to door, dressed in wonderful colourful costumes all shouting, “trick or treat” and they will receive sweets, fruit or nuts so ensuring that the house will be safe from any tricks the children wish to play.
The city of Derry has become the best place to visit for Halloween according to a USA Today poll in 2015 for the top 10 destination to visit for Halloween. Its a long tradition of Derry to celebrate Halloween with thousands taking to the streets to celebrate one night of being in fancy dress. The city boosts a major festival every year including parades, fireworks, and other Halloween festivities. Other cities around Ireland are also following with celebrating Halloween holding large parades and events for families.
What Do The Irish Eat At Halloween?
Colcannon recipe for Dinner:
Boiled Potato, Curly Kale (a cabbage) and raw Onions are provided as the traditional Irish Halloween dinner. Clean coins are wrapped in baking paper and placed in the potato for children to find and keep.
The Barnbrack Cake:
The traditional Halloween cake in Ireland is the barnbrack which is a fruit bread. Each member of the family gets a slice. Great interest is taken in the outcome as there is a piece of rag, a coin and a ring in each cake. If you get the rag then your financial future is doubtful. If you get the coin then you can look forward to a prosperous year. Getting the ring is a sure sign of impending romance or continued happiness.
The Ivy Leaf:
Each member of the family places a perfect ivy leaf into a cup of water and it is then left undisturbed overnight. If, in the morning, a leaf is still perfect and has not developed any spots then the person who placed the leaf in the cup can be sure of 12 months health until the following Halloween.
Bloomsday
The Irish Bloomsday celebration honors James Joyce, one of Ireland’s most famous literary masters. This event is held each year on June 16, the day in which Joyce’s classic novel “Ulysses” takes place. First celebrated in Ireland in 1954, Bloomsday is now a worldwide event celebrated by Joyceans across the globe. Dublin’s James Joyce Centre hosts a number of events in the days leading up to Bloomsday, including reenactments, performances, readings and breakfasts based on cuisine featured in the novel. Some Bloomsday enthusiasts even don Edwardian costumes and make pilgrimages to Dublin locations mentioned in the book.
More celebrations
No matter what time of year you choose to visit Ireland, you'll likely find some sort of celebration or event going on, from music festivals to street fairs. If you're in Galway in late September, head to the International Oyster Festival to fill up on seafood. In October, the city of Cork hosts the biggest jazz festival in Ireland, and the town of Derry attracts partygoers near and far for its annual Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en Carnival.
www.galwayoysterfest.com
www.guinnessjazzfestival.com
www.derrycity.gov.uk/halloween
www.galwayoysterfest.com
www.guinnessjazzfestival.com
www.derrycity.gov.uk/halloween