Waterford’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have been extended to run for over 5 days with a host of free activities and events on offer for the young and not-so-young from the city to the county.
Waterfordman Fr Luke Wadding was the founder of St. Patrick’s Day. When based in Rome in the 1630s, it was he who was in charge of creating the official list of saints of the Roman Catholic Church. While he was compiling this list, he added the Feast of St. Patrick on March 17th, as the Franciscans always celebrated that Saint.
In celebration of St.Patrick’s Waterford connection, a fun-filled 5-day festival will be on offer in the city.
Visit Waterford has unveiled an exciting and wide-ranging programme of events for this year’s St. Patrick’s Festival in Waterford, running from Friday, 13 March through Tuesday, 17 March. The city will come alive with music, history, family entertainment and vibrant street performances, offering something for visitors and locals of all ages.
Festivities begin on Friday evening with the atmospheric Dark History Walking Tour led by renowned local historian Jim Doherty. Departing from Reginald’s Tower at 7 pm, this adults-only experience explores the darker side of Waterford’s past, from tales of plague to murder. Music lovers can head to Theatre Royal at 7.30 pm, where Irish country star Cliona Hagan brings her signature Nashville flair to the stage in a ticketed performance. Throughout the evening, the Applemarket and O’Connell Street Cultural Quarter will host a strong lineup of live music, including Music Generation Trad Ensemble, Pat Cooney, Liam Merriman and Bill Stewart, and Kings of the Wild. Electric Avenue rounds out the night with Green Week performing the greatest hits of Green Day.
Across the weekend, visitors can enjoy the Urban Greenway Self-Guided Tour, which showcases Waterford as a city of light with historic monuments illuminated in green, while Osprey Viking Cruises will offer special river history sailings highlighting local connections to the national holiday. The City Centre Fairground at John Robert’s Square will operate throughout the festival, featuring rides, amusements and a wide selection of local food stalls.
Saturday’s programme begins with Spoken Word at the Cultural Quarter, hosted by Waterford Writers, followed by the immersive Déise Medieval Viking reenactment in the Medieval Museum. Family-friendly fun continues in John Robert’s Square with Playful Streets activities and craft workshops from South East Craft Studios inspired by Celtic design. Guided heritage tours, including Soldiers, Saints and Scholars with Johnny Codd, provide further opportunities to explore the city’s rich past.
Music remains at the heart of the festival on Saturday with performances from the Waterford Centre of Music, Waterford Youth Bands, Music Generation and Divorce Party. Theatre Royal hosts Serena Terry Therapy for a night of comedy, while the Applemarket lights up with the high-energy Blowtorch Boogie, combining live traditional music with spectacular fire performance.
Sunday’s family programme features Little Irish Folklore Friends at The Book Centre, the ever-popular Wobbly Circus in John Robert’s Square, and storytelling drama The Legend of Queen Medb in the Medieval Museum Undercroft. Live music continues across the city with Knockadollys, The Booley House, WAMA, Monticelli, Damn Dirty Apes and Spancill Jills delivering an eclectic mix of traditional, rock and contemporary sounds. Visitors can also join Jim Doherty once again for an evening ‘Walk Waterford’ historical tour.
On Monday, younger visitors can enjoy Lucky Little Crafters at City Square Shopping Centre, while the city soundtrack continues with Hey Presto at the Applemarket and six hours of live music at the O’Connell Street Cultural Quarter featuring Liam Frampton, Washed Out and Smurph. The Absurdist Pipe Band returns with their trademark street spectacle, and The Unusual Suspects close out the evening with a high-energy party set.
On March 17th, there are St. Patrick’s Day parades taking place in Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Tramore and Waterford City
St. Patrick’s Day itself promises to be the centrepiece of the celebrations. The 2026 parade in the City will take place from 1 pm to 3 pm, commencing at Waterford Bus Station and proceeding along the Quay to The Mall. Spectators can expect a colourful showcase of community groups, Irish dancers, traditional music and festival favourites including The Absurdist Pipe Band and a special appearance by Thomas Francis Meagher. Live music continues throughout the afternoon and evening at the Applemarket and O’Connell Street Cultural Quarter with performances from Derek Flynn, Celtic Brew, Cróga Duo and Hi Definition. Esteemed humanitarian and surgeon Dr Morgan McMonagle has been announced as Grand Marshall of Waterford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Originally from Cavan, Dr McMonagle is a vascular surgeon at University Hospital Waterford (UHW).
Dr McMonagle joined the David Nott Foundation, which trains doctors in countries impacted by conflict and catastrophes. His first mission with the Foundation was in the West Bank in Palestine, he has since been to Ukraine on two occasions, once to Lebanon and more recently on two missions to Gaza.
There will be green fever in West Waterford too, with the 47th parade taking place in Dungarvan from 2 pm. The 13th annual Cappoquin parade commences in the West Waterford town at 11.30 am and in Tramore, the 2026 St Patrick’s Day parade will commence from 1.30 pm proceeding across the Summerhill Junction onto the Old Waterford Road (R682) to the Racecourse Roundabout and then heading downhill to the GAA Roundabout where it will proceed along Lower Branch Road to the former Railway Station Building.
Visit Waterford invites everyone to come and experience five unforgettable days of celebration in Ireland’s oldest city; with a variety of accommodation special offers and dining experiences on offer, full details, and booking information are available on www.visitwaterford.com
