About The Festival
St Patrick’s Festival Killarney is a celebration of our culture and heritage, and it heralds the start of the tourist season in the tourist capital of the world.
Killarney has welcomed visitors from all over the world for generations and the town and its people are proud to share our national day with everybody in this most beautiful corner of Ireland.
The festival will run over five days and is jam-packed with entertainment for everyone, kicking off on Thursday 13th March with ‘An Evening of Artistic Performance with West End House School of Arts.
This year we are celebrating Echoes of Killarney Present as the theme for our St Patricks Day Parade on March 17th to highlight Killarney as it is in the present day. The parade will start on Mission Road at 2 o’clock sharp and it will wind its way through the streets with no shortage of fabulous vantage points along the route. Marvel at the spectacular floats, clap and cheer for the marching bands, welcome the town’s community groups and sports clubs, meet the Disney characters.
Some of this year’s festival highlights will also include ‘The Charity Duck Dash’ fundraiser on March 15th in aid of Down Syndrome Kerry. St. Patricks Festival Killarney is very excited to welcome AbleFest on March 16th. ‘Plunge for Palliative’ Dunk tank in aid of Kerry Hospice on March 17th featuring a variety of local faces! And of course, the main event will be the dazzling Parade through Killarney town on St Patricks Day, March 17th followed by music and entertainment in the festival hub at Beech Road.
Ablefest
Ablefest is more than just a festival—it’s a movement that champions inclusion and celebrates diversity. It provides a platform for people with additional needs to shine, participate fully, and feel valued in a space designed with their needs in mind. This one-day festival celebrates inclusivity and brings attention to the importance of creating spaces where everyone can thrive. An array of engaging activities will be on offer include yoga, an interactive drumming workshop, arts session, animal roadshow, dedicated sensory friendly zone and food stalls to name but a few. Families are invited from all over Ireland to join in this unique celebration, which promises to be a highlight of this year’s festival with a headline performance by renowned country singer Jake Carter followed by a meet and greet opportunity!
Three very familiar sporting heroes have been carefully chosen as this year’s Grand Marshalls, including Ireland Paralympian Hero Jordan Lee, All-Ireland winning, Kerry Ladies football All-Star Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and this year’s Kerry Senior Men’s football Captain, Gavin White. With a wealth of sporting achievements at the highest level under each of their belts, this year’s Grand Marshalls encompass all that it is to be Irish and proud!
Another exciting addition to this year’s festival will be the first ever live streaming of both St. Patrick’s Day and AbleFest, meaning accessibility for all. Friends and family from near and far who can’t attend in person, are invited to tune in and join in the celebration of our patron Saint of Ireland and witness Killarney in all its vibrant, green glory.
Commenting on this year’s festival, Jason Clifford, St. Patrick’s Festival Chairperson said,
“Killarney is one Ireland’s top tourist destinations and each year we strive to bring a bigger and better festival to the community and to our visitors. This year is no different and we have a magnificent line up of events and entertainment from the 13-17th March which will be elevated even further this year with our first ever live streaming of the festival, bringing Killarney to family and friends around the world. We are especially excited to have AbleFest this year for the first time. Here in Killarney, we are continuously striving to increase and promote inclusivity, and this event is uniquely designed to create a safe and inclusive environment with lots of fun, interactive activities planned for people with diverse needs and their families”.