Bumper St Patrick's weekend planned for Waterford as county marks 'special' connection
Waterford native and three-time Olympian, Thomas Barr, has been announced as the Grand Marshal
Waterford’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations have been extended to run for over four days this year, with a host of free activities and events on offer for the young and not-so-young across the city to the county.
Many may not be aware that a Waterford man, Fr Luke Wadding, was the founder of St. Patrick’s Day.
While based in Rome in the 1630s, Wadding was responsible for creating the official list of saints for the Roman Catholic Church. During this process, he included the Feast of St. Patrick on March 17, which had long been celebrated by the Franciscans.
In celebration of St Patrick’s Waterford connection, events will take place from Friday, March 14 to Monday, March 17 under the theme "Saints & Scholars – A Celebration of Waterford’s Rich Heritage," which organisers say promises an array of parades, performances, carnivals, and musical events throughout the extended Bank Holiday weekend.
Highlights in Ireland’s oldest City include the St. Patrick's Day Parade on the 17th as the centerpiece event, this will feature esteemed Waterford native and three-time Olympian, Thomas Barr, as the Grand Marshal.
A newly commissioned show, "FireDance," will debut, showcasing a fusion of local and national talent, including musicians, singers, dancers, designers, and fire performers. attendees.
The city centre will come alive with multiple stages set up in the Apple Market, John Roberts Square, and O’Connell Street, hosting over 30 live music acts.
Festival favourites like The Booley House will return with their traditional Irish variety show, and attendees can look forward to performances blending Irish dance with hip-hop, medieval reenactments in the Viking Triangle, and a diverse lineup of local and visiting artists.
The festival ensures fun for all ages with river cruises, walking tours, Celtic knot workshops, city centre fairground amusements, and interactive workshops. Children can engage in cake decorating and pizza making and enjoy the popular Cuddly Farm.
In line with the "Saints & Scholars" theme, a special lecture honouring Waterford's own 16th-century scholar, Luke Wadding, will be held at St. Patrick’s Church. The event will feature talks by esteemed historians and a live performance of 17th-century music by renowned cellist Roger David.
In addition to the city parade, across the county on March 17th there are St. Patrick’s Day parades taking place in Dungarvan, Cappoquin and Tramore.
There will be green fever in West Waterford too with the 46th parade taking place in Dungarvan preceded by a vintage car parade plus live music from the main stage in Grattan Square from 1 pm. The parade will commence from Crotty’s corner and travel over the causeway into Grattan Square, turning right over O’Connell Street and concluding at the end of Wolftone Road.
The 11th annual Cappoquin parade commences in the West Waterford town at 11.30am and in Tramore from 1.30pm. The Tramore parade will proceed 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.
Even though St Patrick’s Day is emblazoned in the heart of the Waterford festival calendar, there was one figure in Waterford’s history who was not so keen on celebrating the national feast day, and that was Waterford’s very own Saint Declan, who lived in Ardmore, Waterford between 350 AD and 450 AD.
Saint Declan is said to have brought Christianity to Ireland before St. Patrick had even set foot on the Emerald Isle. In the 5th century, St. Declan left his monastery in Waterford to walk to Cashel to meet with the future patron saint, Patrick; the route today is known as the impressive 72-mile hiking trail of St. Declan’s Way.
Legend has it that on that day in the 5th century, St Declan took the pilgrimage to Cashel to sort out this conundrum in a meeting with St Patrick. Here, it was agreed that the Waterford saint would have unchallenged authority over the Deise, with Patrick becoming the primate of all Ireland. Patrick also promised never to enter the territory of Declan — so honour was maintained on all sides.
The legacy since has been that Waterford, to this day, has two feast day celebrations, St Patrick’s Day on March 17th and the 24th of July in St Declan’s in his hometown of Ardmore, where the Ardmore Pattern is held in his honour.
For further details on all of Waterford’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations see visitwaterford.com.