Celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2024 in Ennis

The Ennis St Patrick's Day parade on Sunday, March 17, will begin at Áras Contae an Chláir at 11:00am.

Participants are being asked to embrace the theme of this year’s parade, ‘Remembering the Past – Embracing the Future’ which leaves loads of room for creativity.

The parade route will proceed via New Road, Newbridge Road, Club Bridge, Abbey Street carpark, with the reviewing stand located here, Bank Place and Bindon Street.

Grand Marshall for this year’s parade all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, is Ennis’ very own Maura O’Connell of ‘Tumbleweed’, ‘De Dannan’ and ‘A Woman’s Heart’ fame. Two-time Grammy award nominee, Maura has had a very successful career in the US releasing albums with Jerry Douglas and Béla Fleck and sharing the stage with many top artists such as Dolly Parton, John Prine, James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, John Oates, Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt.

Also joining this year’s parade is a delegation from Ennis’ twinning town in Germany, Langenfeld. The Mayor of Langenfeld Frank Schneider and members of the city administration and twinning committee will participate in the parade and experience St Patrick’s Day in Ennis.

MC on the stage which this year will be located in Abbey Street carpark will be Colum McGrath from Clare FM.Pre-parade entertainment will begin from 10:15am.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will perform on stage in Abbey Street carpark. Scoil Ui Ruairc Irish dancing school will entertain on stage at Steele’s Terrace.

There will be some restricted access to Abbey Street carpark, and some parking restrictions at College Road/Marian Avenue/Tim Smyth Park (southside).

To ensure safety of patrons attending the parade on March 17th the following restrictions to carparking in this area will be implemented in advance ;

Friday, March 15th after 9am - some carparking spaces at the river side will be unavailable.

Saturday, March 16th after 9am - limited entry and exit points to the carpark. All drivers are required to exit the carpark by 6pm. Any remaining vehicles may require contact with An Garda Siochana to remove same.

Sunday, March 17th - the carpark will reopen to the public in the afternoon once it is cleaned and barriers have been removed following the parade.

In addition to the above restricted access, there will be restricted car parking to ensure safety of patrons attending the parade on March 17th ;

Saturday, March 16th from 2pm - Sunday, March 17th at 3pm - carparking spaces from the College Road junction to the Marian Avenue junction and Tim Smythe park (South carpark) will be unavailable.