Lá fhéile phádraig daoibh go léir!
What a day is before us – a lot of planning has gone into all of the activities that are set to unfold so here’s to getting out and enjoying the celebration of all things community across Carlow and Kilkenny.
Already over the weekend the St Patrick’s Doggie Parade took place at Mountain View, Ballyhale as it got its Sunday markets back underway, while in Inistioge village a host of people turned out for a procession to and around the square.
Added to those, the St Patrick’s Kilkenny Festival, Kilkenny Tradfest – 2026 and Carlow St Patrick’s Festival have had a host of events as part of the build-up.
Now with the day itself upon us advice is to allow extra time to get to the parade(s) of your choice and to be aware of road closures/diversions that might be in place at points – make sure you stay tuned for updates as we try to capture some of the atmosphere across our two counties over the coming hours:
Here’s how it’s all shaping up:
9:30am Killeshin
Participants will gather from 9:15am for a 9:30am start from the new school, parading to the church for 10am Mass with the famed Killeshin Pipe Band among those lining out.
11:00am Graiguecullen
Killeshin Pipe Band is here too with the Dargan School of Dancing, the Big Big St Patrick and snakes, all led by Grand Marshall Mick Bolton.
12:00pm Thomastown
12:15pm Graiguenamanagh & Tinnahinch 
All machinery and floats will gather on the Borris Road by 11:15am with walking groups assembling on the Fairgreen by 11:40am with the parade officially leaving from the carpark, travelling through the town and over the county border to Tinnahinch. All walking groups will depart by turning left into Hotel Street, beside Gahan’s pub and this is where children can be collected by parents/guardians, while the machinery and floats will turn right into the Tirlán carpark in Tinnahinch.
Watch out for the stunning awards created by students of Duiske College:
1:00pm Bagenalstown
Theme in Bagenalstown is Community with both businesses and individuals pulling out all the stops in the leadup and more due today.
Grand Marshall Paddy Kiely will lead participants from 1pm at Station Road (route below) with a horse & carriage, music by Kyle Clarke.
1:00pm Tullow
Grand Marshall is Christy McQuinn whose book about Tullow makes for a great read.
This year the Leprechaun theme merges with Latvian dancers and there’s lots to enjoy.
1:30pm Kilkenny city
For those who can’t make the Kilkenny city parade there’s a livestream ready to go (details here).
For everybody else with 30,000 people set to turn out the advice is to get in early to secure a spot along the route which runs from John Street at John’s Priory and moves across John’s Bridge, Bateman Quay, up High Street onto The Parade and Castle Road.
Expect a mix of talent from our diverse local community with some visitors also taking part amid festive fun from the funfair, big wheel, kids zone, markets and more.
Theme is Lé Chéile – Together and with Grand Marshall George Candler off his usual MC duties, these fall to Edward Hayden & Aisling McDonald.
1:30pm Borris
1:30pm Urlingford
2:00pm Knockananna
3:00pm Carlow Town
3:00pm Ballon
3:30pm Goresbridge
All floats and participants will gather in the Tirlán yard from 2pm to move through Goresbridge at 3:30pm.
There are ten trophies up for grabs including a new category with a perpetual trophy for best decorated housing estate.
