Derry heralds the dawn of Spring with flamboyant St Patrick’s Day celebrations
20 March 2023
Tens of thousands of people have thronged the streets of Derry for the city’s annual St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival celebrations.
The 'Recycle and Renewal' themed parade, hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council, with support from the North West Carnival Initiative, featured over 500 performers, dancers and musicians.
The kaleidoscope of colour through the town centre was the centrepiece of the celebrations which also featured live music, dancing and entertainment in the Peace Garden, Craft Village, Guildhall Square and the Guildhall’s Main Hall.
The parade was led by St Patrick himself and Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy, who congratulated everyone involved.
"What a fantastic sight it was to see hundreds of talented performers celebrating St Patrick’s Day and the start of spring in our city centre,” she said.
“Congratulations to all the dance groups, sports clubs and community organisations who played their part in a day to remember. “The Recycle and Renewal theme represented the new beginnings that Spring brings and was a chance to remind people that everyone has a part to play in protecting our environment by reducing waste and recycling responsibly.”
Entertainment in Waterloo Place included some of the best local traditional Irish musicians playing alongside traditional Irish dancer while there was also music and entertainment in the Guildhall and Craft Village.
The Peace Garden was transformed into the Colourful Land of the Little People with choreographed showcase performances that enthralled audiences all afternoon.
A stage at Guildhall Square played host to some of the best local traditional Irish musicians while some of the city’s Legenderry Food Network offered home grown street food to enjoy during the performances. Studio 2 performers transformed the Peace Garden into the Magical Land of the Fairies with a pageant dance and drama performance of A Tale of Fairies and Mystical Little Irish Folk paid homage to the Ancient Magical King Brian. In the Craft Village The Spring Fling by In Your Space Circus invited people to shake off those winter blues with a mini-carnival of colours featuring a host of local musicians, incredible circus and street theatre shows and interactive performances.. Full details of the Spring Carnival Parade are available at derrystrabane.com/springcarnival.