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WITH IRELAND STILL grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic one would be forgiven for thinking that the St Patrick’s Festival might be pared back this year. In fact, the organisers have created a six-day extravaganza featuring everything from Céilis to comedy.
“There’s something on all the time every day, it doesn’t stop at all,” explains the festival’s communications director Aileen Galvin. Indeed, a quick glance at the schedule shows that the activities kick-off with a yoga session on the morning of Friday 12 March and continue right through until around midnight on St Patrick’s Day.
Among the range of events featured will be music, poetry, knitting, weaving and wellness workshops and walking, food and history tours.
Galvin says the organising team concluded in December that Covid-19 would prevent the festival from taking place live this year. They initially planned on running around 20 events, but ambitions to create a national festival, with contributions from all over Ireland, quickly saw that number swell to 100.
Moving the festival online saw hundreds of artists, musicians, creators and community organisations safely record events all around the country. The geographical spread of the events takes vast with everywhere from the Aran Islands to Sheriff Street, in Dublin’s north-inner city,getting a look-in.
“There’s food tours of Ireland, there’s virtual tours all over the country. There’s tours of the Book of Kells, there’s ceilis, there’s sessions, there’s loads of poetry in there, there’s massive lighting shows. There’s just so much happening,” Galvin explained.
Music will form a big part of the festival, with a wide range of contemporary artists featuring. Pillow Queens, Gemma Dunleavy and Adam Mohamed will perform from the Guinness Storehouse while for electronic fans Sorca McGrath, New Jackson, Simon Cullen, Polytunnel and Gareth Quinn Redmond will be among those featured in a series of 30 minute vignettes.
There will also be a musical interpretation of the poetry of James Joyce featuring Lisa Hannigan and Cora Venus Lunny. Other acts gracing the festival are Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Mary Coughlan, Kíla, Sorca McGrath and Fontaines DC’s Grian Chatten.
Blindboy Boatclub and comedians Foil, Arms & Hog and Michael Fry are also among the lengthy list of contributors.
The festival will also have an SPF Óg strand which is focused on children and will feature parade workshops, circus performances, science experiments, kids yoga and 15-minute film collections showcasing short films made by young people.
The virtual parade will return this year on 17 March, with the festival again teaming up with RTÉ to bring the pageantry of Paddy’s Day, complete with marching bands, into the safety of people’s homes.
In terms of accessibility, the big news this year is that most of the festival will be broadcast on Oireachtas TV, which is available on all TV provider platforms in Ireland.
“Oireachtas TV enables us to bring most of the festival to 1.1 million homes in Ireland,” said Galvin. “This ensures that we reach audiences that are not digitally savvy or with little or no broadband access. I made the approach to Oireachtas TV when my own Mum, who is 89 and cocooning in Limerick for almost a year now, asked where she could see all the events.
It is a hugely generous gift from the Members of the House to the nation, in particular our elderly and vulnerable who may not be in a position to watch online. For many, the TV in the corner of the living room is a vital connection with the world outside during lockdown. We are thrilled we can bring a bit of light and joy to those who have sacrificed so much for us all.
The new programme has something for all different tastes and interests, Galvin added. “There’s so much in the festival that there is something in there for everyone. That means that not everybody’s gonna like everything. So, it’s a case of picking and choosing, but if you’re going to look for an authentic Irish experience, this is the authentic Irish experience,” she said.
The full schedule will be available on the festival’s website and all the events can be viewed on Oireachtas TV and on St Patrick’s Festival TV, an online TV channel which will be available from 12 March at StPatricksFestival.ie.
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We haven’t been left with much choice, have we?
@Newto2016: there’s always a choice. Is three weeks not enough for you?
@Marie Broomfield: in fairness it’s not especially when you have children to buy for
@Marie Broomfield: if everyone left their Christmas shopping to those three weeks without online there would be some cram with queues etc for shopping, kind of defeats the purpose of what we are doing right now to deal with covid!
@Marie Broomfield: It’s funny. That you mention the exact duration of the initial lockdown.
@Marie Broomfield: no it’s not enough and it’s also not safe.
@Marie Broomfield: god bless your innocence if you think Sir Tony will allow the country open up on 1st of December, last time he shut us down for 4 months!
@Alison Maguire: I remember a time when the Christmas shopping didn’t start until December 8th, in fact there was no indication that Christmas was close till then. We all managed and had great christmases.
Nowadays it all starts on 1st of September, and by the 25th of December it has all become a bit of an anticlimax.
@Marie Broomfield: You’re assuming of course that they will lift the restrictions on Dec 1st. That’s not a given according to NPHET. If the R number is not down to 0.5 then they won’t be recommending lifting them.
@Newto2016: Shop as local as you can!
@Liam O Connor: Why are you calling him ‘Sir’?
@Newto2016: we have, Christmas is probably going to be cancelled this year, they just haven’t told us yet cos there might be protests and we can’t have that, can we
@John Mulligan: 8th Dec you are so right, it was in my opinion much better and not all this drama and commercialisation of Christmas like today.
Please folks.
Try to support small local businesses as well as Artisans and craftspeople this Christmas.
A lot of them are pinned to the collar and can’t afford websites to advertise, they depend on word of mouth.
If you come across one or have dealt with one (or many) please share on social media.
It could make the difference between survival or shutting up shop.
Please look local, buy local, support local.
@Michael Clinton: businesses can get 90% funding for an e-commerce website at the moment through their Local Enterprise Office
@Michael Clinton: I’ve been trying to buy from small Irish businesses online but sometimes it just isn’t attainable. They price themselves out of the market. I’m not prepared to pay ott prices that far exceed the value of a particular item. On top of that then there’s ott delivery charges.
@Jess Kelly: same here Jess…. I would spend every time on local if it was value for money and unfortunately the money will be leaving Ireland because you get a lot more for your buck.
@Michael Clinton: supporting local works both ways. Will local businesses stop ripping local residents off??
@Michael Clinton: can’t afford a website to advertise ? Come off it . Even Facebook could help in a small part to advertise their business . It works . People won’t have as much money this year . They will go where they can get the cheapest deals . That may mean online sales . Retail , in particular artisan products have no business being open without a website facility to allow for online shopping . Those niche crafts markets ain’t normally catering for the locals after all
@Patrick McGarry: The answer is No
In China they’re loading several supermassive container ships with cheap tat for us to buy over the Christmas season. Better to cancel Christmas this year and let the Chinese stew for a while for gifting us with this covid thing. It is daft that they are allowed to profit from this crisis to the extent they do, they have us over a barrel because everyone in the West wants to be a manager or an inspector and nobody can be bothered making actual physical goods anymore.
Whether online or offline I’ll be avoiding stuff that came from China like the plague this year.
@Quiet Goer: Good luck with that
@Quiet Goer: Xing Xing…
@Quiet Goer: Firstly, the virus isn’t any countries fault.
Secondly they’re profiting because they contained the virus successfully with the kind of strict lockdown measures necessary, as did New Zealand many East Asian countries.
We should look far more to the problems in the West, the lack of unity among people to accept their elected governments decisions and how large businesses always seem to be prioritised in any kind of response.
@Rochelle: if you believe that you would believe anything!!
@Quiet Goer: what in the name of Jaysis are you talking about
@Quiet Goer: someone give this guy a list of what is made in China . It be longer than Santa’s list
@Rochelle: It is China’s fault, they started it and tried to hide it . Why are we sugar coating it
Of course it’s someone’s fault , it didn’t just come out of no where
As opposed to not doing any at all??
I’m going to wait until the shops to reopen and then do a blitz
The 5km distance limit just forces people online
Thats some poll..
@Joe Bergin: A lot of thought gone into that one.
Yes, and click and collect too
Another poll which the obvious is known. We’ve not much of a choice plus in most instances it’s cheaper. Sigh
Just scrap the Christmas and save everyone a lot of stress. Sure buy your children something nice and have a nice dinner but avoid all the other bull**** that usually goes on.
@Nomis Andrews: urgh , Communist .
Due to worrying that we would go into the lockdown we are currently in back in August by October with flu season coming in and schools reopening I have the kids presents bought by start of September, all other presents got between September and October bar one. Figured why not get them in early just incase and I’m glad I did. I’ll wait until December to see if can buy last present in local shop before rushing into going online.
Not much choice really!
Most places are still open coz they are selling PPE so no real loss of sales
@Eddie Michael: not for much longer. Gardai are carrying out compliance checks to ensure only essential goods are being sold. They were in Duunes and M&S on Grafton Street yesterday. Can’t post the link, but you’ll see it on their twitter. Avocados are essential, pajamas aren’t
@Critical Thinker: Then there are the shops selling masks, thinking that makes them essential.
@Mary Morrisey: I really shouldn’t chime in until I’ve read the entire comment chain and start from the top.
@Mary Morrisey: I think if a shop is permitted to stay open to sell essential items they should also be able to sell non essentials. What difference does it make. Absolute stupidity… they are open anyway
The danger is, any curtailing of the virus that we might see for the 6weeks up to December will be wasted if we all hit the shops like school kids getting their summer holidays.
Yes. We are already seeing price gouging by some in the local economy. They woukd be wise to be ascompetitive with price and shipping rates as another very large online retailer.
Obviously
Nearly finished for the kids, I’d say 90% if not more was done online.
Always do, no difference this year
I detest in line shopping. But it seems it’s the only option.
@2thFairy: perhaps , try on line shopping instead ?
Yes ALL of it! :-)
Courier s making a killing this year
It’s greed of some retailers charging for click and collect, boots brand max etc
i think everyone will do exactly as they have been doing in recent years. Who starts shopping in town before the 1st december anyway?
@Marie Broomfield: oops. All done by September
@Marie Broomfield: people who can’t afford to do the shopping all in one go ! Thousands start as early as August and buy pieces but by bit . Always the way
I cannot trust that local shops will have what I want or need come December 1st. If I start ordering then it may not arrive by Christmas. Unfortunate but true. Will leave a small bit to December but not the gifts I need to get.
No.
The amount of money flooding out of country for next 6 weeks will be felt in tax, if I can’t go into local supermarket where I’ve often buy essentials such as socks underwear babygro I’m not going to wait I’ll go online and but from UK, might be same company as here but can bet you it’s cheaper online but if I could have got it here wouldn’t wait for a delivery
A lot of people get paid this week and won’t get paid again till end of November so are not going to take chance on shops opening let’s remember the next review is the 1st Dec not an opening date companies may have orders due in for what they thought was these 6 weeks but will be cautious about putting orders in for December because they won’t want to be stuck with stock, remember when penneys reopened it was old stock for weeks and had only really started to stock up on winter stuff lately so by waiting your taking a chance they can get what they need so a lot of revenue will be leaving the country
There are some really good Facebook initiatives showcasing Irish Arts and Crafts people advertising their creations. I think that’s a brilliant idea! Help small businesses, get originals – all from the comfort of your home.
@Mandy Seiler: that kind of useless tat kinda to be for tourists not locals
We have no option as most of the retail shops closed . Thanks Leo .
Just remember, 72% of all online shopping in Ireland is purchased from companies/businesses outside of Ireland, so fine, shop online , but support Irish businesses, if it’s a little more expensive, is it not worth it, to help save the jobs of tens of thousands of employees around the country?
@Sean Walsh: No it’s not worth being ripped off ! The delivery companies will have Irish bases and thus need to employ staff . Groceries will still need to be bought in Irish stores anyway . People will still purchase via the websites of Irish based stores eg Brown Thomas et all
Buyin nobody nothin
Yes or No simple question. Why are people unsure???
I small token for everybody under tree…..double up on big pressies 2021
Voted no because most of my shopping all year round is done online and that won’t change.
As people say unfortunately local shops are over priced which is a bigger issue overall but I’m not prepared to pay x for something I can get for y (cheaper) online.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/3030547663723659 shop in ireland
@Su Murray: Many are using shipping rates to recoup losses. In an economy where many have just loss their jobs again, that’s not very wise.
Do it every year. I can’t stand shopping.
Buy them throughout the year as I see things people will like. Done
Simple answer is yes. The only shops I will be entering in December will be food shops. Christmas shopping in December is a nightmare at the best of times.
Check out the Shop in Ireland group on Facebook where hundreds of Irish craftspeople, artists and producers are all sharing the most incredible ranges and positivity. If you search within the group for your own county you’ll be able to narrow down your support to an even more local circle too. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3030547663723659/?ref=share
@Elmarie Mawe: positivity ? What’s that ? Happy clappy guff? Stock that locals normally don’t buy and stick catered to tourists ? Only so many times one can buy Waterford /Galway crystal etc etc and knitted jumpers . Don’t think the kiddies are interested unless it’s PS5/x box etc etc . Will this positivity be supporting with competitive pricing ?
Would it not be more useful to ask if we were planning to shop online in Irish stores our uk/international stores ?
After all we can only shop online at the moment other than food and diy.
@sheila elmes: go down to the main shopping centres and main streets . A majority of the stores are franchises of International stores . Unless it’s Brown Thomas , Arnotts , Dunnes , Pennies ,Staunton Sports and Lifestyle (I think) and a few chemists it’s mostly British and American brand stores anyway
Test
have your say