St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Across Northern Ireland
On the 17th of March 2024, people all over Northern Ireland came together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. From parades in Belfast and Londonderry to pilgrimage walks in Downpatrick and visits to Slemish mountain in County Antrim, the day was filled with festivities and joy.
In Downpatrick, a pilgrimage walk led by religious leaders took place from Saul Church to Down Cathedral, where St. Patrick is buried. Over 1,500 people also made a pilgrimage to Slemish mountain, believed to be St. Patrick’s first home in Ireland.
In Belfast, thousands of people gathered for a parade, including a group of women from New Jersey who joined in the celebrations. Despite past disturbances, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) worked with various organizations to ensure a safe and enjoyable day for all attendees.
In Cushendall, a St. Patrick’s festival saw more than 200 people enjoying traditional music and dancing, while in Slemish, 70 people attended a mass at the mountain’s summit. The day was filled with cultural events and celebrations across the region.
Meanwhile, in Dublin, over 500,000 spectators were expected to attend one of the world’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades, led by County Down comedian Patrick Kielty. The theme for the parade was Spréach, the Irish word for spark.
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated for his missionary work and use of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. While his legacy is commemorated worldwide on St. Patrick’s Day, the holiday is marked as a national day in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
From parades to traditional festivities, St. Patrick’s Day continues to bring people together to celebrate Irish culture and history.
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