What's the St Patrick's Day craic in Laois? You Guide parades and festivals

The forecast is for a tide of green joy and community pride to sweep across Laois this St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday weekend, starting off the day before St Patrick's Day on Sunday, March 16, with a huge number of towns and villages putting on parades for 2025.

Here is your full list of events. 

Portlaoise
The action starts with the athletic club’s Streets of Portlaoise fun run. Begins at Portlaoise College at 10.20am for juveniles, 11am for adults, running around the town and down Main Street to finish past the viewing stand.

The large parade starts at 12:30pm from Laois County Council, marching onto JFL Avenue, Market Square and Main Street, past the viewing stand in the lower square, turning right onto New Road back to county hall, giving plenty of viewing points.
Bouncy castles will be up in Lyster Square, with wristbands at €5 giving kids endless bounces for the day.

There are markets and live music in the Top Square, and Irish dancing on stage in the lower square, with the public invited to dance along. 

Portarlington
Portarlington's revived parade starts at Bank of Ireland at 3pm, parading to the People’s Park. Gather at 2.30pm on Crowe Lane.
The theme is snakes and it will stand out in the county as a walking parade only, so no noisy trucks.
Among the marchers is Scoil Phadraig BNS band who will march in memory of the late Gerry Conway, who spent his life teaching music to the boys. The school invites past players to walk with them.
The Port community will also be entertained by live music in Market Square from 2pm to 5pm.

Mountmellick
Mountmellick’s parade starts at 2pm in the LOETB college on Harbour Street, parading up the town past the stage in O'Connell Square, led off by the winning hurling and Macra clubs.
The Boglands Festival has entertainment lined up on Sunday and Monday, with live professional performers, local dance schools, a market and kids fun all in the square. Events will run from 12 noon to 5.30pm on Sunday, and 10am until late on Monday.

Mountrath
The parade starts from St Fintan’s GAA grounds at 12.30 sharp. It goes through town, ending on the Ballyfin Road.
Entertainment will follow on the stage in the square, with live music, Irish dancing and prize giving, and face painting. The community is urged to go all out to embrace this year's Green theme.  

Rathdowney
Rathdowney has the first parade in Laois this year, a whole day ahead on Sunday morning March 16, a perfect warm-up for all Laois bands and floats.
Entertainment is on tap from 11am in the square. The parade begins at 12 noon from St Fergal’s College. The grand marshals are St Brigid’s Leinster champions.
There will be live music and song, Irish dancing and cakes in the parochial hall. The Kieran O’Sullivan trophy will be given to the best float.

The Heath
The earliest parade of the day, and only the second ever parade in The Heath, is organised by the GAA Health and Wellbeing committee. Assemble at 8.15am sharp in the GAA grounds to start at 8.45am proceeding to the church for Mass.
Refreshments and music in church hall afterwards and goodie bags for kids. A surprise St Patrick and two special marshals from the community with prize for best float. See last year's photos of the first Heath parade.

Vicarstown
The parade starts at 9am in Vicarstown, from the bridge to 9:30am Mass. It is part of three massgoing parades in the parish.

Timahoe
Timahoe follows on from Vicarstown, at 10am, going from the Community Centre to 10:30am Mass.

Stradbally
Rounding off the SVT parish, Stradbally parade starts at 11am on the Rathmore Road to parade to 11.30am Mass.

Spink
Organised by Spink GAA, the parade is after St Patrick's Day 9.30am Mass from the church grounds. It marches along the main road to the community hall for music and refreshments. All local groups are welcome to join. Last year's photos here.

Killeshin
Killeshin holds its 39th parade with assembly at the new school at 9.15am with flags and banners to parade to Mass for 10am.

Graiguecullen
Graiguecullen parade begins in Carlow town park. Assemble by 10.30am sharp. The parade will start at 11am, through the streets, finishing at St Clare's Church for 11.30am Mass.

Clonaslee
Clonaslee parade starts at 12, assemble at the Community Centre from 11am. Grand Marshalls are the Clonaslee team who won the senior hurling final in 1975. The prizes are big, including €600 for best float and €150 each for category winners.

Rosenallis
Parade is starting at 3.30pm, vehicles meet at Johnsgrove at 3pm and walking groups meet at the Green School.
There are three prizes and all vintage entries will get a plaque. Refreshments and prizegiving in community centre afterwards.

Ballyroan
Organised by Ballyroan Vintage Club, it starts after 9.30 mass at about 10.15 at the Church grounds, going up and down Main Street to end at the old boys school for refreshments and music by Ballyroan Brass Band.

Don't forget to buy the Leinster Express on March 18 to see this year's parade photographs.