Sport will once again play a significant role in the national St. Patrick’s Festival 2024, the programme for which has been unveiled.

The theme of this year’s Festival and Parade is ‘Spréach’, the Irish word for Spark, which represents the unique essence of Ireland and of Irish People.

“It’s what sets us apart and what brings us together, and oftentimes it’s the reason that people from all over the world have a special place in their hearts for Irish people, place and culture,” said Festival Director Richard Tierney.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland will be involved looking forward to Paris 2024, but also celebrating 100 years of Irish participation in the Olympic Games.

With half a million spectators expected to line this year’s route, the Parade will feature 18 pageants and performance showpieces, 14 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and France, and over 4,000 participants in what is shaping up to be the largest ever National St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“The Festival has worked with pageant companies and partners to explore the different interpretations of Spréach – whether that’s the glint of craic in the eye that is so familiar to Irish people, or whether that’s the light of innovation and discovery so present throughout our history,” continued Tierney.

“Whether that’s the fire in our bellies, so evident in our sporting heritage, or whether that’s about the flame of creativity that is so rightly celebrated throughout the world through our writers, poets, musicians, artists, actors and all our amazing creatives. Spréach is about celebrating that uniquely Irish spark of life.”

Ireland will be playing Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 16th March, adding to the buzz around the city, and sporting bodies up and down the country will be getting involved in their local parades and festivities.

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