Belfast turns up the volume with five-day St Patrick's Music Festival

Belfast St Patrick’s Music Festival returns 13–17 March with five days of concerts, workshops, dance, pipe bands and a FREE Festival Village in the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast UNESCO City of Music

At the heart of the festival is a diverse, cross-cultural celebration of traditional arts in honour of St Patrick.

Across five days, audiences can enjoy headline concerts, relaxed workshops, the uplifting sound of pipe bands, the fun and grace of set and céilí dancing, reflective pilgrimages, and a welcoming FREE St Patrick’s Day Festival Village in the Cathedral Quarter—inviting everyone into the city for an inspiring mix of indoor and outdoor events.

Highlights include...

☘️ Saturday 14th March – Dougie MacLean / Úrsula Burns in concert (Mandela Hall)

☘️ Saturday 14th March – A major double bill: Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Band / Andy Irvine (Mandela Hall)

☘️ Saturday 14th to Tuesday 17th March – A packed participation programme of workshops (The MAC), plus Highland piping competitions, set and céilí dancing, sessions, and two pilgrimage walks with Kiran Young Wimberly & Jim Deeds

☘️ Sunday 15th March – Brian Finnegan’s Hunger of the Skin with special guests Heidi Talbot & Toby Shaer (Empire Music Hall)

☘️ Sunday 15th March – Pipe Band Extravaganza at City Hall, featuring Campbell College Pipe Band, Clonoe Independent Pipe Band & Hollymount Pipe Band

☘️ Sunday 15th March – Sets Céilí Concert in the Empire Music Hall with All-Ireland Champions The Beartla Ó Flatharta Céilí Band & Ronán Eastwood

☘️ Monday 16th March – CD/EP Launch: Moya Sweeney & Archie Churchill-Moss – ‘From The Aa’ (Oh Yeah Music Centre)

☘️ Monday 16th March – Trad Picnic with Cleamairí Feirste / Belfast Wren Boys, Kids Céilí with Eimear Magee, sean nós dance & Bodhrán Circle

☘️ Monday 16th March – Michael McGoldrick Trio & Music Generation Cross Border Folk Orchestra (Ulster Hall)

·☘️ Tuesday 17th March (St Patrick’s Day) – St Patrick’s Night Concert: The Bow Brothers / Aoife Scott Band (The MAC)

There will also be a St Patrick’s Day Festival Village at Cathedral Gardens and Saint Anne’s Square plus workshops, taster sessions and more.

Look out for information coming soon when Belfast City Council announces the full line-up of activities.

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