What's St Patrick's Day without a parade? In Galway, the city's theatrical heritage guarantees a spectacular one, with street performances by the Macnas theatre group, who will be marching with their giant puppets and Youth Ensemble. The parade is the climax of a three-day celebration across the city, featuring family entertainment, vintage amusements and an outdoor craft village.

Experience the energy of Dublin's St Patrick's Festival, the world's largest celebration of Irish culture. A weekend of festivities, from traditional music and dance performances, treasure hunts and talks, culminates on Monday with Ireland's biggest parade through the streets of the capital, which kicks off at noon from Granby Row. Highlights include pageants from Macnas, Bui Bolg, Spraoi and the Inishowen Carnival, as well as a special pageant to celebrate 40 years of Pavee Point, created by the Irish Traveller and Roma communities. 

Of course, the fun doesn't stop with Galway and Dublin. The whole country comes alive with their own twist on St Patrick's Day, with parades that represent the history behind each county. 

There’s plenty taking place in Limerick over the long weekend. With the theme set as "A More Fun Limerick," this year's St Patrick's Festival Limerick will be a celebration of the Treaty City's playful spirit. On Sunday, the 53rd edition of the Limerick International Band Championship will see 20 marching bands from all over the world taking to the streets in the hopes of winning the big title. 

In medieval Kilkenny, the St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny will include acrobatic performances, American marching bands, street food and a vintage carousel alongside the centrepiece parade, all following this year's theme of "Bí Beo! Bí Linn!" ('Be Alive! Join Us!'). Stop by the Pop-up Gaeltacht and put your Irish language skills to the test. 

Alongside the St Patrick’s Day festivities, the concurrent Kilkenny Tradfest brings free trad gigs, live sessions and folk music in several venues around the city, including trad pubs and the Watergate Theatre.

The streets of Sligo will turn into a sea of floats and performers for the Sligo St Patrick's Festival parade on March 17. This year's festivities will explore Irish myth, magic and music along the theme of "Queen Maeve – The Queen of Connacht". Head to Queen Maeve Square in the middle of the town for performances from headlining acts like Ruaille Buaille and Sharon Shannon. Or, if you're a football fan, cheer on every goal at the 'Most Leprechauns at a Soccer Match.'

There’s a jam-packed schedule of events in Cork, from the main parade on St Patrick’s Day to a flurry of activity all over the city. Take a guided tour of Blackrock Castle Observatory or head to Nano Nagle Place and browse work from Irish designers. Little ones can follow the Snake Hunt or join in the fun of the Cork Lions Club Patrick's Hill Ball Run. Trad sessions will be held throughout the festival at pubs around the city.

Down in West Cork, you can celebrate at the Bantry Goes Green festival with marching bands, floats and live music. 

For those searching for a good giggle, The Comedy Club - City Limits are hosting their very own Funny Fridays St Patrick's Weekend Special. Laugh along with the crowd as talented local comedians serve up some of their best material. 

Although Waterford hosted Ireland’s first-ever St Patrick’s Day parade in 1903, the St Patrick’s Day Festival Waterford has much more on offer than its parade.

Take in sweeping festival views from the comfort of a river cruise, pick up a new skill at the Celtic Knotwork workshop or admire the talent showcased at the Irish Dancing Booley House Trad Show. Younger visitors will be drawn to the City Centre Fairground and the Wobbly Circus, while those keen on history can explore the county’s heritage on one of the walking tours over the four-day celebration. 

In Kerry, the theme for this year’s St Patrick’s Festival Killarney is "Echoes of Killarney Present," which will use colourful floats to highlight the town's tourism credentials as well as the surrounding landscape and notable characters from the area. 

The festival kicks off on March 13 with an evening of artistic performances delivered by the West End School of Arts in the Great Southern Hotel. New this year is Ablefest, Ireland's first ever inclusive festival for people with additional needs. This daytime festival takes place on the 16th and features sensory rest and accessible spaces, food and dancing. 

If you have little ones, bring them along to the Great Duck Dash on March 15, and cheer on your selected champion as a family. 

For the devout (and those who love climbing hills), climbing Croagh Patrick is a St Patrick’s Day rite of passage. Every year, hundreds of people climb Westport’s holy mountain, where St Patrick is said to have fasted at the summit for 40 days. It’s a challenging climb but the views from the top are spectacular, with all of Clew Bay spread out before you. 

If you don’t want to climb all the way to the top, you can hike to the first viewpoint to get a sampling of the scenery and the smattering of tiny islands in the bay.  

On March 15, the entire country will be on tenterhooks as Ireland squares off against Italy in their final Six Nations rugby championship match. Though the showdown takes place at Italy’s Stadio Olimpico, you can be sure it will beam into televisions all across Ireland. Get into the match-day spirit by watching with other rugby fans in one of Ireland’s cosiest pubs or one of Dublin's best rugby pubs. 

As well as the parade in Wexford town, there's plenty of ways get into the St Patrick’s Day spirit throughout the county. Gorey is hosting a parade suitably themed "Going Green," while the Blackwater Open Farm outside Ballynaclash is marking the day with a St Patrick's Day-themed disco between 10.30am and 5.30pm. 

Fancy getting active on the Bank Holiday weekend? The Mullingar Half-Marathon is taking place on the bank holiday Monday, with a 21km route on flat but beautiful terrain. You’ll start in the town centre before taking in the nearby countryside, weaving along the Royal Canal and then back into Mullingar Town Park. There’s also a 5km run, if you’re not quite up for the full 21km. 

This particularly special parade links not only two towns, but two counties. The parade route connects the twin towns of Ballina in Clare and Killaloe in Tipperary, crossing the Killaloe Bridge over the River Shannon at the mouth of Lough Derg. There are prizes awarded on the day for the best floats, with plenty of local businesses and clubs getting into the creative spirit. After the parade, be sure to take the time to wander around both towns, where local homes and shops go to town with their patriotic decorations in the hopes of winning the prize of Best Dressed Window.