The streets of Bray came alive with colour, music, and celebration as the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade swept through the town, showcasing the best of Bray’s vibrant culture and strong community spirit.
Led by the esteemed Desi O’Toole, Bray’s ‘Person of the Year’ and this year’s Parade Grand Marshal, the parade featured an impressive 1,500 participants, delighting spectators who lined the route.
The spring sunshine provided a much-needed respite from the rain that we’ve been experiencing lately, and thousands of residents and visitors took advantage of it to join in the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
From traditional Irish dancers to visiting performers, the parade showcased the town’s rich diversity and inclusive spirit, further strengthening the bonds within the community.
Chairperson of the St. Patrick’s Festival Bray, Mick Glynn, said “The St. Patrick’s Festival and Parade hold significant importance in highlighting the town’s vibrant culture and strong sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a welcome boost to the local economy, attracting visitors from near and far to experience the unique charm of Bray.”
This year, organisers have introduced a fresh initiative, inviting the public to cast their votes for their favourite Bray Parade participant. VOTE NOW here! The closing date for voting is 6 pm on Monday, March 18th, 2024.
The festivities continue throughout the bank holiday weekend, offering a plethora of activities for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. From live music performances to a vintage car showcase, historical talk, and a mesmerising fire show, there’s something for everyone to revel in. You can read more about the festival events, download a handy pocket guide and map, access the treasure hunt questionnaire and watch the learn-how-to Irish dance workshop by visiting bray.ie/stpatricksfestival/.
‘From the generous sponsors to the hardworking committee members, the dedicated volunteers, our service providers, the enthusiastic participants, emergency services and festival-goers, you all played a critical role in making this festival a tremendous success. Thank you,’ concluded Mick.
St. Patrick’s Day Bray Parade 2024 Photo Gallery
Parade participating groups
- 11th Wicklow Kilmacanogue Beavers
- 12th Wicklow Scout Group
- 5th Wicklow (Bray) Sea Scouts
- Ardmore Rovers Football Club
- Artastic
- Bray Emmets GAA Club
- Bray Fire Service
- Bray For Love
- Bray Hockey Club
- Bray Junior Musicals
- Bray Lions Club
- Bray Rowing Club
- Bray School Of Dance
- Bray Vintage Car Club
- Crumlin Marching Band
- Dargle Area Residents Association (DARA)
- East Coast FM
- Enniskerry Youth Club AFC
- Irish Girl Guides
- Lakers
- Masters Temple Martial Arts
- McGrath Flood School of Irish Dancing
- Red the Dog with Julie-Rose McCormick Puppeteer
- Scoil Rince Fáinne Irish Dancing School
- Shankill GAA
- Shauna McGauran School of Irish Dance
- Signal Arts Centre
- Southside Chinese Residents Association
- Square One Theatre Group
- Studio X Dance Group
- The Boomerang Band (UK)
- Vocational School Virovitica
- Wicklow Civil Defence
- Wicklow Coast Guard Unit