There's fun filled events taking place across Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.
St Patrick’s Day 2026: Midlands Towns Prepare for Colourful Parades Across Laois, Offaly and Westmeath
Communities across the Midlands are gearing up for vibrant celebrations this St Patrick’s Day, with parades, festivals and family events taking place throughout the region.
From lively town centre spectacles to smaller village parades, locals and visitors can expect a packed programme of music, floats and Irish culture on Monday, March 17.
Here’s a look at some of the key parades taking place across the region.
Laois: Community spirit takes centre stage
County Laois is once again hosting a wide range of local parades, with towns and villages celebrating Irish heritage and community pride. The Portlaoise St Patrick’s Day Parade and Street Festival is among the county’s flagship events. The parade will begin at 12.30pm, starting near the Laois County Council offices and moving through the town centre. Alongside the parade, a full street festival will feature carnival rides, live music, craft stalls and family entertainment throughout the day.
Elsewhere in the county, smaller communities are also preparing for festive celebrations. In Mountrath, celebrations will begin at 11.00am in the Square, with a full morning of live entertainment for families and visitors.
In Clonaslee the parade will start at 12 noon sharp the parade in Rosenallis it will begin at 2:30pm and in Portarlington festivities will kick off at 1:30pm at the Square. In the Heath it will start from the GAA Community Hall at 8:45am and proceed to The Heath Church for 9.30am mass.
Many of these parades showcase local schools, sports clubs, businesses and community groups, reflecting the strong local participation that defines St Patrick’s Day in rural Ireland.
Westmeath: Towns are set for lively celebrations
In County Westmeath, Athlone’s St Patrick’s Day Parade is expected to draw large crowds once again. The parade traditionally begins at 12.30pm, starting at Connaught Street and travelling through the town centre towards Golden Island. The event features colourful floats, community groups, marching bands and entertainment for all ages.
Athlone’s celebrations often extend beyond the parade itself, with music, cultural performances and family activities taking place around the town throughout the day.
In Mullingar there will be a six-day St Patrick’s Day Festival with Millie Walsh as the Grand Marshal.
It will begin at the greyhound track from March 12 to March 17. The Mullingar Half Marathon opens the fun on St Patrick’s Day, followed by the Parade.
The Kinnegad town team is hosting the first ever St Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 15th, where Clonard Vintage Club and the wider Kinnegad Parish are all coming together.
The annual Delvin St Patrick's Parade is taking place on Sunday, March 15 with the theme of this year’s event being movies and TV shows of the past and present.
In Moate, the parade itself starts at 1:30pm though the festivities kick off in proper at 12:30pm with a special performance from Castledaly GAA Club, offering a taste of high-quality traditional music before the main event.
The theme for this year's parade in Castlepollard is 'Entertainment Through the Ages'.
Mullingar Town Band will be among the many marchers to bring the festivities to life when the parade starts at 4.45pm on St Patrick's Day.
Offaly: Set for traditional celebrations
Across Offaly, towns and villages will host their own celebrations, continuing a long tradition of local St Patrick’s Day events. Parades in towns such as Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry typically include marching bands, sports clubs, local organisations and themed floats created by community groups.
In Tullamore the parade is set to kick off at 11:30am from the car park of the Bridge Centre continuing to the finish at Tullamore GAA Centre.
Paris 2024 Olympian and World Silver and Bronze Medalist, Grainne Walsh, will be Grand Marshall for this year's parade.
The Edenderry St Patrick’s Day Parade is planned for 12:30pm on March 17.
Rhode parade will begin at 10am from the Coolcor roundabout into Rhode village. All households along the Route are encouraged to decorate their homes with bunting and flags.
This year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations will kick off at 11:30am in Clara with a concert of céilí music from the James Kinsella céilí band.
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