St Patrick’s Festival, Armagh
From 10 – 20 March 2016, the St Patrick’s Festival will spring to life across venues and locations in the city. The festival will provide an impressive and eclectic mix of theatre, music, comedy, dance, poetry, exhibitions, lectures, spiritual reflection, special walks and talks to suit all tastes.
Key events include:
Celebrate St Patrick: Festival Choral Event in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday 12 March at 8pm.
The event is free but booking is essential through The Market Place Theatre.
This reflective and celebratory event will honour St Patrick, combining some of Ireland’s greatest choirs with actors, singers and special guest artists to name but a few. The event will be led by John Anderson’s Voices of Ireland and the participants will include a range of wonderful choirs including Mount Anville Choral Society, Dublin, Dublin Garda Ladies Choir, The Cork Retired Teachers Association Choir, Cantabile Vocal Ensemble, Dundalk, Armagh City Choir, St Nicholas’ Church Choir, Dundalk, Sligo Orpheus Choir, Grosvenor Chorale, Belfast, St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, Armagh and many more. The event will be streamed live across the internet and is being filmed for broadcast.
An Evening with Patrick, The Market Place Theatre: Tuesday 15 March, 8pm
Free but booking essential through The Market Place Theatre
Armagh Cathedrals Partnership invite you to An Evening with Patrick at the Market Place Theatre, Armagh. In addition to some music, story, poetry and prayer, a guest speaker will invite those present to reflect on “Patrick and Ireland today”. It promises to be a very special evening as we celebrate the St Patrick’s Festival in Armagh. The guest speaker will be Rev Tony Davidson of First Armagh Presbyterian Church. Rev Davidson has been based in Armagh since 1994 and he has done wonderful work in building relationships in the city of Armagh and beyond. Light refreshments will be served.
St Patrick’s Lecture, The Market Place Theatre: Wednesday 16 March, 1pm
Free but booking essential through The Market Place Theatre
On the eve of St Patrick’s Day, the Primates of the two principal Churches in Ireland, Archbishop Richard Clarke and Archbishop Eamon Martin will speak about what St Patrick means to them. In conversation with Tara Mills, the two will discuss how St Patrick’s words still resonate and have relevance for many of the challenges we face today.
St Patrick’s Tea Party, The Synod Hall, St Patrick’s R.C Cathedral: Thursday 17 March, 3 – 6pm Free admission
A special tea party to celebrate St Patrick in the lovely surroundings of this unique hall. Enjoy a special afternoon tea as well as a feast of Irish traditional music and song. People are encouraged to wear something green and come along and enjoy the afternoon’s festivities as we celebrate the feast of our national apostle and what’s a special day in our yearly calendar.
Celtic Spirit, The Market Place Theatre: Friday 18 March, 8pm, £20
Booking essential through The Market Place Theatre
Join Karl McGuckin (Baritone), Liam Lawton, Andrea Begley (The Voice Winner 2014) and a musical ensemble including the choir of St Catherine’s College, Armagh under the musical direction of Mark Cahill for a night of traditional and spiritual music in celebration of St Patrick.
The Ulster Orchestra, St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral: Saturday 19 March, 7.30pm, £15, Booking essential through The Market Place Theatre
The Orchestra, under the baton of Robert Houlihan and two guest soloists return to Armagh with music especially chosen to celebrate the life of Patrick.