Northern Ireland

Traditional St Patrick's Day celebrations may be on hold, but a host of virtual events are taking place

St Patrick's Day events and parades will be marked by virtual events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Picture by Pacemaker
St Patrick's Day events and parades will be marked by virtual events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Picture by Pacemaker St Patrick's Day events and parades will be marked by virtual events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Picture by Pacemaker

SAINT Patrick's Day celebrations may be on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, but a host of virtual events are taking place instead.

With current lockdown restrictions still in place, an alternative programme of events have been organised by several councils, from arts and crafts, Irish dancing to live musical performances.

Country singer Nathan Carter and his band are set to perform a live gig from Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, which will be streamed live.

Belfast City Hall will be lit up green tomorrow, while several hours of entertainment will be live-streamed from Sailortown to celebrate cultural and historical heritage of the area.

After years of restoration St Joseph’s Church has been transformed to a community hub that will host the event including music, dancing, storytelling and art.

Three-piece band, Dál Riada Folk, singer songwriters Amanda St John and Anthony Toner and The Lee Hedley Band are set to perform.

A video presentation on Sailortown, recounting the history, battles to win the lease when the church was deconsecrated through to the ongoing work will be broadcast.

A 10k race is also being held virtually with runners from across the world invited to take part. This year sees the introduction of a 5k and 1k, giving as many runners as possible a chance to get our national day of celebration off to a healthy start.

In Armagh, a series of events have been organised to celebrate the island’s famous patron saint.

The fully online 'At Home with St Patrick Festival' takes participants through events, which include an Irish dance masterclass from Riverdance’s Jason O’Neill, online dramatisation at Navan Fort to uncover St Patrick’s early life and a breakfast cook-along with May McFettridge.

The Diocese of Down and Dromore has also taken a creative approach to its annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations with a virtual prayer pilgrimage and a live-streamed service from Down Cathedral.

People will be able to celebrate with a specially commissioned ‘Muddy Prayer Trail’ based on words from St Patrick’s Breastplate.

The Prayer Pilgrimage is inspired by Patrick’s journey from slave to missionary and was filmed in the stunning scenery surrounding Downpatrick. It will be premiered on social media at 10am on St Patrick’s Day and will replace the usual walk from Saul Church to Down Cathedral.

At midday, Dean Henry Hull and Bishop David McClay will take part in a service livestreamed from Down Cathedral and singer-songwriter Andy Flannagan among the guest speakers to join virtually.

A local mental health professional will lay the wreath on St Patrick’s grave.

A new show on St Patrick is making its premier tomorrow from Downpatrick’s Saint Patrick Centre, as part of virtual celebrations.

It was commissioned to mark the centre’s 20th anniversary and features Grammy-nominated Grian Chatten, front-man from Irish punk band, Frontaines DC.

The 35-minute show also features local artists Matthew Campbell of the Shamrock Tenors and soprano Mary McCabe, both from Downpatrick.

Other events include a children's virtual art competition, writing contest and a series of podcasts from former BBC political correspondent Martina Purdy and ex-barrister Elaine Kelly, who are pilgrim guides on the new St Patrick’s Way.

Singer Malachi Cush will perform on the Burnavon’s stage in Cookstown as part of Mid Ulster council’s virtual programme of events.

He will perform live and will be joined by special guests Plunkett McGartland, Matthew Campbell and Ruairí Stewart.

A series of craft workshops, musical entertainment, dance performances from prize winning dancers, the Carroll School of Irish dancers are also set to take place.

Virtual entertainment is also being hosted by Fermanagh and Omagh district council, including music, dance, storytelling and arts and crafts.

A short film, 'The Story of St Patrick', which recounts the story of Saint Patrick’s life, charting his journey from being abducted and brought to Ireland at the age of 16 to his return as an adult bringing Christianity to the local population and featuring some local landmarks, will be premiered on the council's social media channels.