St. Patrick’s Day events roundup

Although traditionally an Irish holiday to honour the country’s patron saint, St. Patrick’s Day has become an increasingly international celebration. This year St. Paddy’s Day falls on a Friday, calling for even bigger festivities than usual. So don your best green gear and check out the top spots to party in Barcelona on this beer-filled day!

Other Irish pubs to stop in at

Michael Collins Plaça de la Sagrada Família 4

Flaherty’s Irish Pub Plaça Joaquim Xirau

Temple Bar Ferran 8

The Wild Rover Irish Pub Santa Mònica 2

The George Payne Irish Bar Plaça Urquinaona 5

Dunne's Irish Bar & Restaurant Via Laietana 19

• Kitty's Irish Pub

  Opening its doors 18 years ago, Kitty's is the oldest Irish pub in the city. Every year they put on a special party for Ireland's patron saint. While it features a packed programme of events during the week leading up to Friday the 17th, the biggest celebration will take place on Saturday the 18th, when the pub organises a full-on Irish street fest between Carrer de Numància and Av. Diagonal. Large crowds of locals and tourists will gather on the street, and live Irish music and dance will make you feel like you're on the Emerald Isle.

• Hard Rock Cafe Barcelona

  From March 13th to the 19th, the Hard Rock Cafe will serve up a limited edition menu in honour of St. Patrick’s Day. Paying homage to the country of origin, the menu will feature a St. Paddy’s Burger, loaded with Irish cheddar among other toppings, as well as an Irish Green Cocktail, a mixture of Jameson and apple liqueur. On Friday the 17th every surface of the restaurant will be covered in green, and from 10pm onwards it will host an evening of entertainment. Nuala Irish Dancers will perform followed by a DJ session by DJ Barcelona City FM, a visit by the mythological leprechaun and prizes for guests with the luck of the Irish.

• Global Greening

  As a part of Tourism Ireland’s Greening Initiative, statues, stadiums, castles and towers around the world will go green in honour of St. Patrick’s Day. Along with a host of major landmarks around the world such as the London Eye, the Colosseum, the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls, this year the expanding project will incorporate Barcelona’s Plaça de Catalunya and the fountains on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes.

• Currach Regatta

  The eighth edition of the Mediterranean Currach Regatta will be held at the Moll de la Marina on March 19th. Racing in currachs, a traditional Irish rowing boat designed to face the Atlantic waves off the coast of Ireland, participants will cover 800 metres to reach the finish line. Following the competition, a fun afternoon of beach activities including Gaelic Games demonstrations and a performance by the O’Connor School of Irish Dance will take place. Club Pati Vela will be on hand to provide delicious Irish food and, of course, plenty of Guinness. Celebrations will round off with a performance by Irish supergroup Kila at Razzmatazz.