The Church of Ireland’s cathedrals and dioceses will be celebrating the national day of our island’s patron saint, on or around St Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, 17th March) this year, with the following events, along with others organised locally.
Armagh
Armagh Cathedrals’ Partnership – In Conversation with Hugo Duncan
The Armagh Cathedrals’ Partnership is hosting a special evening, ‘In Conversation with Hugo Duncan’, on Tuesday, 10th March, at 7.30pm in the Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre, Armagh. The event is free to attend but tickets must be booked in advance at www.visitarmagh.com/festivals/st-patrick/home-of-st-patrick-festival-events-2026
Radio and TV personality Hugo Duncan MBE – “The wee man from Strabane” – is a singer and BBC broadcaster. He will share stories and experiences of his life as a well-known and popular celebrity. Also included in this evening’s programme is a performance by Irish dancer Evelyn Gibson and other entertainment provided by local school choirs and musicians.
This event is hosted by the Very Revd Shane Forster, Dean of Armagh, and the Very Revd Barry Matthews, Administrator of St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral.
Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
The Armagh Cathedrals’ Partnership was established between the two cathedrals in Armagh as an expression of their common life in Christ and strives to make the two cathedrals symbols of mutual understanding and reconciliation in the city, community and beyond.
Concert with Brian Finnegan at St Patrick’s Cathedral
On Saturday, 14th March, St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral will host a concert with celebrated composer, collaborator and producer Brian Finnegan from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Brian Finnegan toured and recorded with artistes as diverse as KAN, Cara Dillon, Boris Grfebenshikov, Anoushka Shankar, Bebel Gilberto, Ed Sheeran, and Sam Gellaitry. A past pupil of the Armagh Piper’s Club and frontman with Flook for 30 years, Brian will be joined in Armagh by his Hunger of the Skin Band, featuring Seán O’Meara, Patsy Reid, Conor McCreanor and Liam Bradley. Supporting on the evening are Seamus and Caoimhe O’Fhlatharta, the extraordinary Connemara siblings whose viral performance of Anach Cuain captivated audiences nationwide.
Tickets cost £25.00 and are available at www.visitarmagh.com/festivals/st-patrick/home-of-st-patrick-festival-events-2026
Vigil Walk with Archbishops of Armagh
This event has become an annual activity in the city’s Home of St Patrick’s Festival. The Vigil Walk by torchlight is led by the Archbishops of Armagh, Archbishop John McDowell and Archbishop Eamon Martin.
Local residents and visitors are welcome to join them in prayer and conversation as the Vigil Walk starts at the Church of Ireland Cathedral and moves to the Roman Catholic Cathedral – a symbolic reflection of St Patrick’s own journey bringing people together and sharing the light of the Gospel.
The walk takes place on Monday, 16th March, from 8.00pm to 9.30pm, and is a free event with no booking required.
Choral Evensong on the Eve of St Patrick’s Day will take place at 7.00pm in the Cathedral prior to the Vigil Walk.
Cathedral Services on St Patrick’s Day
Services in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral on St Patrick’s Day – Tuesday, 17th March – are as follows:
• 10.00am – Eucharist in Irish
• 11.00am – Choral Eucharist
The celebrant at the Eucharist in Irish will be the Revd Canon David Hilliard, Rector of Tartaraghan. Archbishop John McDowell will be celebrant at the 11.00am Choral Eucharist and the preacher will be the Revd Thomas Moore, Minister of First Armagh and Tassagh Presbyterian Churches.
Downpatrick & Saul
The Diocese of Down Dromore will hold its annual St Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Down Cathedral and Saul on Tuesday, 17th March, to which everyone is welcome.
The theme for 2026 is ‘Courage in the Line of Fire’. A member of the Finnish Parliament, Mrs Päivi Räsänen, will be the preacher at the Festival Service in Down Cathedral and Mr Ian Bingham, Director of CARE Northern Ireland, will be the preacher at Saul.
The programme begins with Holy Communion at Saul at 9.15am followed by a prayer pilgrimage from Saul to Downpatrick, starting at 10.15am; the Festival Service at 11.45am; the wreath-laying ceremony at St Patrick’s Grave; and a complimentary ‘Picnic in the Pews’. Transport will be provided between Downpatrick and Saul and further details are available on the diocesan website at www.downanddromore.org/news/events
Dublin
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, will host the following services on St Patrick’s Day:
• 9.15am – Eucharist said in Irish in the Lady Chapel
• 11.15am – Patronal Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir with the Revd Canon John Auchmuty, Rector of Knock (Diocese of Down) as preacher
• 6.00pm – Dublin Council of Churches Service
The Dublin Council of Churches brings together Christians from the Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army and Religious Society of Friends traditions. Its service – with the theme of ‘Patrick talks about God’ – will be a celebration in word, song and music of his life and his message in one of Dublin’s most evocative holy places.
All services are streamed live on the cathedral’s website: www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/worship
Belfast
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, will celebrate a Choral Eucharist at 9:30am on St Patrick’s Day, featuring music from composers, including a setting of the Irish Blessing by Philip Stopford and Derek Collins’ St Columba Mass.
Diocese of Clogher
Events in Clogher Diocese, which mainly covers County Fermanagh and County Monaghan, to mark St Patrick’s Day include a walk and social activities:
St Patrick’s Stew Night – On the Friday before St Patrick’s Day, 13th March, Aghavea Parish, near Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, will be hosting their annual St Patrick’s evening meal and fellowship comprising a bowl of stew, a dessert and a cup of tea or coffee. This takes place at Aghavea Parish Hall.
Party Night – The parish of Aghabog in Co. Monaghan will be hosting a party night with musical items, singing and supper etc. in Aghabog Parish Hall on Monday, 16th March, at 8pm. All parishioners, neighbours and friends are welcome.
Pilgrimage Walk – The Glaslough Community Pilgrimage Walk in the Co. Monaghan village takes place on St Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, 17th March) assembling at St Salvator’s Church of Ireland, Donagh Parish in Glaslough at 11am for a short prayer service before heading to Glennan Presbyterian Church and St Mary’s, Glennan, before returning to Donagh Parochial Hall on Main Street, Glaslough, for soup and brown bread. All are welcome.
