St Patrick's Day & 'Ireland Week' in Austria
Check to see what's going on around Austria over the next week to celebrate St Patrick and Ireland, so you don't miss out on any of the fantastic events planned this year!
The celebrations have already begun in Austria for St Patrick’s Day 2024 and as promised, the Embassy of Ireland would like to draw your attention to just some of the unmissable events that are happening between now and March 17th so that you can all get involved!
Tourism Ireland & ‘Ireland Week’: 9th-17th March
Tourism Ireland has organised a fantastic programme of events this year for ‘Ireland Week’ to celebrate all things Irish: from a GAA exhibition with the Vienna Gaels, to theatre and Irish dancing, there’s lots going on!
Click here for the full list of ‘Ireland Week’ events with all the dates and times so you won’t miss anything - including a competition to win flights with Aer Lingus!
St Patrick’s Day Parade in Vienna: 16th March
If you find yourself in Vienna on Saturday March 16th, you have no excuse not to get out and support the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade!
Details were posted on our website and social media channels last week, click here in case you missed it.
Meeting point: Outside Schottenkirche/Freyung
When: Saturday, March 16th @ 11:00
The Parade will begin @ 11:30 – taking the following route:
Herrengasse - Michaelerplatz - Schauflergasse - Ballhausplatz - Löwelstraße - Josef Meinrad-Platz/Burgtheater
A massive thank you to the parade organisers – especially the Austro-Irish Society, Shamrock Dance Company and Vienna Gaels GAA, as well as all of the participating groups who put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make it all happen!
For the early birds amongst you, before the parade kicks-off, a recital from Celtic Virtuoso will happen inside Schottenkirche from 09:30 – 09:45, and this will be followed by the annual St Patrick’s Day Mass @ 10:00.
St Patrick's Day 'Strassenmusik' @ Ostermarkt: 17th March
On the big day itself, St Patrick's Day, a group of fantastic musicians will be performing traditional Irish music, both their own compositions and some famous Irish covers, at a free event for the public in Vienna's first district.
When: Sunday, March 17th
Where: Ostermarkt on the Freyung
Click here for the full programme of performers and their individual performance times, and make sure to give them some support on the day!
Embassy of Ireland Art Competition
Don’t forget to get your entries in for the Embassy’s Art Competition looking for a drawing of the Embassy’s new mascot, which was announced in February’s Newsletter. We’re looking for a colourful drawing of an animal or a mythical creature that you think best represents Ireland!
We have 2 categories – ages 4-8 and 9-12 – and both winners will receive a copy of ‘IRELANDOPEDIA’, by Fatti and John Burke.
The competition is running until Friday, March 22nd, so still plenty of time to add the finishing touches to those masterpieces!
Entries can be delivered by hand/post to: Embassy of Ireland, Rotenturnstraße 16-18, 1010 Wien or if you would prefer to send a scanned copy, email to: vienna@dfa.ie
‘Faith Healer’ by Brian Friel: 12th – 16th March
Open House Theatre, in association with the Embassy of Ireland & Tourism Ireland, along with their new offshoot Wide Open Vienna, combine to bring Brian Friel's masterpiece of Irish theatre, ‘Faith Healer’, to the Viennese stage for the first time in English.
Starring Alan Burgon, Anne Marie Sheridan & Brian Hatfield, it promises to be a moving and thought provoking evening, so don’t miss your chance to go and see it!
Where: Theater im Café Prückel, Vienna
When: March 12th-16th
Tickets: www.openhousetheatre.at
The Red & The Green - An Irish-Wien Storytelling Walk: 17th March
On the afternoon of St Patrick's Day, Eugene Quinn from WHOOSH will lead a guided walk through the city sharing an insight into the strong Irish cultural exchange with Vienna going back centuries.
When: Sunday, March 17th from 13:00 - 15:15
Meeting Point: Campus der Universität Wien, Hof 8.3 Spitalgasse 2-4, 1090 Wien
Tickets: €10 - no registration is required (u14's go free)
If you're interested in discovering more about the influence of Irish culture on this part of the world, be sure to come along! More information of the event is available here.
‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ – Irish Song Recital: 15th March
Mezzo-soprano singer, Anne Marie Sheridan, and pianist, Elaine Loebenstein, have joined forces to mark St Patrick’s Day with a recital of Irish songs in a performance entitled ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’.
When: Friday, March 15th @13:00
Where: Theater im Café Prückel, Vienna
Tickets: €15.00 on the door
This would be a great way to start off the St Patrick's Day weekend, so we have attached the full programme for the recital here for a sneak preview of what is planned during this special performance.
St Patrick’s Day in Lower Austria: 16th March
Events for St Patrick’s Day are not just happening in Vienna! Siegharstkirchen in Lower Austria are hosting their own event.
When: Saturday, March 16th @ 16:00
Where: Bodensfeldstadion, 3443 Sieghartskirchen
Why not join them for some food, drinks, live music and a performance from the Irish Dance Company! It’s fantastic to see events celebrating Ireland’s National Day taking place in many different locations across Austria, so if you’re in the area make sure to support!
WASSER Exhibition ft. Irish Artist Leonard Sheil: 15th March
The work of Irish artist Leonard Sheil, who is a member of Baden Kunstverein & Künstlerhaus Wien, will feature at an exhibition entitled 'WASSER' which is opening St Patrick's Day weekend in Lower Austria.
When: Friday, March 15th @18:00
Where: Stadtmuseum St.Pölten, Prandtauerstraße 2, 3100 St.Pölten
If you can't make it to the launch, the exhibition will be running from Wednesday through to Sunday from 10:00 - 17:00 until April 21st ... and entry is free!
Shamrock Dance Company Vienna – Céilí Evening: 14th March
Our friends over at Shamrock Dance Company Vienna have been rehearsing hard for St Patrick’s Week. Check the picture above for their full programme happening over the next week or so and be sure not to miss the Céilí evening:
When: Thursday March 14th @ 19:00
Where: Martinstraße 18, 1180 Vienna
Remember to give them all your support when you see them at the St Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday too!
For those of you who would prefer to stay indoors this St Patrick’s Day weekend ...
We are spoiled for choice by the many Irish bars found around the city! Below are just some of the offerings that have reached out to us and we are happy to share them with you.
☘ Don’t forget Ireland’s last Six Nations game vs Scotland is happening on Saturday 16th March @17:45 #COYBIG ☘
St Patrick’s Weekend @ The Long Hall: 16th-17th March
Get ready for a weekend of Irish festivities as The Long Hall invites you to celebrate St. Patrick’s Weekend in style! With live music all day on March 16th and 17th, Saturday and Sunday, plus a line-up featuring Rubberduck from Ireland and Those Angry Men from Austria, it’s bound to be an unforgettable celebration.
When: Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March
Where: The Long Hall, Florianigasse 2, 1080 Wien, Austria
More info: www.thelonghall.at/celebrate-st-patricks-weekend-at-the-long-hall/
With live music, rugby matches, delicious food and drink specials, it’s the perfect way to honour Irish culture and create lasting memories with friends and family.
St Patrick’s Weekend @ Charlie P’s: 16th-17th March
Across the weekend on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th, Charlie P’s have Irish food & drink Specials, Six Nations Rugby, live music with Kathrina Hughes & The Lefthander and DJs until late.
There’ll also be St Patrick's Day Hats for the first 50 people on the Sunday!
When: Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March
Where: Charlie P’s Irish Pub, Währinger Str. 3, 1090 Vienna
More info: www.charlieps.at/saint-patricks-day-celebrations-2024