Irish Guide Dogs to Lead Cork St. Patrick's Day Parade as Grand Marshal

Cork's St. Patrick's Day Parade will have a very special lead this year, as Irish Guide Dogs has been named Grand Marshal of the 2026 celebration, marking the charity's 50th anniversary of transforming lives across Ireland.

The announcement was made by Cork City Council, which organises the annual parade. The Cork-based national charity has partnered more than 2,000 guide, assistance and community dogs with individuals and families across Ireland over the past five decades, supporting people with visual impairments and the families of children with autism.

The parade takes place on Tuesday, 17 March at 1pm, following the familiar route from South Mall to Merchants Quay. It forms the centrepiece of the Cork St. Patrick's Festival, a five-day celebration running from Friday, 13 March through to St. Patrick's Day.

This year's festival embraces the theme "Marsh, Myth and Magic," inspired by Cork's unique origins as a settlement built on marshland and its centuries of folklore and cultural tradition.

Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork, said:

"I am delighted to unveil plans for the Cork St. Patrick's Festival 2026, a five-day celebration running from Friday, March 13 through to St. Patrick's Day. One of the great highlights of this year's celebrations is the appointment of Irish Guide Dogs as Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, as they mark their 50th anniversary. We are proud to honour an organisation whose life-changing work embodies community spirit, compassion and resilience."

Tim O'Mahony, CEO of Irish Guide Dogs, said:

"Being invited to serve as Grand Marshal of the Cork St. Patrick's Day Parade is a tremendous honour for Irish Guide Dogs, made all the more special as we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year. This moment belongs to our incredible clients, volunteers, staff, supporters and, of course, our amazing dogs, whose impact on communities nationwide continues to inspire us every day."

The parade will feature over 3,000 participants, Irish and international marching bands, and theatrical showpieces from Cork Community Artlink, Cork Puppetry Company and Spraoi.

Beyond the parade itself, the five-day festival includes a wide range of events. Irish Women in Harmony perform at St. Peter's on North Main Street on 13 March, while siblings Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta bring their stunning harmonies and sean nós singing to the same venue on 16 March. The duo were recognised as RTÉ Folk Award winners for Best Emerging Artists in 2024.

Family-friendly events include the Tailteann Games at Elizabeth Fort on 15 March, a re-imagining of Ireland's ancient festival of games, and Playing in the Park on 14 March at the newly renovated Bishop Lucey Park, which will include a dedicated Sensory Play Zone for young people with additional needs.

Music lovers can enjoy Ceol Chorcaí at Cork City's Concert Hall on 14 March, celebrating the city's musical heritage, and a Céilí Mór in City Hall on 15 March led by Willie Hammond from the Cork Folk Festival. No dance experience required.

Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals and Events at Fáilte Ireland, said:

"Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support St. Patrick's Festival Cork. By investing in St. Patrick's Festival Cork, we're strengthening Cork's position within Ireland's Ancient East as a must-visit destination and helping to drive economic benefits for local businesses and communities across the county and wider region."

While many festival events are free, some require pre-booking. The full programme and booking links are available at www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie. The parade will also be streamed live on the website on the day.

Festival brochures are available in all Cork City Library branches, the Tourist Office and at locations around the city centre. Cork's 96FM, C103 and the Echo are the media sponsors of the Cork St. Patrick's Festival.