The St. Patrick’s festival runs for a full week, and consists of various events in the streets of Dublin city center as well as theatres, galleries, and music halls. Two of the highlights are The Big Day Out (on a Sunday before the St. Patrick’s Day) – a festival within a festival, which features street theatre, performance and music, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which celebrates cultural diversity in Dublin.
Photography notes
The tea party in the Merrion Square featured people dressed in incredibly bright costumes, who entertained children and adults in the park. Timing was essential for photography, as the shadows from the surrounding buildings covered the park by approximately 5 o’clock.
During the parade on March 17, the location from which to take pictures was of primary importance. In order to have an unobstructed view of the procession, one needs to stand as close as possible to the dividing barrier, erected by the police. Given that the huge crowds gather along the route of the parade close to the starting time (12:00 noon), it is essential to arrive well in advance. Having said this, I came to my photo location of choice (towards the end of the parade route) only half-an-hour before the start and was able to position myself in the second row of people, which was close enough to the action. I chose a spot opposite the Christ Church Cathedral, which served as an interesting background for the performers. Using a 24-105 mm lens allowed me to quickly change the frame from the wide view of the parade displays to the portraits of individual participants and spectators.
Follow the link to see my photographs of St. Patrick’s Festival.
Keywords: St. Patrick’s Day Parade.