The 2019 St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in Tinglado 2, Valencia, was a great success. Over 500 people attended the event, which showcased the best of Irish music, dancing, food and drink. There was also a dedicated kids area with a bouncing castle, face-painting and arts and crafts.
The event started at 1130 with VICA musicians and friends providing entertainment on the main stage until 1400. The céilí dancing was led by Cynthia from Mediterrània Escola de Dansa Irlandesa with everyone having great fun.
There was also a pop up Gaeltacht where the cúpla focal could be spoken. Tourism Ireland had a table with information on holidaying in Ireland in 2019. Their shamrock pins were very popular!
Thanks to our food and drink sponsors for their generous donations – Tayto Park for their crisps, Ballymaloe Foods for their relish and Butlers Chocolate and Jameson Irish Whiskey. Continuing a tradition that started in 2018, over 250 portions of Irish Stew were given out. Many thanks to our friends at Amigos de la Calle for their thermos containers to keep the stew warm overnight!
The San Vicent GAA club had demonstration games of Gaelic Football and Hurling throughout the event, with many passers by seeing Ireland’s traditional sports for the first time.
The day finished with the 2nd annual St. Patrick’s Day parade from 1400 to about 1420 around the Port, starting and finishing at Tinglado 2.
Thanks to our event sponsors for their financial support that makes events like this possible. The Embassy of Ireland in Madrid and Tourism Ireland were a great help in getting the event permits, and their suggestions helped greatly. We were honoured to welcome Caroline Phelan, Deputy Head of Mission at the Irish Embassy in Madrid, to our event. St. Patrick’s Irish Pub also provided generous support for this event. St. Patrick’s Pub has been a great help to Irish organisations in Valencia for a number of years. Thanks also to the Ayuntamiento de Valencia for covering the cost of the venue – Tinglado 2 was an ideal place to have an event like this.
We are already looking forward to a bigger and better event in 2020!
