In March 2026, Tourism Ireland presents a full programme to celebrate the Irish culture in style and its connection with Celtic roots in Spain. The popular St. Patrick’s Parade through the city centre on 15 March stands out among the activities, which included more than 600 pipers from all over Spain in last year’s edition.
A week with an agenda filled with activities related to Irish concerts, music and dance, film, gastronomy and other cultural events, and the icing on the cake will be the St. Patrick’s Parade through the centre of Madrid, which seeks to become a parade to match those in New York, London or Dublin.
17 March commemorates the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick in 461 in Saul in County Down. He was captured in Wales or Scotland during his childhood and taken as a slave to Slemish Mountain in County Antrim. He worked as a shepherd there until he managed to escape and return home. He later had a vision that urged him to return to Ireland to spread Christianity.
The first St Patrick’s Day Parade was held in Boston (United States) in 1737, whilst the first celebration of this kind in Ireland was in Waterford in 1903.
turismo_de_irlanda_desfile_de_san_patricio_en_madrid_2023.jpg
