2013 Sydney Saint Patricks' Day Parade

Hundreds of thousands of people of Irish decent or who fancy themselves as Irish at heart, are expected to celebrate on Sunday 17th March. This is Ireland’s national day and the traditional feast day of the country’s patron saint, St Patrick.

St Patrick, who was born in Roman Britain in the 5th century, is widely credited with having introduced Christianity to Ireland and, according to Irish mythology, to have driven all snakes from the country. St Patrick’s Day is the anniversary of his death in 461 or 493.

In Australia, St Patrick’s Day celebrations have taken place on 17 March since 1810, when the then Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, declared the date an official day of celebration for the Irish and those of Irish heritage. 

200 years later, we are still celebrating with an annual street parade and family day on the third Sunday of March – next year on Sunday 18th March 2012. 

The Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade is the second largest in the world, after the New York celebrations.

When: Sunday 17th March 2013 at Noon
Where: Corner of Town Hall on George Street and Bathurst Street continuing to Park St and around Elizabeth St, ending at Hyde Park near St James Station.

In Australia, hundreds of thousands of people of Irish decent or who fancy themselves as Irish at heart, are expected to celebrate on Sunday 17th March. This is Ireland’s national day and the traditional feast day of the country’s patron saint, St Patrick.

St Patrick, who was born in Roman Britain in the 5th century, is widely credited with having introduced Christianity to Ireland and, according to Irish mythology, to have driven all snakes from the country. St Patrick’s Day is the anniversary of his death in 461 or 493.