St. Patrick’s Day is on Monday, but the festivities begin on Saturday and last all month! Start by parading in style, hear some poetry, do an Irish jig…What’s the craic? You choose!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The annual Stockholm St. Patrick’s Day parade begins this year, like every year, at the Royal Library in Humlegården at 12:00. It’s rated E for everyone – that is, don’t expect just to watch a bunch of floats and dancers go by. Walk in the parade yourself! The parade ends in Gamla Stan with loads of Irish entertainment – dance, music, face painting, and more. And don’t forget to dress up for the parade – best-dressed get prizes. One year it was a flight to Ireland!
When: Saturday, March 15th, 12:00
Where: Kungliga Biblioteket, Humlegården
Cost: Free
Irish America: Past and Present Perspectives
Note that this one is in Uppsala, so it is a bit of a commute. Still, this conference about the impact of the Irish on the US promises to be intellectually stimulating and fun! The conference is followed by an evening of Irish poetry.
When: Thursday, March 20th, 10:15 to 18:00
Where: The Betty Pettersson Hall in Blåsenhus at Uppsala University
Cost: Free, but register your interest by Tuesday, March 18th, by emailing [email protected]
Honoring Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet and a Nobel laureate. The Irish Embassy and the Nobel Museum are getting together to celebrate his life and work on March 21, with guest speakers including his friend Paul Muldoon.
When: Friday, March 21, 17:30
Where: Nobelmuseet
Cost: Free
The Cripple of Inishmaan
Did you know Stockholm has an Irish theatre group? It does. And it’s called Spuds and Sill. And as if the name itself wasn’t brilliant enough, they have a fantastic production of an Irish play on March 21 and 22. The Cripple of Inishmaan is a black comedy by Martin McDonagh, best known as the writer and director of international box office hits In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths .
When: Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22, 19:00, also Saturday matinee 14:00
Where: Bristol Theatre in Sundbyberg
Cost: 150 SEK. Members of the Swedish Irish Society get a discount. Get tickets here.
Vernissage: Exhibition of Migration
Irish artist Alannah Robins does her work here in Stockholm, and the Embassy of Ireland will be hosted an exhibit with her art on March 22.
When: Saturday, March 22, opens at 12:00
Where: Detroit Collective Gallery, Roslagsgatan 21
Cost: Free
Tommy Tiernan at RAW Comedy Club
Last but certainly not least, famous Irish stand-up comedian Tommy Tiernan is coming to Stockholm! Tiernan will be entertaining at the RAW Comedy club March 28th.
When: Friday, March 28th, 20:00
Where: Hilton Hotel, Slussen, Guldgränd 8
Cost: 345 SEK for the show, 705 SEK for dinner and a show, book here
And if organized events aren’t your Irish coffee, why not just head on down to an international pub? Stockholm is an unexpected pot of gold when it comes to Irish pubs. Galway’s and The Liffey are two which are guaranteed to have a blast, with entertainment and drinks all around. Galway’s even has green beer. See the rest of the list here!
Featured Image: Garry Knight/Flickr (file)