St Patrick’s Day in Dublin is going to be “fantastic” this year, the artistic director of the city’s St Patrick’s Day Festival has said. 

Last year, around 400,000 people attended festivities in the capital and Karen Walshe said the parade is always a highlight. 

“It’s going to be fantastic,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.  

“The weather is going to be fantastic; we’re looking at 13° tomorrow - which is great after the last week. 

“We are looking at a giant, enormous parade; we’re looking at 15 international marching bands, we have 15 pieces of creative pageantry. 

“There will be 4,000 performers in the parade this year.” 

Decorations are seen ahead of a St Patrick's Day parade in Birmingham, UK in March 2012. Picture by: Birmingham Images / Alamy Stock Photo

There is also a Festival Quarter in the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks which hosts a variety of activities for all ages. 

“It’s our second year of returning after a fantastic year last year,” she said.  

“We start tonight with Mother’s amazing lineup - I think there’s over 5,000 tickets sold already. 

“You’re looking at four stages over the entire site and we start tonight at 6. 

“Tomorrow, after the parade, there’s a free day and night of a huge spectrum of traditional activities up there from music and storytelling.”

Children watch a St Patrick’s Day Parade. Image: Alan Place/FusionShooters

On Saturday, there will be a host of free events from 12 to 5 at Collins Barracks - ranging from circus performers to drummers.

St Patrick’s Day is worth an estimated €72 million to the Irish economy and €50 million to the economy of Dublin alone.