As tickets for Dublin's St Patrick’s Day parade cost up to €250, many believe people are being “priced out” of events in their own capital city. 

Tickets for tiered seating across the city centre to watch the parade on March 17th have nearly sold out, according to organisers. 

One “premium” seat on O’Connell Street costs €250, while lower-cost tickets at Westmoreland Street and Christchurch cost €120. 

Irish Daily Mirror columnist Joe O’Shea told Lunchtime Live people are being “priced out” of cultural events. 

“If you're talking about a family of two adults and two kids, that’s a grand,” he said. 

"The organisers say it's expensive to put on the parade and the costs are very high... but think about it. 

“You know, until fairly recently, if you're a family and you're prepared to get up early enough in the morning and stake out O’Connell Street, you could see the parade just like everybody else. 

“But nowadays there's a gate, there’s a fence, and if you can’t pay, you’re behind the fence.” 

The St Patricks Day parade 2023 in Dublin, 17-03-2023. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

Mr O’Shea this is a phenomenon happening across Dublin, with events like Taste of Dublin charging people for entry and adding extra charges at the event.

“You have to be able to pay to play,” he said. 

'Our national day'

Dubliner Suzanne told Lunchtime Live as a mother of two adult sons, the current costs of cultural events “sticks in [her] throat”. 

“It sticks in my throat that everything in Dublin now, you have to pay,” she said. 

“For all the seats that are sold out, I would imagine a lot of those are corporate. 

“The average family of two, three, four kids going into the parade for what is our national day haven’t got a look in.” 

The 'spirit' of the parade

Suzanne said even if she had €250 to spend, she wouldn’t buy a grandstand ticket. 

“Half the excitement is being on O’Connell Street, with the crowd, seeing the floats go by,” she said. 

“That's half the excitement – it's the spirit that [the parade] embodies.” 

In a statement to the show, St Patrick’s Day Festival said that of the 2,500 grandstand tickets that went on sale in November, almost all are sold out. 

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