(Minghui.org) Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated throughout Ireland with parades and festivals. Galway held its annual parade on March 17, 2026, despite a light drizzle that morning. Just as in past years, this did not dampen people’s spirits.
St. Patricks’ Day is also Ireland’s National Day, when the country commemorates St. Patrick, who brought Christianity to the island in the Fifth Century. Many people attend religious services on March 17, the day he died. After Ireland became independent, this Christian church holy day gradually became a cultural celebration that transcends religion—everyone participates, and the annual event attracts tourists from all over the world to participate in the festivities.
By 9 a.m., crowds had already gathered along the parade route, including Eyre Square at Galway Cathedral. Most of the estimated 30,000 spectators were dressed in something green, hats and clothing being the most popular.
Falun Dafa practitioners, who were invited to participate in the parade, carried a “Falun Dafa Is Great” banner followed by several demonstrating the exercises and others in the lotus flower and dragon dance teams. People applauded, cheered, and waved all along the route. Many tourists from China said in surprise, “Falun Dafa!” and recorded the procession with their phones.
The Ireland Falun Dafa Association in the Galway St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17
The parade was undoubtedly the most anticipated part of the four-day-long celebration in Galway. This year, 3,000 people representing over 70 different groups participated in the parade, showcasing traditional dances, brass bands, sports, and international cultural groups. Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins, who recently stepped down, and his wife Sabina attended the parade as special guests.
As practitioners marched past the main stage, the MC who introduced them said, “Falun Dafa is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. It includes five exercises, and people in over 100 countries practice it. It is free to learn Falun Dafa.”
Chandresh, who came to see the parade with his family, kept saying, “Very nice, very well coordinated. It’s perfect.”
Mubeena from India watched the parade with her family back home through a video connection. She said the practitioners’ group, “Is so great, so colorful.”
Glynn, a staff member, took a photo of a practitioner in a celestial maiden costume before the start of the parade. It was the first time he had heard of Falun Dafa. When he was told about its principles, he said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very good. It’s a shame that practitioners are persecuted.”
Esther, the organizer of another group in the parade, was delighted to see the Falun Dafa contingent. She said she’d talked with a practitioner during a previous parade, so she knew about Falun Dafa and agreed with the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.“These are my values, too,” she said, adding, “I’m organizing a multicultural festival and I plan to invite your group to participate.I hope you’ll come.”
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