Mark your March calendar with the month’s must-see cultural highlights, from plays and music festivals to St Patrick's Day events.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
10-14 March, Bórd Gáis Theatre, more info here
Tom Ripley is a nobody, scraping by in New York with small-time scams and big ambitions, until an unexpected offer sends him to 1950s Italy to retrieve a wealthy man’s son, Dickie Greenleaf. But amid the glamour and golden light, Tom becomes dangerously captivated by Dickie’s charmed life. Fascination soon turns to obsession in a chilling tale of deception, identity and murder. This electrifying stage adaptation brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller to life. Led by Ed McVey (The Crown) as Ripley and Maisie Smith as Marge, this gripping production delivers razor-sharp dialogue, simmering tension and a dangerously charismatic antihero, where nothing is quite as it seems.
Walled City Music Festival
12-15 March, Derry, more info here
In the heart of Derry, music lovers can experience a stellar line-up of concerts, workshops and educational performances featuring some of the world’s finest musicians. Highlights include pianists Cathal Breslin and Martina Filjak, flautist Sabrina Hu, soprano Ailish Tynan, violist David O’Doherty, harpist Clíona Doris, the Walled City Music Chamber Orchestra, violinists Kirill Troussov and Alexandra Troussova, with resident composer Gráinne Mulvey completing the line-up.
Mountain View Markets St. Patrick’s Day Doggie Parade
15 March, Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny, more info here
Mountain View Markets is bringing back its annual St. Patrick’s Day Doggie Parade on Sunday, 15 March at 12pm, taking place on the grass beside the main market area. The fun event invites dog lovers to watch or enter their pups in categories including Best Rescue Dog, Best Old-Age Pup, Best Mom & Dog, Best Trick, Best Dressed, Smallest Dog and Largest Dog. Entry is free.
St Patrick’s Festival Parade & Events
14-17 March, Dublin, more info here
Once just a solemn feast day, St Patrick’s Day has grown into a vibrant showcase of Ireland’s rich culture and heritage. Today, the festival is a joyful, multicultural celebration featuring parades, performances and a dynamic mix of traditional and contemporary Irish arts. The world-famous National St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place each year on March 17th in Dublin, rain or shine, bringing spectacular pageantry, international marching bands and communities from across Ireland together in celebration. A highlight this year includes Céilí Mór, a free, large-scale outdoor, bilingual event that celebrates traditional Irish dance, language, and music.
Paddy’s Day at Hen’s Teeth
17 March, Hen’s Teeth Studio, Dublin 8, more info here
Programmed by Rory Bowens (NTS Radio, The Slip), this St Patrick’s Day session features ethereal Mayo harp from Roisin Berkeley, bodhrán synthesis from Ian Nyquist, and a DJ set from Ian Lynch of Lankum, drawing on the ballad oddities of his Fire Draw Near podcast. Doors 2pm, music from 3pm. Food and drinks are served all day.
Limerick Early Music Festival
18-22 March, venues across Limerick city, more info here
Limerick Early Music Festival is inviting music lovers to a week-long celebration of “MASKS & MASQUES.” Audiences of all ages can enjoy performances and workshops exploring the theme, including the annual choral concert, vocal and instrumental solos, chamber music, historical dance, theatre and more. The festival promises a rich programme of events that showcase the diversity and creativity of early music.
Macbeth
23 March – 2 April, Smock Alley Theatre, more info here
The critically acclaimed Volta Theatre Company returns to Smock Alley Theatre with a new production of Shakespeare’s gripping tale of ambition, murder and the corrosive effects of power. Set in a politically unstable world of witchcraft and dark cults, a man unsuited to kingship seizes the crown violently, descending into paranoia, vengeance and madness. Packed with non-stop action, suspense, and some of Shakespeare’s most powerful language, this production explores the horrors that unfold when society breaks down.
Cork Whiskey Fest
27-29 March, Cork city, more info here
The fourth annual Cork Whiskey Fest returns from 27–29 March, bringing whiskey lovers together in one city for three days of great craic and exceptional tasting experiences, as Cork becomes the true epicentre of whiskey.
Kildare Jazz Festival
27-29 March, Riverbank Arts Centre, more info here
The Kildare Jazz Festival returns for its third year and will feature a mix of Irish and international talent and launch a call for the 2026 Emerging Act. Running for three days, it will showcase jazz performances alongside workshops in visual art, dance and more.
By Invitation – Ireland’s Leading Luxury Wedding Experts
28 March, Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, more info here
Join By Invitation on 28 March at Carton House for an inspiring morning with Ireland’s leading luxury wedding experts. Bringing together the very best in bridal design, fine jewellery, floristry, styling and planning, the collective features names including Chupi, Blanaid Hennessy, Heather Condren and Grace Cahill. Guests can enjoy a panel conversation filled with insight and inspiration for creating a wedding that feels both personal and timeless.
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