Despite the current Level 5 lockdown in Ireland, the annual St. Patrick's Festival is revitalising itself with a colourful bang to give the people a much-needed cultural boost. With over 100 events taking place across six great virtual days and nights, there is something for everyone at the 2021 occasion.

This year's theme of Dúisigh Éire! (Awaken Ireland) promises to be a positive and uplifting celebration of the nation's incredible people, beautiful island, community bonds, artists and diaspora across the world.

For this year’s virtual Festival, a rich and dynamic series of events are being safely created and recorded by hundreds of artists, musicians, performers, makers, creators, arts and live events workers and community organisations across Ireland. These events will run on St. Patrick’s Festival TV (SPF TV), a dedicated online TV channel which launches on March 12 and runs until March 17.

In a year when our arts, culture, live events and tourism communities have been amongst those hardest hit by the pandemic, St. Patrick’s Festival has channelled more than 85% of its programme funding directly back into these communities all across Ireland.

An incredibly diverse line-up has been curated for this year's edition of the Festival Programme, including artists and performers among the likes of Foil, Arms & Hog and Michael Fry, legendary poet Pat Ingoldsby, treasured writers and broadcasters such as Marian Richardson, Brendan Balfe and Manchán Magan.

The Festival 2021 features some of our best-loved musicians, including New Jackson, Pillow Queens, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Mary Coughlan, Myles O’Reilly, Gemma Dunleavy, Sorca McGrath, Gareth Quinn Redmond, Matthew Nolan, Lisa Hannigan, Adrian Crowley, Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten, Matthew Campbell of The Shamrock Tenors, soprano Mary McCabe, The Breath, Moxie, Kíla and Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn of Ye Vagabonds.

Also taking part are traditional performers and storytellers including Donnacha Dwyer, Sin A Deir Sí, Ceiliúradh ó Chorca Dhuibhne, Shandrum Céilí Band, Caoimhe O Flaherty, Ronan O’Flagherty, Naoise Mac Cathmhaoil, Nuala Hayes, Jerry O’Reilly, Dermot Bolger, Annemarie Ní Churreáin and Nell Ní Chrónín. International guests include Welsh legend Gruff Rhys and Scotland’s Brìdghe Chaimbeul and Aidan O’Rourke.

Chef Tadgh Byrne’s series on the history of Irish food, the Fanzini Brothers and Tumble Circus' children's performance and iconic storyteller Eddie Lenihan are also set to be key highlights, while Bressie and Michael Ryan are hosting mindfulness events with the Happy Pear among their guests.

"This re-imagined programme, Dúisigh Éire! will allow us all come together virtually to celebrate our national festival safely, but also provide us with an opportunity to reflect on what has been a very difficult year," Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said of the 2021 Festival.

"The engaging programme - for the first time ever - will also be broadcast live for almost a full week and includes something for everyone. I am particularly delighted that resources for the adapted festival are fueling arts, culture, live and tourism community activities - some of the worst impacted during these challenging times. Tabharfaidh sé seo deis iontach dúinn teacht le chéile go fíorúil mar phobal chun cultúr agus oidhreacht shaibhir na hÉireann a cheiliúradh.”

Through St. Patrick’s Festival TV, the world is invited to take a front row seat at St. Patrick’s Festival 2021, connecting our family of 80 million through music, theatre, art, performance, poetry, storytelling, traditional arts, virtual tours, food, culture and much more.

Viewers will also be able to playback all the events on the SPF TV Player until March 21.

Dúisigh Éire! Awaken Ireland! Today, the programme for the National St. Patrick’s Festival, 12-17 March 2021, is unveiled. Festival Programme and more information at https://t.co/wgjiZXQ23I ☘️@DeptCulturelRL @Failte_Ireland @DubCityCouncil#SPF2021 #SPFTV #stpatricksfestival pic.twitter.com/5RM0tbrn5L

— St. Patrick's Festival 🇮🇪🐍☘️💚 (@stpatricksfest) February 17, 2021