Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Green Downtown Budapest with the Local Irish
The Irish-Hungarian Business Circle (IHBC) is teaming up with the Embassy of Ireland to host the St. Patrick’s Festival & Parade 2025 in Szabadság Tér on Sunday, March 16th. This event will be a vibrant celebration of Irish culture that is not to be missed by anyone, Irish or not, in Budapest.
The festival will feature a day filled with Irish music, dance, and culture from 12 to 6 PM. Attendees can expect live performances showcasing a mix of traditional and contemporary Irish music and dance. Additionally, Budapest Gaels GAA will demonstrate Gaelic football and hurling, while there will also be a special appearance by Red Setters and Irish Wolfhounds. Families can enjoy traditional Irish food and drinks, as well as activities like balloon bending and face painting. The parade, starting at 14:00, will be led by St. Patrick and will pass by iconic Budapest landmarks before ending back at Szabadság Tér for more entertainment.
This year’s festival will pay tribute to Henry Spelter, one of the Hungarian refugees welcomed to Ireland after the 1956 revolution. Spelter, a renowned confectioner, worked at Bewley’s café in Dublin and introduced the ‘Mary Cake’, which has since been reintroduced to the Bewley’s menu. The Ambassador will be joined by members of the Spelter family and Hazel Carmichael, the Bewley’s baker who rediscovered the ‘Mary Cake’, in leading the parade.
In addition to the festival, the IHBC will host a Charity Gala on March 22 at the Marriott Hotel in Budapest. The gala will raise funds for two Hungarian charities: Nők a Nőkért Együtt az Erőszak Ellen (NANE), which supports victims of domestic abuse, and Tarnabod és mi (TAMI), which helps orphans and vulnerable youth in Tarnabod.
Damien O’Kane, President of the IHBC, emphasized the importance of the event for both the Irish community in Hungary and the general public to experience the joy of Ireland’s national celebration.
The Irish Ambassador to Hungary highlighted the deep cultural ties between Ireland and Hungary, exemplified by the story of Henry Spelter, and expressed pride in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in his honor.
The St. Patrick’s Festival & Parade promises to be a day filled with festivities, cultural exchange, and charity, bringing together the Irish and Hungarian communities in Budapest for a memorable celebration.
