Public transport services across Dublin and the wider country will operate on modified schedules for St Patrick's Day on Tuesday 17 March 2026, with several timetable changes and temporary service disruptions expected due to parades and large crowds.
Transport operators are urging passengers to check services in advance and allow additional travel time, particularly in the capital where the annual parade is expected to attract large numbers of spectators.
Dublin Bus has confirmed that a Sunday timetable will operate across all routes on St Patrick’s Day. The company’s Nitelink services will run across the long weekend on Friday 13 March, Saturday 14 March and Tuesday 17 March, helping late-night revellers get home after celebrations.
Meanwhile, Dublin’s network of 24-hour bus routes will continue to run seven days a week across fifteen routes, operating as normal throughout the bank holiday period.
Rail services in the capital will also see some changes. According to Iarnród Éireann, regular InterCity services will operate on all routes, while DART and commuter rail services will run to a Sunday timetable, with additional trains expected to operate to help manage demand.
However, passengers travelling by train into the city centre should note that Tara Street railway station will be closed until 4pm on St Patrick’s Day as part of crowd management arrangements coordinated with An Garda Síochána for the parade. During that time, commuters are advised to use nearby stations such as Connolly Station or Pearse Station instead.
Tram services on Luas will also run on a Sunday timetable, though significant partial closures will affect both lines in the city centre throughout the day.
On the Red Line, trams will not run between Smithfield and Connolly between 10am and 3pm. During that time, services will operate only between Tallaght or Saggart and Smithfield.
The Green Line will see a longer disruption. Trams will not operate between St Stephen’s Green and Dominick from 7am until 6pm, with services instead running in two separate sections: Broombridge to Dominick, and St Stephen’s Green to Brides Glen. Transport officials have noted that these arrangements remain subject to confirmation or short-notice changes depending on crowd management needs.
On top of public transport disruptions, most of Dublin's city-centre routes will be closed down to allow for the parade to happen. You can find the full list of road closures here.
Outside the capital, Bus Éireann has confirmed that its services will operate to Sunday timetables nationwide on 17 March.
However, passengers in towns and cities across the country should also expect temporary diversions. Bus Éireann said many services — including town and city routes as well as PSO commuter and rural routes — may be diverted due to local St Patrick’s Day parades taking place around the country.
With celebrations set to take place nationwide, transport providers are encouraging passengers to check the latest travel information through official apps and websites before setting out, particularly as service adjustments may change closer to the day.
Regular timetables are expected to resume once the St Patrick’s Day festivities conclude.
