Across Ireland tomorrow, communities will come together to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. From large city parades to small village gatherings, thousands of volunteers will dedicate their time and energy to organising events that bring communities together and celebrate Irish culture.
These celebrations are a cherished part of Irish life. But behind the colour, music and spectacle lies something that is rarely discussed:
Public events are among the most complex operational environments in any community, and many of them are organised by volunteers.
One Event, Dozens of Responsibilities
A St Patrick’s Day parade might appear simple on the surface, floats, marching bands, performers and spectators lining the streets. In reality, organising even a small parade requires coordinating a wide range of operational and safety considerations, including:
- Road closures and traffic management
- Crowd safety planning
- Public liability insurance
- Coordination with An Garda Síochána
- Emergency access routes
- First aid and medical provision
- Temporary infrastructure and staging
- Accessibility and inclusion measures
- Waste management and environmental considerations
- Communications and public information
Each of these areas can involve different regulations, agencies and safety requirements. For volunteer committees, navigating these requirements can be challenging, particularly when guidance is fragmented across multiple organisations.
Volunteers Carrying a National Tradition
Across the country, St Patrick’s Day parades are organised by:
- Community groups
- Tidy Towns committees
- Sports clubs
- Cultural organisations
- Local volunteers
These organisers are not only delivering events, they are managing complex temporary public environments involving thousands of attendees. Their work requires dedication, coordination and responsibility, yet many organisers must learn these systems from scratch each year.
Events Are One of the Most Complex Temporary Work Environments
Public events combine multiple industries and operational systems at the same time in a single location. Unlike most sectors, events often involve:
- Temporary infrastructure built within tight timelines
- Large crowds and complex movement patterns
- Multiple contractors and service providers
- Coordination with emergency services and local authorities
- Rapid build and dismantle schedules
All of this takes place in environments that exist for only a short period of time. In other industries, such as construction or aviation, activities of this complexity are supported by structured regulatory systems and professional oversight. Community event organisers simply don’t have access to the same level of support.
Ireland Needs a Better System for Event Planning and Permitting
Ireland’s community events are one of the country’s greatest strengths. They support tourism, culture, local economies and community wellbeing. But the people organising them, often volunteers, are operating within a system that remains fragmented and inconsistent. Improving national event planning and permitting systems would help:
- Reduce complexity for organisers
- Improve safety and coordination
- Provide clearer guidance to volunteer committees
- Strengthen collaboration between organisers and authorities
- Ensure consistent standards across all local authorities
This is not about adding more regulation. It is about making existing requirements clearer, more coordinated and easier to navigate.
A Thank You to Ireland’s Volunteer Event Organisers
As communities gather tomorrow to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, we want to recognise the extraordinary work happening behind the scenes. To every volunteer organising a parade, festival or community celebration across the country – Thank you!!
Your work brings communities together and keeps one of Ireland’s most important traditions alive. But it is also time to recognise something important – Volunteer organisers should not have to navigate one of the most complex operational environments in the country without better national support systems.
From everyone at the Events Industry Association of Ireland, we wish you a safe, and successful St Patrick’s Day celebration.