It’s the way we tell them - through the lens of film, literature, poetry, performance and art.

The STORIES strand of St. Patrick’s Festival 2021 sees Ireland through the lens of film, literature, poetry, performance and art. A prolific storyteller, poet and playwright, Celebrating Pat Ingoldsby offers a unique opportunity for everyone to discover or delve into Pat’s poetry. Three pieces, written in 2020 and reflecting on the ‘unprecedented times’ we have both collectively and individually experienced, have been passed to three of Dublin’s finest illustrators and animators, Ashwin Chacko, Grace Enemaku and Pati Matsushita, and each will respond to Pat’s work through a series of rich and engaging animations in their own unique style.

For film lovers CúChulainn Awakes by Eamon Carr features Garrett Lombard as CúChulainn, Denis Conway as the visionary Seer and Olwen Fouéré as the Chorus, a triumvirate of exciting Irish talent breathe fresh life into the legendary Irish icon. While in Sea Tamagotchi, Manchán Magan roamed the Atlantic coastline of Ireland gathering old sea words and maritime terms from fishermen and folklorists before creating a number of short films featuring these evocative words he collected.

Mary-Land by Rachel Burke is a short contemporary dance film shot during the summer of 2020 in and around Maryland, Dublin 8 and Glasnevin and explores the boundaries of the female experience in Irish society and the interaction between our collective past and our present reality; EX by Eamonn Doyle, Niall Sweeney, David Donohoe and Kevin Barry sees the four interdisciplinary and acclaimed Irish artists create a new body of collaborative work; and The Saint Patrick Show, inspired by stories and legends from Saint Patrick’s time right up to modern day Irish poetry and featuring 2021 Grammy nominated Fontaines DC frontman, Grian Chatten, Matthew Campbell from the Shamrock Tenors, soprano Mary McCabe, and other Irish artists, will transport you via music, dance and iconic imagery on a journey through the ages.

We’re all in need of some laughs so St. Patrick’s Festival 2021 features some of Ireland’s stand out comedians. One of the country’s most loved sketch comedy groups, Foil Arms and Hog who are known for their hilarious observational and occasionally topical comedy join St. Patrick’s Festival for some Paddy’s Day sketches. RTÉHistory Show presenter Myles Dungan presents The Dodgy History of Ireland, a light-hearted animated series on famous Irish people and events in history – including St. Patrick, St. Brigid, the pirate Queen Grace O’Malley and gambler Buck Whaley – with illustrations by a variety of Irish artists, both known and new.