16.01.13
- Volunteers
Volunteer with us!
We’re looking for volunteers to help with the organisation of the 2013 Festival! If you’re reliable, enthusiastic and want to be part of a world-renowned celebration then you can apply by filling out our volunteer form. Below is Natalie’s volunteer story to give you an idea of what volunteering can involve:
I arrived in Dublin in late 2010, so St. Patrick’s Day 2011 was my first chance to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday on Irish soil. I decided the only way to celebrate would be to volunteer for its national festival. I volunteered on the big day itself (March 17th), and assisted with hospitality at the VIP breakfast and lunch at Marks and Spencer on Grafton Street. On arrival at M&S at 8am, I was presented with a rather lovely festival t-shirt and I was surrounded by volunteers from all over the world – America, Australia and China, as well as the lovely St. Pat’s Festival team.
For the next couple of hours, I mostly spent my time hooking safety pins onto shamrocks and standing by a lift or an escalator directing VIPs to the restaurant, which doesn’t sound particularly exciting. However, the VIPs included Katie Taylor, who I had a rather nice chat with, despite not having a clue who she was at the time. I know somewhat differently now, and I would be significantly more star struck if I met her again! I was then asked to walk a group of VIPs from M&S up to their grandstand seating at the GPO. My group included TV Presenter Ryan Turbridy and boxer Bernard Dunne. I couldn’t believe the people I was getting to meet and be responsible for, on one of my first events volunteering for the Festival.
I walked the group up the parade route and I’ll never forget it.The streets were lined with thousands of people eagerly anticipating the start of the parade, but with the Parade not yet having started, all eyes were on us! It really was an exhilarating experience. The colour, the noise, the excitement, the anticipation! With my VIPs safely seated in their grandstand, I watched some of the Parade from the vantage point of the GPO, literally within feet of the President, who I saw arrive – all very exciting. I was thoroughly impressed by the theatrical Parade and the energy and vibrancy of the performers.
After the parade, it was back to M&S to stand by escalators again, but I didn’t mind. The experience I had walking up the Parade route, watching the Parade and encountering so many celebs in such a short space of time made it more than worth it. To top it all we were all finished up in M&S by 3pm and we were then able to go off and celebrate the rest of our Paddy’s Day! Two years later, I’m now working for the Festival; I was Hospitality Assistant for the Festival in 2012 and I’m the People’s Parade Coordinator for the 2013 Festival. The team here is truly dedicated to putting on a fantastic Festival, and 2013 promises to be the biggest and best yet. I would highly recommend volunteering to anyone; it’s a great experience, you meet some wonderful people and you’re helping to make a true national treasure a success, (oh and you’d have the chance to celebrate at the Festival closing night party!!!!). See you in March!
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