MRI: St Patrick's Day Boosts Weekend Footfall

Data from MRI Software shows that regional markets across the UK experienced a surge in footfall, with St. Patrick’s Day 2025 fuelling a +51.9% increase in Northern Ireland—the highest in the UK.

Jenni Matthews, Head of Marketing at MRI Software, said:

Regional cities outside of London saw footfall rise by an average of +4.1% from Saturday to Monday compared to the same time period last year. This surge is likely to have fuelled by local St Patrick's Day celebrations taking place and major sporting events including the Carabou Cup and Six Nations Championship. 

St Patrick's Day itself proved to be a major driver of footfall with retail stores and destinations benefitting from celebrations as visitor activity rose by +8.1% in all UK retail destinations compared to St Patricks Day last year. Market towns within the UK led with a +31.3% uplift whereas Northern Ireland saw a +51.9% surge. The holiday moving to a Monday this year, rather than falling on a Sunday in 2024 where much of the UK practice restricted trading, likely played a key role in this increase. 

For the first time in seven years, thousands of people lined the streets on Monday (17th March 2025) for St. Patrick’s Day parades across towns and cities in Northern Ireland, reinforcing the strong economic and social impact of the celebrations. The combination of events, extended festivities, and major sporting occasions contributed to a strong weekend for UK retail and hospitality sectors; providing optimism for the year ahead.

Source : MRI Software

Image : William Barton / shutterstock / 753265135

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