St. Patrick's Day Clean-up after the Festival

In this episode of What’s the Story, Dublin?, we speak to Sean Larkin from Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Services about the massive operation behind the annual St Patrick’s Festival clean‑up.Sean explains how preparations begin months in advance, the logistics of managing the parade route, and the coordination required across multiple teams and partner agencies.We discuss the challenges of cleaning a city hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors, the pride staff take in their work, and how Dublin is brought back to full operation just hours after the celebrations end.Sean also reflects on his decades‑long career in waste management, the changing face of the city, and the family legacy that shaped his path.
This podcast was recorded in March 2026.Graphics are by John Stone.
Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers – silvermansound.com