Every year, the capital hosts these days from March 11 to 20 to honour the most influential Irish figure in the history of La Palma, and especially of Santa Cruz de La Palma: Dionisio O’Daly.
These are days of culture, memory and street life, with guided tours, theatre, children’s activities and music, remembering the Irish footprint that changed the city forever.
St Patrick’s Festival Programme 2026
Wednesday, March 11
6:30 pm
Performance by the Municipal Dance School Maika Lerín.
Location: Plaza de España, Town Hall Atrium, Santa Cruz de La Palma.
7:00 pm
Reading of the ruling on the perpetual councillors and the official record establishing the first democratic town council in Spain, with participation by the Municipal Dance School Maika Lerín.
Location: Plaza de España, Town Hall Atrium, Santa Cruz de La Palma.
Thursday, March 12
7:00 pm
Guided tour “The Irish in Santa Cruz de La Palma: trade, politics and religion”, led by Víctor H. Correa, Cultural Heritage Department of the Town Council.
Location: starting point, Marina La Palma.
Friday, March 13
7:00 pm
Talk and discussion “Catalogue of Irish names in La Palma”, dedicated to the Kabanas family.
Location: Municipal Library, Real Sociedad Cosmológica.
Saturday, March 14
10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Little St Patrick, with face painting, colouring workshops and making your own St Patrick’s hat.
Location: Alameda pharmacy area, Calle Anselmo Pérez de Brito 94.
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Street theatre “Our history on stage”. Six short scenes performed in emblematic locations, recreating moments and figures from island history with local actors.
Location: various landmark spaces in Santa Cruz de La Palma.
8:00 pm
Music session with Pinchadiscos del Pantano.
Location: Plaza de Santo Domingo.
Sunday, March 15
11:00 am
Family guided tour “The Irish in the island of La Palma”, led by the company Tal Cual Troupe.
Location: meeting point at the Town Hall Atrium.
12:00 pm
Parade and street procession marking the 230th anniversary of the death of Dionisio O’Daly, a key figure, together with Anselmo Pérez de Brito, behind Spain’s first democratic town council.
Location: from Casa Principal de Salazar to the Parish of San Francisco de Asís.
1:00 pm
Offering by the Asociación Amigos de Irlanda La Palma, accompanied by the Irish Ambassador to Spain and local authorities.
Location: Parish of San Francisco de Asís.
Tuesday, March 17
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Irish Legends Workshop, Leprechauns, arranged for school groups.
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art, Calle Virgen de la Luz 13.
Friday, March 20
8:30 pm
Concert by Luar Na Lubre, one of Europe’s most important folk bands, widely known in Latin America, celebrating their 40th anniversary in La Palma.
Location: Teatro Circo de Marte.
Organised by: Department of Culture, Cabildo de La Palma, AEPA, CajaCanarias Foundation.
Dionisio O’Daly, the Irishman who helped change La Palma
Dionisio O’Daly was from County Cork, Ireland, and was born around 1737, although the exact date is unknown. In the second half of the 18th century he settled in La Palma and worked in trade, connecting the island with major European cities such as London, Antwerp and Hamburg.
The reforms promoted by King Charles III allowed popular representatives to take part alongside the perpetual councillors. In that context, O’Daly was elected síndico personero of the Cabildo of La Palma, the predecessor of today’s Town Council of Santa Cruz de La Palma. One year earlier, Anselmo Pérez de Brito had been appointed diputado del común, triggering a fierce fight against corruption within the system.
O’Daly’s election was questioned because he was a foreigner. Rather than giving up, he defended his right and a legal process began that became historically significant. Pérez de Brito acted as his lawyer and took the case to the Royal and Supreme Council of Castile, denouncing the abuses of the councillors.
The councillors tried to arrest O’Daly. He avoided detention by leaving the island while the case continued. The outcome was decisive. The Council ordered the elimination of the perpetual councillors’ government from January 1, 1773. This made La Palma a pioneer in Spain, creating the first democratically elected town council.
After being cleared, O’Daly returned to La Palma and held significant positions, including senior councillor of the Town Council of Santa Cruz de La Palma. He was also a founding member of the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País. He died in the capital on March 16, 1796, leaving a legacy linked to justice, citizen participation and the idea of democracy.