St. Patricks Day in Dublin – and the streets were packed with green.

No matter where you went in the city, you were sure to find a party. Whether it was Temple Bar, where hordes of decked-out revellers wandered the streets and packed into pubs, or O'Connell Street, which saw parade fanatics climbing statues and lampposts to get a view of the event, the whole town was buzzing with St. Patrick’s Day spirit. The Festival Quarter at Collin Barracks was no exception.

It was a nice night after an even more beautiful day, and the main square was packed. There was dancing in front of the bandstand, people sitting under the string of lights at the picnic tables, eating the crepes from nearby food trucks.

Laughter and music flowed, from the DJ sets in the main square, to Jiggy on the main stage, who played trad music that got everyone on their feet. It was in Spiegeltent Mór, however, that housed the highlight of the night — Mo Cultivation and the X Collective.

The circular venue was designed to look like a circus tent, round wooden floors in intricate patterns, vaulted ceiling sloping upwards, a trapeze swing dangling from the top. Walking in, you got transported to another place and time, unsure of what was coming next. As soon as the doors opened, people began to fill in the space, pushing in to get as close to the action as possible.

The night kicked off with the X Collective, a group of independent artists who came together to create. It was a dynamic bill of artists, who infused all their sets with an element of jazz-rap-flavoured trumpet solos, smooth verses and soulful vocals. Though they all brought their own sounds to the table, each performer held onto a common thread that made the lineup feel cohesive, but still varied and interesting.

X Collective at Mo Cultivation St. Patricks Festival. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

Then, onto the next phase: a stellar lineup of hip hop artists and rappers, curated by Mo Cultivation. Kicking it off was 1000 Beasts, DeCarteret and KhakiKid, a trio that — despite never having performed together before — brought an insane amount of energy. Playing KhakiKid classics, including the likes of 'Shlumped Up,' the singer climbed into the audience, performing alongside fellow musician Tadgh to electrify the crowd. In this setting, teamed up with an incredible band, his already danceable tracks were amplified to a new status.

1000 Beasts, DeCarteret and KhakiKid at Mo Cultivation St. Patricks Festival. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

Following was a run of performers, each one just as hyped up as the last. Whether it was rap duo Gliders, whose grime-like sound filled every corner of the tent, or Nealo, whose groovy, mellow set had the crowd screaming the lyrics, the vibes were electric throughout.

Gliders at Mo Cultivation St. Patricks Festival. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

It was Galway-rapper Celaviedmai that blew the roof off. From the start, it was clear that this was someone who needed to perform. Using the heavy drums to keep up a fast paced tempo, dancing and rapping alongside fellow musicians onstage, she sealed the night with an incredible show.

Celaviedmai at Mo Cultivation St. Patricks Festival. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

Overall, night two of the St. Patricks Festival brought laughter, food and drinks to the Collins Barracks. But even more, it brought the groove, finishing a day of festivities with a night of awe-inspiring live music.