There were no Angela's Ashes floats nor did it rain for the second consecutive year in Limerick as the city celebrated the national day with 6,000 participants.
St Patrick, however, did make an appearance on the float of the Immaculate Heart House of Prayer, but the overall winning float went to Na Piarsaigh, the Irish Peace Institute, which released two doves. It also won the best display of Irish culture.
The parade commander was Cmmt Vincent McCarthy, 3rd Air Defence Battery. A colour party of officers from the 14th Infantry Battalion led the parade followed by a pennant party and the 3rd Military Police FCA Pipe Band in its first public appearance since its formation.
The only FCA band in the Army, it was it was joined by seven other marching bands during the 90-minute spectacle, reviewed by the Mayor, Mr Jack Bourke. Michael McNamara, formerly a DJ with 2 FM and now a Lyric FM presenter, was MC of the parade for the 23rd time.
A cake was presented to Mr Fergus Quinlivan of Limerick Corporation, who has organised the city's civic week celebrations for the past 21 years.
Before the parade left from Sarsfield Barracks, the traditional St Patrick's Day Mass was said in the garrison chapel by the chaplain, Father Liam Walsh.
The Church of Ireland bishop, Dr Edward Darling, and the Catholic bishop, Dr Donal Murray, attended.
Visiting groups on parade included the Cambridge Police Honor Guard who marched behind the St Mary's Fife and Drum Band, and members of the Massachusetts state police who marched with the gardai behind the Corpus Christi Pipes and Drums.
The parade passed off without incident except for the fire-eater who slipped momentarily in the middle of his act and gamely continued despite suspicions that he had swallowed a mouthful of paraffin. Overhead, a sister aircraft of the first Aer Lingus aircraft flew. The 64-year-old DH Dragon, a twin-engined passenger biplane and a veteran of the second World War, was flown by Capt Henry Howard.
Other float winners were Hegarty Metal Recycling which won in the commercial category as it demonstrated how metal is reduced to landfill, and the Limerick Samaritans, which is in its 25th year. It won in the civic/ community category, and the prize for the most entertaining float went to Samhlu, a community theatre group from Foynes.
A group of US travel agents, who were visiting the State on the final year of a 10-year promotional programme, won the best new entry prize with their float, which had a Disney/Warner theme.
More bands will be visiting Limerick this weekend for the drill and dance team competition and recital competition later today. Tomorrow's marching band parade at 11 a.m. along the city's O'Connell Street will surpass yesterday's parade for music when 35 bands, including 14 from the US and one from Japan, participate.