A Day Out worth waiting for - St Patrick's Day 2001

St Patrick himself would have been proud of this year's festival - even though it is in the wrong month

St Patrick himself would have been proud of this year's festival - even though it is in the wrong month. Never before has the day been celebrated with as much colour, enthusiasm, or entertainment. And believe it or not, the weather wasn't bad either.

Thousands of people brought their children along for the 'Big Day Out' and it proved to be just that. Face-painting, clowns, and candy-floss gave only a taste for what was to come.

Laughing children with orange, green and blue-painted faces bounded from the Crazy Cottage to the Soft Mountain in the inflatable village, while others preferred the make-and-do area and made their own tiger masks and costumes.

From Westmoreland Street, up Dame Street and into Temple Bar, an explosion of colour lit up a cloudy day for children and adults alike.

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A rainbow-coloured dragon overlooked Dame Street which also hosted mock Sumo-Wrestling, a giant pink pig, mime-artists and futuristic, blue-tongued stilt-walkers.

Children competed with each other in the bungee-run, while musical act 'Relish' offered to share their College Green stage with three stilt-walking and singing Elvis'.

Ex-Grafton Street buskers 'No Angels DC', also graced the stage, while Naimee Coleman showered glamour on the occasion.

Earlier in the day former Brazilian international soccer star Jairzinho kicked off the action on Westmoreland Street with a demonstration of the skill that saw him score seven goals in six world cup matches.

Here to promote his Samba Soccer School which will tour Ireland this summer, Jairzinho demonstrated his skill to an awestruck crowd and even managed a few games of keep-me-up with some delighted children.

Jairzinho and a number of other Brazilian coaches will visit every county in the country from July 2nd to 30th and in conjunction with St Vincent De Paul will provide places for 250 underprivileged children between the ages of 6 and 16 in the soccer camps.

With the success of the 'Big Day Out' it's hard to believe the organisers of this May St Patrick's Festival could better it - but they're going to give it a try.

Tonight the Sky Fest will light up the night over the Liffey - a fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m. at the Customs House Quay. Viewing is restricted to the south quay only.