China:China celebrated Ireland's national day in grand style with the first St Patrick's Day parade in Shanghai and with gala balls in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.
Some 1,000 people turned out for the parade in Shanghai's refurbished historical district Xintiandi, including nearly all of the city's 300-strong Irish community.
The No 4 Middle School of Xuhai District provided the music, and Ceoltas did a concert afterwards. Led by Denise (17) and Orla Calnan (13) from Cork, the parade ambled around the Xintiandi district.
The city's GAA club did did its bit, while young Irish dancers led by Martina Fahey from Dungarvan also took part, and later joined Ceoltas on stage at the end of the parade.
The day ended with a ball in the Shangri-La hotel. Anne-Marie McGowan, her daughter Christine, Tara Breen, and twins Gearóid and Seán Keane from Ceoltas had been in Shanghai all week, playing Irish music and dancing at various events.
Riverdance is hugely popular in China and the dancing went down a storm.
The parade marked the end of Irish Week in the city, which saw the Huaihai Road shopping street decked out in green, white and orange and celebrations of Irish literature, food and drink, and visual arts taking place.
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