Almost 100,000 people were treated to a spectacular fireworks display as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations at the Skyfest in Dublin city centre last night.
Gardaí estimated that around 85,000 people gathered along the quays of the river Liffey to take in this year's pyrotechnics.
The display got under way shortly after 8 p.m. and around 7,000 fireworks lit up the Dublin skyline during the impressive 20 minute Skyfest.
The fireworks - courtesy of Groupe F - were accompanied by specially commissioned music composed by Máirtín O'Conor.
A 'Big Day Out' street carnival will start at noon today in Merrion Square and will include an inflatable village, face painting and street performers.
The carnival will be followed by a free pop concert featuring Darius with, Picturehouse, Fifth Ave, Wilt, The Woods Band, Luke Thomas, Turn and Mankind.
Monday will see more than 3,500 performers taking part in the traditional festival parade, 80 per cent more than last year.
Pop sensation Samantha Mumba will lead the March 17th parade. "As a hero for young people and an international Irish success story", organisers say Mumba perfectly encapsulates the qualities of a grand marshal.
The theme of this year's parade is 'Voyages and Visions' and heading the spectacle is a Lilliputian Exploration Party presumably returning the visit paid on them by Swift's Gulliver.
In all 13 street theatre groups will stage specially commissioned pageants involving between 100 and 300 performers each.