Hundreds of thousands of people are attending St Patrick's Day festivities throughout the country today.
Over 100 parades are being held around the country, from Skibbereen in Co Cork to Dunfanaghy in Co Donegal.
Earlier today gardaí warned people attending parades to be conscious of their belongings. In a statement yesterday, they advised parade-goers not to display valuables, to be aware of pickpockets and to keep a close eye on children.
The largest parade was held in Dublin. Led by grand marshal and former Irish soccer international Packie Bonner, organisers said some 650,000 spectators attended the event.
The parade began at Parnell Square at noon, and some 3,000 parade participants made the 2km walk to St Patrick’s Cathedral, via O’Connell Street, Dame Street and Christchurch Place. Eight pageant groups took part with displays on the theme the Extraordinary World.
International marching bands also joined the parade from India, North Carolina, Louisiana, Bulgaria, Austria, France, Spain and the UK as well as Ireland. Road closures around the route were in place since 5am this morning and will operate until 4.30pm. Luas red line servicesopearted only as far as Smithfield from 11am to 2.45pm. Tara Street station will be closed until 4pm, but the Dart will operate services before and after the parade from Pearse and Connolly stations.
The parade was televised by RTÉ and a potential 320 million viewers will see event highlights through CBS and NBC in the US, NDTV in India, Japanese TV and the BBC World Service, which is making a documentary on the parade. The Cork city parade, which has the theme Ship to Shore begans at 1pm on the South Mall and finished on St Patrick’s Street.
Elsewhere, the Spring Belfast city parade left City Hall at noon and finish at Custom House Square.
In Kilkenny city, up to 15,000 onlookers attended the parade while 40,000 people were expected atthe Waterford parade, which has the theme Through the Looking Glass . Limerick city was expecting up to 30,000 spectators for its I Love Limerick parade. The Galway city parade kicked off at 12.30pm on Fairhill Road and ended in Eyre Square.