London:Trafalgar Square's famous fountains turned green yesterday as tens of thousands of Londoners and visitors thronged the capital for what was billed one of the world's biggest celebrations of Irish culture.
The party mood was evident throughout the West End and across the city on Saturday in advance of yesterday's parade and festival hosted by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone in partnership with Tourism Ireland.
And the threatened bad weather held off for the annual procession led by Mr Livingstone, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue, Irish Ambassador Daithí Ó Ceallaigh and Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty.
As the midday parade made its way from Park Lane near Hyde Park Corner through Piccadilly, Lower Regent Street and Whitehall Place, the festival was already under way in Trafalgar Square, spreading across into Leicester Square and Covent Garden, where Bord Bia's speciality Irish food market offered a variety of gastronomic delights including, for the first time, Seaweed Sausages.
This year's weekend-long celebration entitled "48 hours, 2 Cities, 1 St Patrick's Day" saw London link up with Dublin, with performers from the Wexford-based Buí Bolg Street Theatre Group and the Inishowen Carnival Group from Donegal joining the London parade after already taking part in the Dublin procession on Saturday.
Marching bands on parade included the Metropolitan Police Service Emerald Society Band, and several from Ireland including St Colmcille's Pipe Band, Arklow, St Maur's, Rush, and Bunnoe Brass Band from Cavan.
In Trafalgar Square, Paul Brady, the Sharon Shannon Band and Director were on the music line-up on the main stage alongside Kila and Jack L.
Leicester Square was hosting the Céilí Mór for an afternoon of traditional Irish céilí dancing, while the Crafts Council of Ireland returned with its crafts showcase.
The nearby Prince Charles Theatre staged an afternoon of free Irish films, while acclaimed musician Declan O'Rourke was one of the performers on the acoustic stage in Covent Garden.
In a recorded message, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern offered greetings to the Irish community and their friends in London.
He said: "This celebration provides a special opportunity to showcase the Irish community in London.
"Indeed the festival could not take place without the input of all sectors of the Irish community in London. Comhghairdeas!"
Mr O'Donoghue said the festival was an opportunity to celebrate the enormous contribution Irish people had made over many years to London and to Britain "as well as being a chance to recognise, in turn, the opportunities that this great city has provided to so many Irish emigrants to live, work and achieve success in many different walks of life".
Prime minister Tony Blair also had his greeting broadcast to the crowds. He said the appeal of the festival was "it gives Londoners and visitors alike a welcome chance to celebrate the huge contribution of the Irish to London's history, culture and life and the continuing close links between the city and the island of Ireland".