Belfast: Thousands took to the streets around Belfast City Hall to take part in St Patrick's celebrations which were organised by the city council for the first time.
Council officials and nationalist representatives said they were pleased the £90,000 (€130,000) carnival parade and free open-air concert had gone well, and looked to larger-scale celebrations in years to come.
The flag of St Patrick flew alongside the Union flag at City Hall, while a few dozen young people in the crowd waved small Tricolours which were on sale from a stall in Donegall Place.
The council had called for no alcohol to be drunk on the streets and for national flags to be left at home.
Council workers instead handed out free dark green T-shirts and small flags bearing either the cross of St Patrick or a multi-coloured shamrock.
The parade left City Hall for Custom House Square less than a mile away headed by a noisy and colourful display of floats, dancers, percussionists and stilt-walkers.
Young children supported a long green snake, while others escorted a large papier mâché St Patrick. The council estimated that the parade included hundreds of community group members from across the city.
Custom House Square, which holds up to 5,000 people, was well filled by the time a concert compered by BBC Northern Ireland's John Daly got under way.
Many danced to music from a host of acts which reflected Irish and Ulster-Scots culture.
The atmosphere was relaxed and fun-loving despite a stiff and bitter wind which blew in from nearby Belfast Lough.
In the university area in the south of the city the police said only a few minor incidents would be reported following the climax of a three-day St Patrick's festival organised by Queen's University and the University of Ulster.
Last year residents were plagued by raucous scenes in the area and by on-street drunkenness.
A PSNI spokesman said this year's St Patrick's Day celebrations had passed off largely peacefully, and only a handful of minor incidents would be reported either to university authorities or to the Public Prosecution Service.
University authorities were encouraged that the operation of a warden service and the provision of a range of sporting, cultural and entertainment events had kept order on the streets.
Nationalist west Belfast was mainly quiet with many residents opting to travel to Croke Park to cheer on local club St Gall's in the All-Ireland club football final.
SDLP deputy lord mayor Pat Convery told The Irish Times he was pleased the day's events had been enjoyed by so many, given the weather.
Looking to the future, he said he believed councillors would support a bigger programme of events next year.