Co Down: Up to 20,000 people lined Downpatrick's streets for the annual St Patrick's Day parade, the largest in the North, which took "Young at Heart" as this year's theme.
The centrepiece of a 10-day Armagh and Down festival, a record number of floats formed a spectacular cavalcade down the town's historic Irish Street.
With a rallying cry of "Young Hearts, Run Free", this year's theme was introduced, with rock, jazz and pipe music mingling to entertain delighted onlookers.
A truly family-focused event, there was something to keep all ages entertained, with show-stopping samba dancers, colourful love-hearts and larger than life Disney characters.
With floats participating from across Northern Ireland, the biggest cheers were reserved from some the "older" young-at-hearts, with Help the Aged members taking part and a vintage car parade starring Herbie. A Chinese dragon nodded to the town's efforts at multiculturalism, while a series of Viking longboats acknowledged its more violent past.
As well as the local pubs doing brisk business, the nearby St Patrick's Centre, Down Arts Centre, and Down County Museum reported several thousand visitors, who took part in activities including virtual helicopter trips, Irish dancing, face painting, and steam train rides.
Speaking before leading the parade, the SDLP's Down Council chairwoman, Ms Carmel O'Boyle, paid tribute to everyone who took part in the parade and helped organise the festival.
"This year's exciting programme is comprehensively the most diverse and exciting St Patrick's festival in the North," she said.
Earlier that day a communion service at Saul Parish was followed by the annual pilgrimage to Down Cathedral, with the Bishop of Down and Dromore, Dr Harold Miller, and the laying of a wreath at St Patrick's grave.
St Patrick is said to have sailed to Ireland through Strangford Lough, landing at the mouth of the Slaney River around Saul.