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It’s the country’s most internationally renowned celebration, and everybody knows it. All across the world, people with itchy feet are making bucket lists — Brazil for Carnivale, India for Holi, and Ireland for St Patrick’s Day.

Broadcaster and rugby pundit George Hook has agreed to line out as grand marshall for the St Patrick’s Dayparade in his native city.

Up to 3,000 community arts, sports. and music groups from across Cork and beyond will take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade, the centerpiece of what will be a four-day celebration of the county’s cultural diversity.

The winter wonderland in Bishop Lucey Park is brightening up the city, says Ellie O’Byrne

IT HAS been a tough few years for arts organisations around the country with budgets slashed and funding in short supply.

City officials have been asked to introduce designated alcohol-free zones across the city centre for Cork’s St Patrick’s Day festival.

Under the light of the same North Star that guided the Vikings on their expeditions of conquest and terror over a millennium ago, Waterford came out in force on Saturday night to mark the start of 1,100 years since the city’s foundation.

Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Waterford last night for a massive parade celebrating street theatre company Spraoi’s 21st birthday.

THE heart of Dublin was transformed into a sea of green leprechaun hats and tricolours as hundreds of thousands thronged the Irish capital for the famous St Patrick’s Day parade.

The heart of Dublin was transformed into a sea of green leprechaun hats and tricolours as hundreds of thousands thronged the capital for the famous St Patrick’s Day parade.

HANDEL’S Water Music should have been the soundtrack for the spectacular launch yesterday of a college’s annual celebration of music, art and culture.

WATERFORD does not want the “vacuous” title of being a university city alone.

WATERFORD celebrated its hurling victory in style last night, with the annual Spraoi parade in the city becoming something of a victory celebration.

WATERFORD’S Spraoi parade will go ahead as planned next Sunday, albeit a bit later than originally scheduled.

WATERFORD city’s St Patrick’s Day was always going to be a magical occasion.

Luck shone upon Cork on Saturday as a one-day window in the weather opened up to allow the city celebrate the start of its reign as European Capital of Culture.

WATERFORD CITY will host an impressive international programme of music during a three-day festival in July to celebrate the Tall Ships Race 2005.

TRADE union leaders in Waterford city have called on the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to reverse a decision to deport a South African woman involved in the promotion of cultural diversity and racism awareness in the city.

Cork city is set for take-off this weekend with a 3.5 tonne fireworks display to mark its tenure as European Capital of Culture, it was revealed today.

CORK city’s infamous riverbanks will be the central focus of the largest outdoor event ever to be staged here when the city is officially unveiled as the 2005 European Capital of Culture on Saturday night.

SNAKES, sea monsters, Vikings and samba bands provided the sparkle in St Patrick’s Day celebrations around the country yesterday while the saint himself supplied the weather.