Sunshine smiles on snakes, sea monsters and samba bands
One hundred years after the day was officially declared a public holiday, the festival was fresher, the spectacle more sensational and the crowds more exuberant than ever.
Thousands of spectators sporting shades and ice-cream cones lined the streets of Cork yesterday in the country's second largest parade.
They cheered on spear-carrying armoured guards, La Bamba ladies in grass skirts and even Leprechauns against War.
All hailed St Patrick for the glorious sunshine and the carnival atmosphere that pervaded the city.
Eighteen members of Team Ireland who will participate in this summer's Special Olympics were the Grand Marshals for the parade.
Regional Director of the Special Olympics in Munster, Ger Deegan, said the group were very proud to be given the honour.
Clowns, James Dean wannabe bikers and a barrage of marching bands all entertained the crowds for over an hour. One float even featured a grim garda dispensing penalty points to a rather sheepish-looking driver.
Not to be outdone, however, was the world's smallest parade in Dripsey, Co Cork.
Now in its fourth year, the 25-metre parade from the Weigh Inn to the Lee Valley Inn was attended by a crowd of more than 2,000.
The sunshine was also enjoyed by more than 30,000 people who flocked to the quays in Waterford where they were treated to an hour-long visual feast, described by organisers as "the biggest and best yet".
A combined effort by Waterford City Council and the award-winning Spraoi street theatre company opened and dominated the display section of the parade with the largest float ever seen in the city.
Puca, a fire-spouting but friendly 140-foot green, white and gold sea monster, lunged ashore, accompanied by a band of human characters in maritime attire, providing a colourful and raucous experience for the thousands of spectators enjoying the sunshine.
Smaller parades and events took place in towns and villages around Co Waterford, including Dungarvan and the seaside resort of Tramore.
In Galway, 30,000 people stood in silence as a protest against the war in Iraq during the St Patrick's Day parade.
At one of the biggest parades ever held in the city, more than 2,000 performers entertained the crowds as it took two hours to pass the viewing platform in Eyre Square.
In glorious sunshine, dozens of Macnas performers and dancers from the city made the event one of the most colourful in the west. Vikings were once again rampaging on the streets, while a massive effigy of St Patrick battling dozens of inflatable 20-foot long snakes was the centrepiece of the city's Centenary parade.
The Samboeire Samba Band from Leitrim was one of the many musical groups to take part in the Castlebar, Co Mayo, parade.
Murphy's Ark, a mobile farm which is touring schools in Connacht, was another highlight of the celebrations where former Olympic boxing referee, Sean Horkan was the Chief Marshall.
On Clare Island, six miles off the Mayo Coast, most of the population of 156 took part in a parade which set out from the community centre car park to the local church and back.
In Killarney, Co Kerry, an especially warm welcome was given to a group of around 30 Americans who took part in the St Patrick's Day parade.
Waving mini tricolours and the Stars and Stripes, they were among 40 groups who were watched by thousands of people lining the streets in bright sunshine.
At the head of the parade in a horse and carriage were Mayor of Killarney Sheila Casey, who flew from Chicago earlier in the morning and Cork/Kerry Tourism chief executive Maura Moynihan.
Large crowds also turned out in Tralee for the parade which had an international theme, with a colourful display of flags from 80 nations.
As usual, the Slieve Mish bar, Tralee, had one of the most attractive entries, with John B Keane's play, The Field, the subject matter.
In keeping with tradition, the Dingle Fife and Drum Band marched through the town at 6am, claiming to be one of the first groups in the country to parade on the national feast day.
The band, followed by up to 100 people, then attended Mass at 6.45am, and the shamrock was blessed by Dingle parish priest, Monsignor Pádraig Ó Fiannachta.
In spite of worries about insurance cover, the Listowel parade went ahead as planned and there were also parades in several other towns and villages in Kerry.
It was a first for Limerick yesterday as the parade was professionally choreographed by an artistic director for a highly polished finish.
Well-known Limerick actor Myles Breen was the man responsible for the job and also for devising the theme for the parade; 'I'm from Limerick, past, present and future'.
"We removed the competitive element from this year's parade and there were no prizes for best float because we wanted to present the parade as a unified event with each entrant or float complementing all the others," Mr Breen said.
Yesterday's parade was described by the city's mayor John Cronin as the most colourful in years.
"I am very proud of Limerick today and this was definitely the most colourful St Patrick's Day Parade we've had in years," Mr Cronin said.
"I was delighted to see the huge numbers of people who came out and enjoyed the sunshine and the magnificent festivities," he added.
The traditional festivities received an extra boost this year as they became part of the city's inaugural St Patrick's Spring Fest 2003.
So while the shamrock might be drowned for another year, Limerick, it seems, is the place to go for those in need of some cultural recovery.
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