Parading the very best that Ireland has to offer

*It’s a typically seasonal forecast for St Patrick’s Day — cold weather with sunny spells and showers — but that won’t stop tens of thousands of people from taking to the streets for celebrations this weekend.

Almost every town and village will have a parade on the national feast day, with all available bands engaged to lead out a host of colourful floats, uniformed personnel, dancing schools, voluntary and sporting organisations, and marching groups, viewed by local dignitaries on platforms.

The bank holiday weekend will kickstart the tourist season in some areas, with The Gathering — aimed at attracting the diaspora to visit this year — proving a popular theme.