Colourful St Patrick’s parades ready to launch

Dublin has gone green for Patrick’s Day, with festivities culminating in a street party tomorrow, expected to attract more than 500,000 spectators. 

The fun began at the weekend with buildings and landmarks turning green for the occasion, including the GPO, the Four Courts, Guinness Storehouse and even the Spire.

The main event occurs tomorrow, of course, with Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day parade, brought to life by Ireland’s leading pageant companies. Bands from Ireland, the US, and Germany will perform.

The parade begins on Parnell Square and continues to O’Connell St, over the bridge and onto Westmoreland St.After that, it winds down Dame St and Lord Edward St, passing Christchurch Cathedral, and finishing at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Limerick will host the largest parade outside Dublin, with more than 70,000 spectators expected. A riot of colour led by aerial dance and contemporary contemporary circus acts will get underway from Punch’s Cross at 12pm, before proceeding down O’Connell Avenue and finishing at the bottom of O’Connell St.

In Galway, the parade starts at 11.30am at Eyre Square. Waterford’s kicks off at 1pm, following the tradition route down the Quays.

Kilkenny’s parade leaves St John’s Church at 1pm.

Read more of today’s news here