St Patrick's festival kicks off

Dublin’s St Patrick’s Festival kicks off today with a fun-filled five-day line up.

Highlights include a funfair on Merrion Square West from March 13-17, the Big Day Out-Street Theatre at Merrion Square South, West, Fitzwilliam Street Lower and Merrion Street on March 16 and the St Patrick’s Day parade.

Gardaí have advised festival-goers to use public transport to get to events but if driving to park cars in designated areas.

“An Garda Síochána have consulted widely with the community with a view to minimising the disruption to the public generally and in particular those residents and business people in the affected areas,” a spokesman said.