Crowds took to the streets in cities and towns including Dublin, Belfast and Athy in Co Kildare as pageants unfolded with Irish dancers and leprechaun costumes in evidence.
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By PA
Ireland made sure it was not left out of an event that is now truly global as revellers marked the feast day of the island’s patron saint St Patrick in the usual way.
Crowds took to the streets in cities and towns including Dublin, Belfast and Athy in Co Kildare as pageants unfolded with Irish dancers and leprechaun costumes in evidence.
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Marching bands from North America and Austria joined the festivities in the Irish capital while many raised a glass in celebration.
There were also events in Galway, Limerick, Cork, Belfast and Derry.
People attending the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)
(Liam McBurney/PA)
(Liam McBurney/PA)
Lord Mayor of Belfast Micky Murray taking part in festivities (Liam McBurney/PA)
In Dublin, members of the Defence Forces and An Garda Siochana played their part in festivities while in Athy, Irish dancers led the parade.
Members of the Garda Mounted Support Unit in Dublin (Evan Treacy/PA)
The Lord Mayor’s Coach in Dublin (Evan Treacy/PA)
Soldiers from the Defence Forces take part in Dublin’s parade (Evan Treacy/PA)
A broken-down Mini is pushed during the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Athy (Niall Carson/PA)
Colourful performers take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Athy (Niall Carson/PA)
In London, the Princess of Wales visited the Irish Guards, bought a round of drinks, and admired the regimental mascot, an Irish wolfhound.
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Dressed in green, Kate wore a shamrock as she met service personnel.
Kate with Barry Loughlin, Georgia Willis and four-year-old Regan Loughlin, as she joins guardsmen and their families in the junior ranks dining hall (Eddie Mulholland/Daily Telegraph/PA)
Kate meets regimental mascot Turlough Mor and his handler, Drummer Joseph Aldridge (Eddie Mulholland/Daily Telegraph/PA)
Kate during her visit to the Irish Guards (Eddie Mulholland/Daily Telegraph/PA)
