Celebrations for St Patrick's Day
Monday, 17 March 2008 21:19
Parades have taken place at home and around the world to mark St Patrick's Day.
A record 670,000 spectators lined the route of this year's Dublin St Patrick's Day parade.
A further 3,000 performers followed the parade marshal Eamon Coughlan on a 3km journey leaving from Parnell Square passing down O'Connell Street, Dame Street and ending at St Patrick's Cathedral.
The former Irish Olympian was joined on the route by his 85 year-old mother Kathleen.
The theme for this year's event was energy.
The pageant included groups from Nepal, the Philippines, Poland, Lithuania and Nigeria, as well as Irish school and community groups.
President Mary McAleese was among those enjoying the Dublin parade.
Thousands of spectators attended the parade in Waterford city today, with the local Polish Community winning the best walking group prize.
There were also parades in Tramore and Dungarvan.
Parades in Galway, Limerick and Belfast also started at noon while the Cork events started at 1pm.
In the Cork, the St Patrick's Day parade, there were pirates with pompoms, murky monsters and beautiful belles in one of the most colourful and successful parade seen in recent times which was all part of the city's celebration of its marshy origins.
An estimated 30,000 onlookers joined Cork's Lord Mayor Cllr Donal Counihan in watching the hour long parade which included some 45 voluntary, community and multi cultural groups from all over the city.
Among the groups that took part were the Polish School in Cork, the Association of Cameroonians in Ireland, the Army band, troops from the Army's Southern Command, the Irish Navy, Basketball Ireland, the Catholic Girl Guides, members of the Boston Police Pipe Band, the Sinéad Sheppard School of Dance, Spraoi Waterford and the Bangladeshi Association of Cork.
The Six-One News this evening will have reports on many of the St Patrick's Day parades from around the country and around the world.
For more see our St Patrick's Day website.
- One News: Colm Ó Mongáin reports that people came prepared for all weather conditions to the Dublin parade
- Six One News: Colm Ó'Mongáin reports that spectators gathered early to get a good view of the Dublin parade which had an international feel
- Six One News: Colm Ó'Mongáin reports that there was little trouble at the Dublin parade this year with only a few public order arrests
- Six One News: Jennie O'Sullivan reports that this was one of the most colourful and successful parades in Cork in recent times
- Six One News: Cathy Halloran, Mid-West Correspondent, reports that Limerick welcomed the winner of last night's You're a Star final
- Six One News: Theresa Mannion, Regional Reporter, says there was a tribal theme in Galway with a message of embracing difference
- Six One News: Michael Fisher reports the Belfast parade was inclusive and enjoyed by both sides of the community
- Six One News: Michel Fisher reports that boxer John Duddy led the Derry festivities
- Six One News: Eileen Magnier, North-West Correspondent, reports that the tribunals featured in the Sligo parade
- Six One News: Eileen Magnier reports that road safety was highlighted in Letterkenny
- Six One News: Catherine Ní Ghauirim reports on the day at Inishméain
- Six One News: Mary Fanning reports that Newbridge celebrated with its largest ever parade which featured a display of American cars
- Six One News: Mary Fanning reports that the Portlaoise parade featured a zebra and a horse-drawn carriage
- Six One News: Conor Mark Kavanagh, reports that the legendary racehorse Moscow Flyer led the Rathdrum parade
- Six One News: Richard Dowling, North-East Correspondent, reports that Drogheda's parade had participants from all over the world
- Six One News: Richard Dowling reports that one of the highlights of the Slane parade was a display of vintage and valuable cars
- Six One News: Ciaran Mullooly, Midwest Correspondent, reports that tenor John McCormack was at the Athlone parade
- Six One News: Damien Tiernan, South-East Correspondent reports that Waterford had a Harley Davidson parade and an under the sea theme
- Six One News: Paschal Sheehy, Southern Editor, reports that this pre-dawn parade in An Daingean goes back to days of prohibition on public gatherings
- Six One News: Teresa Mannion, Regional Reporter, says this is the first time Irish UN Veterans Association have marched in New York
- Six One News: Kate Egan reports that the New York parade is one of the few in which no vehicles are allowed
- Six One News: Eimear Ni Chonaola reports that the Savannah Georgia parade is the second largest in the world
- Six One News: Robert Shortt reports on celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Irishman who built the White House
- Six One News: Phillip Bromwell reports that 250 people from 30 countries took part in a pageant for the Dublin parade
- Six One News: Eileen Magnier reports that the Manorhamilton parade was visited by Eurovision entrant Dustin
- Six One News: Richard Dowling reports that music was central to the Bailieborough parade
- Six One News: Richard Dowling reports that Elvis made a comeback in the Carrickmacross parade
- Six One News: Damien Tiernan, South-East Correspondent, reports that the theme of the Carlow parade was music, dance, community and the arts
- Six One News: Damine Tiernan reports that Clonmel had four days of St Patrick's celebrations
- Six One News: Teresa Mannion reports that Irish band Itchy Feet brought samba to Kiltimagh
- Six One News: Teresa Mannion reports that bakers were busy in the Foxford parade which also featured three school bands
- Six One News: Teresa Mannion reports the Gort's Brazilian community took part in the town's three day festival
- Six One News: Cathy Halloran reports that the coastguard and RNLI were taking place in the Kilkee parade
- Six One News: Cathy Halloran reports that vintage music and vintage tractors featured in the Kilrush parade
- Six One News: Ciaran Mullooly reports that this was the first parade in Lanesborough sine the 1940s
- Six One News: Ciaran Mullooly reports that Banagher native Johnny McEvoy led the town's parade
- Six One News: Margaret Ward, Foreign Editor, reports that the Beijing parade kicked off a festival of Irish culture in China
- Six One News: Brendan Wright reports that this year's Downpatrick parade had a distinctive European flavour
- Six One News: Paschal Sheehy reports that this year's young scientist winner led the Tralee parade which also featured the Sam Maguire cup
- Six One News: Paschal Sheehy reports that Antarctic explorer Pat Falvey led the Killarney parade
- Six One News: Joe Mag Raollaigh reports on the parade in Ennis
- Six One News: Vivienne Traynor reports that the people of Skerries honoured the legend of St Patrick's stolen goat
- Six One News: Gareth O'Connor, reports that it was a day of smiles and sunshine in Enniscorthy
- Morning Ireland: Washington's Shorecrest High School Marching Band perform ahead of their Dublin parade appearance, while director Dave Johnson discusses their trip to Ireland
- Morning Ireland: Donal Shiels, Chief Executive, St Patrick's Festival, discusses the weekend Skyfest in Cashel and what to expect at today's parade
- Morning Ireland: Cian McCormack reports on how the bogs of Tipperary are reminding Irish people all over the world of home
- Morning Ireland: City Fusion performers involved in today's parade discuss their party-pieces
