A roundup of St Patrick's Day parades and celebrations from around the country.
Although this morning was chilly, thousands lined the streets of Dublin for Saint Patrick's Day parade, which covered a route of approximately two kilometres and had over five thousand participants. It took an hour and a half to pass the reviewing stand at the GPO (General Post Office) where Lord Mayor of Dublin Michael Keating took the salute.
Many familiar faces made guest appearances including Bottler and stars of the RTÉ programme Fortycoats, and marching bands from the United States of America provided plenty of colour.
Controversy has surrounded the Cork parade this year. A £25 entry fee was requested by Cork Junior Chamber of Commerce, but many bands and majorette groups refused to pay it, with the result that there was no participation by majorettes in the Cork parade.
St Finbarr's Pipe Band did not take part in the parade, but continued their decades-old tradition of marching through Cork city centre streets on St Patrick’s Day.
Lord Mayor of Cork John Dennehy reviewed the parade from a platform on South Mall, where he was joined by Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Barry.
Belfast had two parades today, one by the Irish National Foresters in the morning, and a second this afternoon. The route from Casement Park and to the Lower Falls Road in west Belfast was lined with large numbers of spectators.
Religious services took place in Saul County Down, which where St Patrick’s first church was constructed in the fifth century.
An ecumenical service was held at nearby Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, and a wreath laid at the resting place of the island’s patron saint.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 17 March 1984. The reporters are Joe O’Brien, Tom MacSweeney and Cathal Mac Coille.
