While St Patrick's Day parades and events at home and abroad could not go ahead because of restrictions imposed to try to contain the coronavirus pandemic, there were nevertheless celebrations aplenty.

Ireland's streets are usually packed with parade-goers, participants, onlookers, locals and tourists alike but today those same streets have been  quiet and mostly empty.

The organisers of today's cancelled festivities tweeted that although were apart today we were still together.

However, just because major public gatherings are out, that doesn't mean people haven't been celebrating.

RTÉ has been encouraging families to hold their own individual parades, with mini events taking place in houses, back gardens and farmyards around the country.

Images of the miniature gatherings can be shared on social media using the hashtag #RTEVirtualParade.

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Other people are planning to decorate their homes or do some co-ordinated singing from their gardens

All efforts designed to help people mark the day while sticking to public health advice and keeping themselves and those around them safe and well.

In his St Patrick's Day message, President Michael D Higgins said the values embodied in the story of the country's patron Saint - solidarity and concern for the well-being of fellow citizens - would play a fundamental role in confronting the challenges posed by the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Tourism Ireland's annual Global Greening project is still going ahead, with hundreds of landmarks and sites in over 50 countries going green including the London Eye, the Sydney Opera House and Madison Square Garden in New York.

Tourism Ireland said that after giving the matter considerable thought, it decided to go ahead with the initiative to mark St Patrick's Day and to bring some positivity and hope to the 70 million people worldwide who claim links to Ireland.

Arabian Desert, Dubai
The London Eye
Burj Al Arab, Dubai

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