Music and colour filled the streets of Bray today, as did the large crowds who turned out to catch a glimpse of the St Patrick's Day parade.
There was a throw-back to TV in the 80s, with the Knight Rider car and A-team van, taking to the roads of Wicklow.
The next generation of players from the local Ardmore Rovers were also out in force, as were members of Bray Hockey Club.
Representatives of the Lakers Social and Recreation club, which supports adults and children with intellectual disabilities, also took part in the parade.
While the Non-Resident Nepali Association were among the many cultures celebrated on the day.
The Parade Grand Marshall was broadcaster Declan Meehan, the Bray Person of the Year.
The theme for this year's Longford parade was 'Ar Ais Arís', and the bad weather certainly did not dampen the community spirit.
The Grand Marshals for this year's parade were Evelyn and Enda Neary of local charity Cian's Kennels.
Representatives from the Midlands Polish Community showed their solidarity with Ukraine, while the Longford Athletics Club put their talent on display for the crowd.
A new viewing area for wheelchair users was set up on Main Street.
In Rhode Co Offaly, Mary Joe Kilmurray, who returned home to a hero's welcome after beating Covid-19 in 2020, was this year's Grand Marshal.
Children from local schools and clubs donned their green and gold in this year's parade.
New parade route in Drogheda
In Drogheda, Ireland's largest town, thousands turned out for the St Patrick's Day parade.
The theme of this year's parade was the spirit of Drogheda with the town keen to reflect all that is good in the area.
With over 20 floats, a new route brought the parade across West Street for the first time in decades.
Like in many parades, there was a special moment for the people of Ukraine with a number of Ukrainians walking in the parade carrying banners saying 'Stop the war'.
The Grand Marshall of the parade was local woman Isobel San Roma.
Well known throughout Drogheda for her community involvement, this was her 33rd year involved with the parade.
She has also worked tirelessly for the children and families impacted by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
The tractors are back! Oldcastle Co Meath - one of the first parades in the Royal county today @rtenews #stpatricksday ☘️ pic.twitter.com/J2XSM0yMXb
— Sinéad Hussey (@SineadHus) March 17, 2022
Elsewhere, in Oldcastle Co Meath, the spring sunshine brought hundreds of people out onto the streets for the first parade of the day in the royal county.
Local children from the Smith Boylan School of Irish dancing provided the entertainment. For many, this was their first time performing in a parade.
Party atmosphere in full swing in Newbridge
Young and old made the effort to deck themselves out in their best St Patrick's Day colours in Clonaslee, Co Laois.
Leading the parade was RTÉ Newscaster Eileen Dunne, who has strong connections to the area through her late father Mick.
There were prizes for the best floats, including the best dressed dog.
Meanwhile, the party atmosphere was in full swing in Newbridge, with a big turnout for the St Patrick's Day celebrations in the Co Kildare town.
Those taking part included the Nio Taekwon-Do club, members of the Defence Forces and the Kildare Ploughing Association, with some of its vehicles painted with the Ukrainian colours
This year's the theme was 'happiness'.
Thousands line the streets of Wexford Town
The weather largely played its part in ensuring packed streets and a festive atmosphere for events across the south-east today, starting in the morning with a parade in Wexford and finishing up with music and street entertainment in many towns and villages.
It was an early start in Wexford Town but that did not deter thousands from lining the streets from the traditional starting point at the Trinity Street/Parnell Street junction and along the quays for the event.
A colour party from the Defence Forces led the way, with five different marching bands providing music of all varieties as the morning went on.
Scout and guide troops, gymnasts, hurling, football and rugby clubs, and members of the emergency services all took part, with some light-hearted participants - such as "Daniel O'Donnell" - prompting laughs.
The Light Opera Society also got in on the act, promoting their forthcoming production of Pirates of Penzane in full Gilbert and Sullivan-inspired regalia.
Blue skies welcome parade-goers in Kilkenny
The sun was shining and the skies were blue in Kilkenny as local people and visitors thronged the streets and welcomed the parade back to the city centre.
The parade in the Marble City formed the centrepiece of a week-long celebration of Seachtain na Gaeilge.
Meanwhile, Carlow town did not host a parade this year but instead held Spraoi Faoin Spéir - an afternoon of music, magic and other street-based entertainment which drew families from far and wide and also acted as a pre-cursor to a "céilí mór" at Tinryland GAA Club.
Additional reporting Sharon Lynch, Fergal O'Brien, Conor Kane, Sineád Hussey
