Stars of sporting achievement played a prominent role in parades across the southeast today, while a strong musical element also kept the hordes entertained.
After a damp 17 March in 2023, this year the weather proved more benign, in most areas at least when it counted, and that in turn attracted hundreds to towns and cities across the region.
This year the Waterford camogie team led the parade in Waterford city, along with personnel and vehicles from local emergency services.
Members of the camogie panels rang the bell on a vintage fire truck to mark the start of the parade and were followed by hundreds of participants and watched by many more along the quays and on The Mall.
Rain earlier in the day while preparations were still in hand was followed by blue skies and even warm sunshine as people gathered on the quays and The Mall to watch on Ireland's national day.
Local sports clubs were well represented in the parade, as well as a sprinkling of dance studios and stage schools.
Courtesy of Waterford Panto Society, members of the "cast" of Barbie made it from the Oscars in time for the parade, accompanied by 'I’m Just Ken’ and other musical numbers from the movie.
Members of the local Indian, Filipino, Ukrainian, Afghan, and Brazilian communities along with other nationality groups came out in force to take part and were given warm ovations.
The parade was preceded by the traditional handing over of the tricolour by ‘Thomas Francis Meagher’ to the Mayor of Waterford, Councillor Joe Conway.
Kilkenny's parade was serenaded with a stirring version of Ireland's Call by none other than Stevie Mulrooney, whose rendition of the rugby anthem drew admiration from across the world when he sang it at the Aviva Stadium earlier this year.
This time around he was singing in his native city and when Ireland's victory in the Six Nations at the weekend was fresh in the memory, and the eight-year-old was as unfazed as ever.
Stevie was just one of many talents on show in Kilkenny, along with many musical groups and stage schools as well as marching bands and sports groups.
Leading it all was the multi-garlanded Richie Power, veteran of many an All-Ireland winning venture with the county's hurlers and many an All-Star ceremony, this time enjoying an armchair ride as grand marshal with no worries about results or injuries.
In Wexford they just about escaped any heavy rain although it was very much a showery aspect mixed in with the sunshine as the morning parade made its way along the town's quays.
Members of the emergency services were well-represented among participants, with Corporal Marlay, a canine corporal, included in a group from the Order of Malta, celebrating 85 years in the town.
St Patrick's Pipe and Drum Band were among those providing musical entertainment, as well as their counterparts from New Ross, while the ever-popular High School Musical was staged in part by some of the dancers, and the Little Princess Ballet Academy drew much praise.
Carlow was also bathed in sunshine for the afternoon and the weather brought out the best in the area, with huge crowds lining the streets for the occasion.
Among those taking part were GAA clubs from the town and its hinterland and other sporting heroes, as well as a few comedians thrown in for good measure - Groucho Marx and Oliver Hardy making guest appearances.
Carlow Rowing Club swapped the river for the road as they showed off some of their crafts for people to see as regatta season nears, adding to the mix of leisure pursuits promoted through the parade.
In Bray, the streets saw modern cars replaced by those of a certain vintage, with the old vehicles drawing many an admiring gasp and comment.
Motorcycles, too, were to the fore in the parade in north Co Wicklow, as well as dancers, musicians and marchers.
