More than 1,500 people have climbed a mountain in Co Antrim - which has a close association with St Patrick - to mark the national holiday.
Slemish Mountain near Ballymena is reputed to be where St Patrick herded sheep for six years after being snatched from Britain by a party of Irish raiders.
It is said to be where he received a calling to religious life that led to his return in later years to bring Christianity to Ireland.
Mid and East Antrim Council run an event at the mountain every year to cater for the large crowds who congregate on its slopes.
Council spokesperson Paul Gallagher said the fine weather had brought a larger than usual crowd to the Slemish Mountain this year.
He said it was a tradition that had been going on for as many years as anyone could remember and was passed down through families.
A woman said she had done it to mark the first anniversary of her father's death.
Another said she had celebrated a recent hip replacement by climbing the 437m mountain.
Many families with young children took on the steep rocky path up the mountain.
It takes around an hour up-and-down the mountain to complete the challenge.
Members of a mountain rescue team were on hand to help, but apart from the odd tumble and bloodied knee, they were unneeded.
