Thousands of people have lined the streets of Galway this evening for the annual Macnas Halloween parade.
A mild evening brought out a huge crowd, with gardaí saying it is the biggest ever turnout for the event.
It is estimated that between 45,000 and 50,000 people lined the route from Fisheries Field to Claddagh for a night of spectacular street theatre.
The 90 minute parade featured a host of new creations for a show billed as "a waltz between love and loss". Macnas' Artistic Director Noeline Kavanagh described it as a "poetic symphony of crazy chaos".
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina were among the thousands who viewed the parade. He said the vision of Macnas over 30 years was apparent in the execution of this year's event.
Mr Higgins was greeted by several of the 300 performers who are taking part in the parade.
Macnas will bring their crew to Dublin tomorrow, where the company is taking part in the Bram Stoker Festival.
President in the company of wolves at the #MacnasParade pic.twitter.com/ajGd5NUUR5
— Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) October 30, 2016
