Some 56 revellers were arrested in Limerick and one city-centre pub was forced to shut its doors after a drunken brawl broke out.
The ambulance service in the city reported a threefold increase in the number of calls compared to a normal week night, and 90 per cent of these are understood to have involved alcohol-related incidents.
Henry Street Garda station alone recorded a total of 52 arrests, the majority of which were for public order offences and criminal damage.
The figures relate to arrests in a 24-hour period until 6am on Friday morning.
One city-centre pub closed its doors at 6.40pm on St Patrick's Day after a drunken brawl developed into a mini-riot.
A number of gardaí received minor injuries including cuts and bruises when they arrived at the Catherine Street pub to quell the disturbance. Windows and glasses were smashed in the bar, and witnesses said pool cues were used as weapons in the violent fracas. - Karl Hanlon