Parades:Over 3,000 people will take part in today's St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin. And close to half a million people are expected to line the route of the country's biggest parade.
As the St Patrick's Day festival parade in the capital celebrates its 10th anniversary, it will break with tradition by beginning on the north side of the city for the first time.
Starting at noon at Parnell Square north, it will travel down O'Connell Street, past dignitaries at the GPO grandstand before crossing O'Connell Bridge. It will then continue up Westmoreland Street on to Dame Street and to Christ Church. It will come to an end when it passes in front of St Patrick's Cathedral.
The highlight will be 10 theatrical pageants, each designed on the theme "Mischief, Mayhem and Madness".
There will also be 17 international marching bands and street theatre companies from Kildare, Waterford, Donegal, Sligo, Galway, Dublin and Wexford.
The youngest participant in Dublin is seven years old and the oldest 81.
In another break with tradition, there will be four grand marshals instead of one. The grand marshals are representatives of four Irish international aid agencies, Concern, Goal, Irish Red Cross and Trócaire.
They were chosen to lead the parade by organisers as a way of thanking them for their immediate response to the Asian tsunami and the Irish people for their overwhelming response in raising over €75 million.
Cork will host its largest St Patrick's Day parade to mark its designation as European Capital of Culture.
Organisers have opted to break from the norm by having guide dogs for the blind lead the event - they will act as honorary grand marshals.
The parade will begin at noon on the South Mall.
Meanwhile, one of the world's shortest St Patrick's Day parades will take place in Drispsey, Co Cork, which is just 25 yards long. It is turning into a major attraction for tourists from the US and Australia.
The theme of the Limerick parade will be "One City, A World of People" which aims to reflect the changing face of Ireland and promote a multicultural society.
For the first time the parade will be led by two grand marshals, Munster rugby captain Jim Williams and fashion guru Celia Holman Lee.