THE DUBLIN-centric St Patrick's Festival has come to an end with the transfer of one of the festival's major events, the Skyfest fireworks display, to the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary.
It is a big boost for the midwest, which has long suffered the mockery of Dubliners who like nothing better than to sneer at their country cousins' efforts during the regional parades section shown at the end of the six o'clock news.
However, the festival has not totally abandoned the capital, and Dublin will still have its leviathan parade with more than 4,000 participants and all the usual glitz and spectacle of floats and marching bands making their way from Parnell Square North to Christ Church from noon.
Other events in the city include The Pearl, John Steinbeck's tale performed by the giant inflatable characters of French theatre company Plasticiens Volants in Dublin's docklands tonight and tomorrow night at 7.30pm; a funfair at Merrion Square all weekend; the Denny Treasure Hunt on Saturday at locations around the city; the Denny Big Day Out on Sunday; a series of events for adults and children at Merrion Square; and the Céilí Mór at Earlsfort Terrace on Sunday from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
Information on all these events is available at www.stpatricksday.ie
In Cashel, the Skyfest takes place from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. It is a free but ticketed event, and all tickets have now been allocated. However, given that it is a firework display, it should be visible from some distance.
The St Patrick's Day parade in Cork city starts at 1pm from the South Mall to Merchant's Quay. The Cork Circus is taking to the streets with the theme of Monsters of the Marsh. Street artists from Spraoi and Cork-based dance group No Frontiers are also taking part in the parade.
An outdoor food market will be held at St Patrick's Street tomorrow and Sunday, and at Emmet Place on Monday.
In Galway, the parade starts at Dominick Street at 12.30pm and makes its way to Eyre Square.
Its theme is "tribes" and will feature a traditional Nigerian tribe from the Association of Nigerians in Galway, Bog People from Macnas, a Norse tribe and boat from the Galway Traveller Movement, and a full tribe of "St Patricks with snakes" from the Brothers of Charity.
Limerick Springfest and international band competition takes place over the weekend. The Friendship Band from Northern Ireland will perform a free, open-air morning concert in the Milk Market on Saturday.
The parade begins at noon on Monday from Sarsfield Barracks.
Despite the recent wet weather the prospects are good for a rain-free St Patrick's Day, according to Met Éireann. It will be dry and fairly sunny, but not warm. Winds will stay fairly strong. Highest temperatures on Monday will be 7-11 degrees.
