Limerick:An estimated 40,000 people lined the streets of Limerick yesterday for what was described as the city's "best ever" St Patrick's Day parade.KerryTipperaryWaterford
A total of 1,500 people took part in this year's event, which was preceded by a rugby relay race down O'Connell Street.
The theme of this year's parade, "One City, A World of People", was designed to promote a multicultural society, and many foreign nationals living in Limerick participated.
Munster rugby captain Jim Williams and model agent and style guru Celia Holman Lee led the parade which took just over an hour to pass.
One of the highlights was the presence of two elephants from the American Circus which were greeted by rapturous applause as they proceeded down O'Connell Street at the end of the colourful pageant. Army tanks, fire engines and marching bands all added to the atmosphere, and the sun came out, ensuring a bigger turnout than in previous years.
The director of this year's event Jessica Colleran said she was delighted with the success of yesterday's parade.
"We couldn't have done it without so much suppport from various groups and particularly the marshals from the Civil Defence who did a fantastic job," said Ms Colleran.
Festivites continued after the parade at the carnival at King John's Castle featuring the world music band De Jimbe.
Meanwhile, Limerick people can look forward to more festivities this weekend when the International Marching Band Parade, now in its 35th year, takes place on Sunday at 11.30am.
Kerry
A pre-dawn march, a stuck fire truck and small leprechauns running amok marked the events to celebrate St Patrick in Kerry yesterday.
The earliest parade in the country got under way in Dingle just before 6 am when musicians and marchers with the Dingle Fife and Drum started out from Dingle Hospital to parade through the sleeping town. It was followed by a second parade later in the day.
In nearby Tralee, where this year's parade was saved after an appeal by mayor of Tralee Johnny Wall, some 40 floats and groups turned out in style led by guest of honour the Sam Maguire football cup.
The Tralee event this year did not have a viewing stand and instead was overseen by "St Patrick", local man Michael O'Connor, from the top of a 25ft crane.
In Killarney visitors from the UK and large numbers of Americans mingled with the thousands of viewers for one of the town's biggest ever and most colourful parades.
The afternoon parade also opened with the Sam Maguire Cup jointly hosted on a jaunting car by local Kerry senior footballer Eoin Brosnan and mayor of Killarney Brian O'Leary.
Leprechauns ran amok when the Killarney Active Retirement banner promised to chase the plastic Paddy out of Ireland, and some of Killarney's most senior citizens began chasing dozens of small leprechauns through the streets.
The parade saw more than 70 groups participate and took over an hour to pass the viewing stand.
Other parades were held in Milltown, Listowel, Castleisland, Glenbeigh, Causeway, Lixnaw and Cahersiveen.
Tipperary:
The growing links between Templemore and other European towns was very much in evidence during the 31st consecutive St Patrick's Day parade in the Co Tipperary town yesterday.
Large crowds turned out to view the parade, which was led by Sergio Paolucci, mayor of the Italian Adriatic coastal resort town of Potenza Picena. Mr Paolucci was a member of a small delegation which travelled to Templemore at the invitation of the town mayor, Lily O'Brien, following the signing of a formal twinning charter between the two towns last year.
Also present were two members of the twinning committee from the small town of Premilhat in the Auvergne region in France, Francois Lacotte and Pierre Lamoine. A separate twinning charter between Templemore and Premilhat is due to be signed in August.
Sixty students from the local Garda Training College took part in the parade, along with members of the Reserve Defence Force. Local schools, sporting organisations and up to 30 businesses displayed floats, and music was provided by four bands.
Waterford:
A solitary green balloon floated north across the Suir river as the Ireland rugby anthem, Ireland's Call, played through the PA system, compounding the general sense of pride in all things Irish experienced at the Waterford parade yesterday.
On the North Quays the numerous flags of the Naval Service vessel, LE Aoife, flew proudly in the wind as excited Waterfordians frantically painted the air green.
Praising Waterford City Council and others for their work, Transport Minister Martin Cullen said he looked forward to months from now when half-a-million people come to Waterford for the Tall Ships Race.
Tony Award-winning actress and Waterford freeman, Anna Manahan, looked happy, relaxed and elegant as her horse-drawn carriage led the parade from Reginald's Tower to its destination in Vulcan Street, off the Waterford quay.
The Naval Service paved the way for Slua Mhuire, which was followed by the National Ex-Servicemen of Ireland and the Civil Defence in the parade entitled "Tall Ships and Tall Tales".
Even the grey clouds in the east and north did not dampen the spirits of the hundreds of young Cub Scouts, dancers, hurlers and martial artists who followed.
African dancers, medieval peasants and St Patrick himself added colour to the proceedings.
Up-and-coming indie-rock outfit, The Heard, performed on the Bus Éireann stage at John Roberts Square, with songs from their soon-to-be-released debut album, Distorted Pickup Lines, while Doneen and Guests held a Monster Trad Session at the TNT Coaches stage on the William Vincent Wallace Plaza.