A swathe of patriotic revellers took to the streets of Dublin to celebrate St Patrick’s Day after Covid-19 led to events being cancelled over the last two years.
Cities, towns and villages across Ireland are marking the event after the easing of coronavirus restrictions, with up to 400,000 people expected to attend the traditional parade in Dublin.
In March 2020, masses of St Patrick’s Day plans were cancelled with the onset of the global pandemic, with parades axed in Dublin and Belfast, while the country was in lockdown last year on 17th March.
Joyful spectators donned green outfits, shamrocks, Irish flags, and leprechaun costumes as they took to the streets to celebrate today.
A swathe of patriotic revellers took to the streets of Dublin to celebrate St Patrick’s Day after Covid-19 led to events being cancelled over the last two years
Cities, towns and villages across Ireland are marking the event after the easing of coronavirus restrictions. Pictured, a group of spectators in Dublin dressed as leprechauns
Pictured, a US woman who travelled from Texas to Dublin to celebrate the day dressed in a green ensemble with a matching hat and shamrock necklace
Two spectators dressed in matching green shamrock-themed suits while another donned an Ireland scarf and garland paired with a green dress
One reveller donned a pair of green, oversized glasses shaped like four-leaf clovers as he enjoyed St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dublin today
Actor John C. Reilly, the parade’s international guest of honour, was seen taking part in the parade in Dublin today
The Hollywood actor appeared in high spirits as he celebrated the St Patrick’s Day event with locals in Dublin today
This year, in Dublin, the parade will begin at Parnell Square and go through O’Connell Street and around College Green, before making its way down Lord Edward Street and ending in Kevin Street at around 2pm.
Olympic boxer Kellie Harrington and Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane will be grand marshals.
The Tokyo gold medal-winning boxer described the opportunity to parade through her local streets as ‘fantastic’.
‘For myself and Ellen to be grand marshals, two female athletes, it’s amazing and it shows the strength in female sport, it’s always been there, she said.
One reveller posed in front of a rainbow decoration wearing a leprechaun hat and pair of shamrock-themed sunglasses
A group who travelled from the US celebrate in fancy dress on the streets of Dublin to celebrate St Patrick’s Day
A group donning green St Patrick’s Day-themed outfits posed for a photo as they celebrated the traditional Irish holiday in Dublin
Members of the local Ukrainian community pose for a photo with Ukrainian flags as Dubliners celebrate St Patrick’s Day
Rachel Diyaolu (2nd L), an Irish student who recently escaped from war-torn Ukraine, speaks with members of the local Ukrainian community as locals celebrate St Patrick’s Day
A group of men dressed in leprechaun costumes pose on the street as they celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Dublin
Hollywood actor John C Reilly will be the international guest of honour at the Dublin parade today
The Irish-American said it is a great opportunity to ‘spread joy’ during a difficult time in the world before enjoying a pint of Guinness at the parade today
With up to 400,000 people expected to attend the traditional parade in Dublin the streets were crammed with revellers ahead of the parade
A pipe band take part in the St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin this afternoon when the event returned following two years due to Covid
A pipe band play their instruments as they march through the streets to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Dublin today
An Irish Wolfhound mascot is seen with a marching band in the St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin today
‘To be chosen to walk through our city as grand marshals is fantastic. It’s great to show younger kids coming up that if they work hard they can achieve anything.
‘I am not just representing myself, I’m representing the people of Ireland and the people of my community. It’s not every day that people from the inner city get to be a grand marshal and I’ve really got the backing of them all and they are all really delighted.
‘I went to the parade in Dublin when I was a kid with my three brothers, and so many friends went as well.’
Hollywood actor John C Reilly will be the international guest of honour at the Dublin parade.
The Irish-American said it is a great opportunity to ‘spread joy’ during a difficult time in the world.
This year, in Dublin, the parade will begin at Parnell Square and revellers are pictured enjoying themselves ahead of the festive parade
A woman wearing an Ireland-themed cowgirl hat poses for a photo ahead of the St Patrick’s Day parade today in Dublin
One American reveller was seen donning a green bodysuit paired with a shamrock-themed necklace and an Ireland scarf
One guest at the parade was spotted with Irish flags painted on her face while donning a fancy dress headband decorated with a shamrock
A couple dressed up in matching leprechaun outfits as they attended the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dublin today
One spectator donned a leprechaun hat and shamrock shaped glasses as he attended the parade today
A couple danced through the streets ahead of the St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin this morning
Yaryna Milchak, a member of the Ukrainian community in Dublin, and Charlie Squires who are leading of the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin
Yaryna Milchak, a member of the Ukrainian community in Dublin, and Charlie Squires who are leading the parade today
Dressed in a green tweed suit from Dublin’s famed Louis Copeland & Sons store, Mr Reilly said he is excited to take part in the celebrations.
Anna McGowan, interim director at the St Patrick’s Festival, said it is emotional to see the return of the parade.
She said: ‘It’s been three calendar years since the last parade and there’s so many people whose lives are about putting on a show, and to be able to do that this year, and to welcome people back on to the streets of Dublin for our national days, it is so emotional and so important.
‘I’m thrilled to be back. This parade will be bigger and brighter than ever before. We’ve been able to double the creative content in the parade.
‘We’re also just thrilled to be able to welcome back our international marching bands to Dublin, so that’s going to be fantastic.
Two spectators wore matching striped socks paired with green outfits and leprechaun hats as they attended the event today
Both revellers donned Irish-themed faceprint while one wore a pair of orange tinted sunglasses
Wearing a green skirt paired with striped socks, one reveller posed for a photo as she celebrated St Patrick’s Day in Dublin today
One reveller painted her face with a shamrock and waved an Irish flag as she celebrated St Patrick’s Day today
A trio wearing themed outfits jumped in the air as they celebrated St Patrick’s Day in Dublin today
‘The theme this year is connections. It’s all about inviting people to reconnect with each other after a really tough two years that we’ve had.
‘We want people to come back into the streets of Dublin, into your towns and connect with each other. We enjoy those moments together and come back together.
‘We will also have an opening moment to show Ireland’s solidarity with Ukraine. Irish people have a strong sense of support and we want to show that part of Irish people.’
In Belfast, the first parade since 2019 will leave City Hall at 1pm. Organisers said the theme will be ‘We are all Patrick, we are all Belfast’.
The parade will travel along Donegall Place, into High Street, Bridge Street and Waring Street and finish in Donegall Street close to Writers Square.
