Spring arrived in Ireland just in time for St patrick's Day this year as thousands flocked to parades in cities and towns throughout the country.
In Cork the parade was especially colourful to coincide with the city's year as European capital of culture.
The parade was led by guide dogs for the blind and with most commercial vehicles and trucks banned from the parade colourful community groups took over. Over 70,000 thronged the streets of Cork to view the parade.
Around 40,000 people witnessed Limerick's 'best ever' parade. The theme for Limerick's parade was One City, A World of People.Over 1,000 people and two elephants from the American Circus took part. The Irish Aer Corps also provided formation fly overs during the parade.
Later this weekend Limerick will see its second parade as the International Marching Band Parade takes place on Sunday morning.
Galway's parade had a more sombre note with Conflicta key theme during the day. While most of it was in an historical and humorous way others paid tribute to the Irish UN peace-keepers over seas.
Participants from the Moscow state circus, the Association of Nigerians in Galway, the Galway Filipino community, and representatives of the evangelical Living Word Fellowship all took part.
Cultures and colours also provided the backdrop for the Derry parade as Irish dancers were joined by chinese lion dancers and samba dancers. Derry's Indian community also took part in the carnival festivities.
In Waterford the parade was entitled Tall Ships and Tall Tales. African dancers, medieval peasants and even St Patrick himself added much colour to the proceedings.
In Templemore, Tipperary, the parade was led by Sergio Paolucci, Mayor of the Italian Adriatic town of Potenza Picena. The towns were officially twinned last year. Students from the Garda Training College and members of the Reserve Defence Force took part in the parade.
The earliest parade in the country took place just before 6am in Dingle Co Kerry, when marchers with the fifes and drums paradeed through the town.
For the first time in 20 years the town Mace was carried at the head of the parade in New Ross Co Wexford. The parade began in the Irishtown area of New Ross before making its way through the historic streets of the town onto the quayfront.
Meanwhile, in Roscrea over 6,000 people crowded in to Liberty Square to view the town's largest ever parade.
In Donegal, Letterkenny once again hosted the biggest parade in the county but large crowds also witnessed the Buncranna parade.
However the Mullaghduff, Co Donegal, St Patrick's Day activities were overshadowed by the sudden death of a US tour operator last night.