Cities and towns put final touches to big day plans

FIVE DAYS of St Patrick's Festival events will culminate in Ireland's biggest ever St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin today.

More than 3,000 participants will take part in this year's parade, which will begin snaking its way through the city centre at noon.

It will start at Parnell Square North and travel down O'Connell Street, passing the grandstand at the GPO, from where President Mary McAleese will be watching.

The parade will then go up Westmoreland Street, turn on to Dame Street and up to Christchurch Cathedral before ending at St Patrick's Cathedral.

The parade may move a little quicker this year as Olympian athlete Eamonn Coghlan will be Grand Marshal. This year marks 25 years since he broke the world record for the indoor mile.

The spectacle is expected to take two hours to wind its way along the 3km route and organisers estimate that it will attract more than 500,000 people. The parade will also be broadcast live on RTÉ.

Some 16 marching bands from countries such as the US, Japan and Italy will provide entertainment.

There will be 11 pageants from street theatre companies and theatre groups from Ireland and further afield.

The Céilí Mór, which is being billed as the world's largest outdoor Irish music and dance event, will then get under way at Earlsfort Terrace at 2.30 pm.

Meanwhile, in Cork some 50 floats will take part in the parade which will start at 1pm at the Parnell Place end of the South Mall. Roads will be closed in the area from noon to 5pm.

Belfast's St Patrick's Day celebrations will centre on a carnival parade, which leaves City Hall at 12pm.

It will be followed by a free concert in the 5,000-capacity Custom House Square at 1pm.

The Galway parade starts at Dominick Street at 12.30pm, before making its way to the city's Eyre Square.

The parade 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 tribe of "St Patricks with snakes" from the Brothers of Charity.

The Limerick city parade will begin at 12 noon and will be grand marshalled by the Munster rugby team's most capped player Anthony Foley.

You're a Star finalist Leanne Moore will also travel home from Dublin to take part in the event.

The theme of this year's parade is "The United Colours of Limerick" and multi-cultural groups with origins in Poland, Nigeria and the Philippines will take part.

Waterford's St Patrick's Day parade takes place on the City Quays from 1pm.

The parade in Dingle, in Co Kerry will be the first of the day in the country as it will be held pre-dawn as usual. The Tralee parade kicks off at noon on JJ Sheehy Road.

Members of the Kingdom's All-Ireland football winning team will carry the Sam Maguire trophy along the parade and the town square will feature traditional music over the weekend.

The Killarney parade will begin at Ross Road at 2pm and will be led by Antarctic explorer Pat Falvey.

Listowel marked its 30th annual St Patrick's Day parade yesterday with contributions by several sporting groups including the Kerry County GAA club champions, the local Feale Rangers. Other parades were held in Kilflynn and Causeway.

Durrow, Co Laois also beat the rush by holding its 18th century "non-motorised" St Patrick's Day parade yesterday.

The village is celebrating its 300th anniversary and this was reflected in the floats which included 18th century themed carriages with locals dressed in period costumes.

Meanwhile, the TaraWatch group which is campaigning against the route of the M3 motorway in Meath, has criticised the failure of Navan Meath Chambers of Commerce and Meath County Council to hold a St Patrick's Day parade.

"The same people who are championing the Government-sponsored destruction of Tara, are also telling us that Saint Patrick is no longer worth celebrating," Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch said.