St Patrick's Day event organisers in Dublin are planning to announce that a group of grand marshals - rather than the traditional single marshal - will lead this year's parade.
The four grand marshals will be representatives of four Irish aid organisations, Goal, Concern, Trócaire and the Irish Red Cross, The Irish Times has learned.
The organisers want to recognise the work of the agencies, and the efforts that are still continuing, in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami disaster.
It will also be an acknowledgment of the Irish public's generous support and quick response to the tragedy.
The grand marshal is traditionally somebody who has achieved outstanding success in his or her field in Irish life.
Usually, the person selected is a showbusiness personality. Last year's grand marshal was former Miss Ireland and Miss World Rosanna Davidson.
Past marshals include former Republic of Ireland soccer star Paul McGrath, actor Pauline McLynn and singers Samantha Mumba and Ronan Keating.
The parade committee, in its 10th year, will announce the decision on this year's parade today.
The parade is the highlight of the annual St Patrick's Festival, a five-day event starting on Wednesday, March 16th and ending Sunday, March 20th.
Events include music, fireworks, street theatre and dance, a treasure hunt, visual art exhibitions and a Skyfest in Dublin on Saturday, March 19th.
The power on the section of the Luas line which crosses O'Connell Street in Dublin will be turned off during the parade due to fears that some of the floats could touch the overhead lines.
A spokeswoman for the St Patrick's Festival said that it had been decided that the power would be turned off during the parade.
"It has been agreed with Luas that the power in that section will go off so there will be no danger to anybody," she said.
On St Patrick's Day the Luas red line from Tallaght to Connolly will only run from Tallaght to Jervis Street between 10am and 3pm.
It will not be servicing the Abbey Street, Busáras and Connolly stops.
Outside these hours, services will be running every 10 minutes on a Sunday schedule, according to the Luas website.
During the Harcourt Street Céilí the Luas green line between Sandyford and St Stephen's Green will not be stopping at Harcourt Street.
The Luas red line will only run from Tallaght to Jervis Street between 7pm and 9pm during the Skyfest.