St Patrick's Day parades under way across the State

It's that time of year again when the streets run green and large inflatable beasts stalk the towns and cities of Ireland for the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Given the good weather conditions, gardaí said they were expecting over 500,000 people to take to the streets of Dublin for the country's largest parade, which got under way at midday .

A 20ft French lion, a giant glacier and a group of Slovenians dressed as sheep are among the performers in this year's parade which will be led by Ireland's Miss World winner,

Over 3,500 participants are booked to take part in the parade under the theme of "Glorious" to reflect the colours, the stories, the music and the costumes of the event.

Dublin's Lord Mayor Mr Royston Brady will be marching alongside the Spanish bagpipe band Lume de Biqueira as a mark of solidarity to the victims of the Madrid bombings.

This year's parade will have a strong European theme, to reflect Ireland's hosting of the EU presidency.

Parades to mark St Patrick Day are taking place across the country with the good weather expected to bring out the crowds.

Locals in Dingle braved the cold this morning in a pre-dawn parade around the town led by the Fife & Drum band.

Colourful Caledonian pipers and drums along with scorpion tanks from the Curragh were among the attractions in Wexford's largest St Patrick's Day parade for many years.

In her St Patrick's Day message, President Mary McAleese said this year's celebrations were particularly special as they took place during Ireland's presidency of the EU.

Mrs McAleese said that Ireland welcomed the new member states and looked forward to a future of friendship and fellowship with them and their peoples.

She said that St Patrick was a great European whose vision was not bounded by narrow horizons.

During Dublin's parade today, traffic will be diverted away from the city centre.

Traffic crossing the city should use the East Link Bridge on the east of the city and the Church Street, Bridge Street, Coombe route on the west of the city centre.

The streets along the parade route include: St Stephen's Green, Cuffe Street, Kevin Street Lower and Upper, Patrick Street, Nicholas Street, Christchurch Place, Lord Edward Street, Dame Street, College Green, Westmoreland Street. All of these streets will carry traffic restrictions until 2 p.m.

The following streets will be closed to traffic until 2.30 p.m: O'Connell Bridge, O'Connell Street, Parnell Square East, Parnell Square North, Granby Row. Traffic restrictions will operate until 4.30 p.m. on Western Way, Mountjoy Street and St Mary's Place.

Pedestrian access to the northern end of O Connell St is via Eden Quay, Marlborough St, Cathal Brugha St, or Bachelor's Walk, Liffey St, Moore St.

The parade organisers have said the best viewing points for the parade will be at Patrick St, Nicholas St, Christchurch Place, Lord Edward St, Dame St, College Green, Westmoreland St, O' Connell Bridge. O' Connell St (from Burger King to the Ambassador), Parnell Sq East & North, Granby Row, St Mary's Place. There is no viewing on the section between O Connell Bridge & Henry/North Earl Street Junction.