Northern Ireland

A sea of green as thousands celebrate St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day celebrations in Derry city on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin
St Patrick's Day celebrations in Derry city on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin St Patrick's Day celebrations in Derry city on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin

FROM leprechaun hats of all sizes to bobbling shamrocks, funky glasses, outrageous hair styles and giant shillelaghs - massive crowds marked St Patrick's Day in style.

Hundreds of thousands of people attended more than 100 parades and festivities in cities, towns and villages across Ireland.

A colourful parade of floats, dancers, musicians and extravagant costumes meandered its way around Belfast, with several giant 'St Patricks' mingling with crowds.

After the parade, performers took to the stage at the free, open-air concert in Custom House Square, with all ages gathering to enjoy the music.

Popular 1990s dance group The Vengaboys, famous for hits Boom Boom Boom Boom and We're Going to Ibiza, were the headline act and had the crowd singing along.

The line-up also included traditional music.

And to fuel the festivities, nearby St George's Market was offering traditional Irish food, music and dance. Meanwhile, the Spring Gathering, an alternative, family-friendly festival, took place in Botanic Gardens.

Jumping for joy at the St Patrick's Day parade in Belfast city centre yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus
Jumping for joy at the St Patrick's Day parade in Belfast city centre yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus Jumping for joy at the St Patrick's Day parade in Belfast city centre yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus

Senior citizens who didn't want to brave the crowds were able to enjoy tea dances in the Ulster Hall.

Outside the city, the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra was treating visitors to traditional music and dance performances from musicians and Irish dancers throughout the day.

In Derry, more than 10,000 people lined the streets for the city's biggest ever St Patrick’s Day parade as 700 performers from community, arts and sporting groups brought the story of Tír na nÓg to life.

The parade, which is delivered by the North West Carnival Initiative with support from the council, was the highlight of a weekend of multicultural events taking place across Derry and Strabane.

Leading off the parade, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor John Boyle, said he was delighted to see so many people enjoying the festival.

"It really is a massive community effort and a great cultural event for the city that showcases our creative talent and community spirit," he said.

"Over the weekend we have celebrated cultures and traditions from around the world, and embraced the rich tapestry of ethnicity that makes our city and district such an inclusive and welcoming place."

Strabane also hosted its own St Patrick's festival programme with a line-up of activities taking place at various locations throughout the town.

The annual parade in Downpatrick, Co Down, began with a traditional vintage rally through the town.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina joined the crowds that thronged central Dublin for the country's flagship parade, which got under way around midday before bright and sunny conditions turned more cold and blustery.

The theme was storytelling and it featured marching bands from Ireland, the US and Germany. It also involved street theatre and pageant companies.

In his traditional St Patrick's Day message, the president said: "May I, on this St Patrick's Day 2019, send my warmest greetings as Uachtaran na hEireann, President of Ireland, to all our extended family across the world.

"Wherever you may be, and in whatever circumstances, you are part of Ireland's global family joining with us as we celebrate our shared Irishness, its culture, heritage and history."

In Cork, the theme this year was Stories of Cork and more than 50,000 watched the parade.

A similar number lined the streets of Limerick. The theme of its parade was the wonders of space.

As many as 30,000 lined the streets in Galway, where this year's parade had a shorter route.