Friday, 17 Mar 2023
Updated / Friday, 17 Mar 2023 23:06
Crowds gathered to watch the parade on O'Connell Street
A sea of green made up of half a million people descended on Dublin
City centre for a St Patrick's Day parade that organisers had predicted
would be "the biggest and best".
Celebrations took place across the island of Ireland with massive
crowds turning out to mark 17 March in towns and cities.
Many more watched Dublin's 2023 parade, featuring 4,200 performers
including marching bands, aerial acrobats and vibrant costumes, live on
television.
Parade attendees showed up in leprechaun hats, dyed-green beards and
emerald scarves.
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Live blog: Colour and cheer around the country
Along the busy parade barrier, children were perched on the shoulders
of their parents to get a view of colourful dancers, brass bands and
carefully constructed floats.
Locals watched from apartment windows along the route, cheering and
waving Irish tricolour flags above street level.
The parade centred around the theme of "ONE" to "shine a light on all
the goodness that surrounds us" by protecting and embracing global
traditions, culture and heritage.
The parade started at Parnell Square, snaking its way through some of
the city's most popular thoroughfares like O'Connell Street and College
Green before culminating on Kevin Street.
The Republic of Ireland women's football team was chosen as this year's
grand marshal and was represented by manager Vera Pauw and other famous
faces from the team's past and present.
Originally from the Netherlands, Pauw said she was "blown away" that
she could lead the parade.
"The thought that I, as a foreigner, could lead the team out and
represent the team is a highlight of my life", she said.
"I'm absolutely delighted that Ireland has let me in to their
celebrations of this magic day."
Patrick Duffy Patrick Duffy
American actor Patrick Duffy, known for Dallas and Man From Atlantis,
said he was discovering his heritage through his role as the
international guest of honour.
"The beauty of my feeling of being in this parade is the coming
together of the heritage that I have, that I'm discovering on a daily
basis by being here," he said.
"Return is the key word that people feel when they come to Ireland, the
sense is that you're returning somewhere," he added.
"I feel a part of something grander than any of us as individuals,"
Duffy said.
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The actor was born on St Patrick's Day and celebrated his 74th birthday
by blowing out the candles on a large green cake.
Met Éireann had predicted scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle,
including isolated thunderstorms in the west of the country.
Duffy said he hoped to clear the skies with a simple birthday wish: "No
rain!"
That wish mostly came true with the faintest scatterings of drizzle
hardly dampening the mood.
Pauw and Duffy waved to the crowds as they drove by in vintage cars.
St Patrick's Festival CEO Richard Tierney said there would also be
50,000 guests attending Festival Quarter for a day of traditional Irish
music, "ceol agus craic".
"I think this year's parade is definitely going to be the biggest and
the best," he said.