Ireland is awash with colour, vibrancy, and music this afternoon at St Patrick’s Day celebrations get into full swing. 

Town and cities around the world are celebrating the Irish holiday with parades, festivals and much more. 

In Dublin, 500,000 people have gathered for the biggest parade in the country with over 4,200 street performers, pageant companies and marching bands hailing from Ireland and across the world taking part. 

A dog celebrating St Patrick's Day in Dublin, 17/03/2024. Image: Tom Douglass

Today's Grand Marshall is Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty, who said he was delighted to celebrate the holiday from Ireland itself. 

“I'm unlucky enough to have spent quite a few St Patrick's Days in far flung places,” he said. 

“There was one particular one in Los Angeles where I drove pretty much all the way around the town trying to get a proper pint of Guinness. 

“I still ended up with something warm and wet in a plastic glass.” 

He said St Patrick’s Day is an annual opportunity to celebrate all things Irish across the world. 

“This doesn't just unite the island, it doesn't just unite Ireland, it unites the world,” he said. “That's why it's such a big deal.” 

Almost ready ☘️#SPF24 pic.twitter.com/E9wuqTnkqm

— St. Patrick's Festival ???☘️? (@stpatricksfest) March 17, 2024

In Dublin, people were up bright and early to get the best spots along the city streets to watch the parade. 

“We’re Erasmus students from Germany,” one person said. “We wanted to get the best spots and be up bright and early. 

“The vibes are going to amazing during that time.” 

Large crowds of people dressed in green take part in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, 17/03/2024. Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Dublin Town CEO noted the theme of today’s parade is “Spréach”, the Irish word for spark. 

“That came from conversations about the bold Irish people,” he said. “The glint in the eye - that is our spark, it's as simple as that. 

“This is where it all emanates, we are the home, you get a chance to be there with us and celebrate.” 

Large crowds of people dressed in green take part in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, 17/03/2024. Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Outside Dublin, there are also celebrations in cities such as Cork, Galway and Limerick. 

The latest and shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade takes place at 8pm tonight at the Compass Bar in Currane, Co Mayo.  

Locals are encouraged to “bring your floats” and join the parade themselves.   

Owner Seamus explained the parade begins at the back door of the pub before moving along the outside before ending at the front entrance.  

“We encourage people to bring their floats and they decorate them whatever they want to put on them, and then there's prizes for the best floats or the worst floats,” he said. 

People are also celebrating St Patrick’s Day celebrations across the world, including in New York City yesterday which saw 150,000 participants and an estimated two million onlookers.