Gardaí have put their policing plan in operation in Dublin for the St Patrick's Day weekend.

At a safety briefing this morning, Gardaí outlined the steps they're taking to keep the public safe ahead of St Patrick's Day on Sunday.

Up to 600 Gardaí will be deployed across the city and along the parade route.

Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis said the likes of the Air Support and Public Order Units will also be on standby. 

“We have similar numbers to last year,” she said. 

“We will have Public Order Units and we base our numbers on an assessment of the risk. 

“We’ve done our risk assessments, we’re satisfied that we have plenty of Guards on duty to keep everybody safe.” 

The St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin.

St Patrick's Festival CEO Richard Tierney said the number of participants taking part in the parade this year will be 30% higher than in 2023. 

“The parade is the big thing and I said it many times when I got the job two years ago,” he said. 

“My daughter said to me, ‘Do me a favour, Dad, don’t wreck it.’ 

“We have to be true to what it is and we’re making small changes.” 

A number of events will take place at the Festival Quarter at Collins Barracks on Saturday and Sunday

To help Gardaí with crowd management, shops and off licences in the city are again being asked not to sell alcohol before 4pm on the big day.

Main image: Onlookers at the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin in March 2009. Picture by: Striking Images - Tourism Ireland / Alamy Stock Photo