Kilkenny joined in the festivities with gusto as record crowds turned out for the city's first night-time St Patrick's Day parade.
"Light up the Night" was the theme for the parade, which followed a day of partying, including a busking competition, street theatre and a charity "duck derby" featuring 300 plastic ducks.
As the main event got under way at about 7 p.m. a fireworks display added to the colourful spectacle. Even a Garda helicopter got in on the act, sweeping the crowds with its searchlight. Gardai patrolling the route estimated the turnout at more than 25,000 - about double the normal attendance for the event. Crowds lining the route, five and six deep in places, were treated to a diverse display of floats and theatrical performances, including a taste of forthcoming productions of Little Shop of Horrors and The King and I in Kilkenny and Castlecomer respectively.
Even Charlie Haughey made an appearance - or at least a masked character looking suspiciously like him - leading a float with a political tribunals theme. The float didn't confine itself to national issues, however, displaying in large letters the assertion "Finn Harps out of Tune" - a reference to Kilkenny City's expulsion from the FAI Cup competition. Eoin Heafey (11), his brothers Philip (9) and Dermot (7) and their cousin Rachel Dunphy (9), from Ballycallan, outside Kilkenny, agreed it was the best parade yet.
"I like the colours and the lights," said Eoin, endorsing the decision to move the parade to a night-time slot. Rachel agreed it was a great spectacle, "except for the lad that scared me". The character in question was Dracula.
Ms Fiona Breen, chief executive officer of Kilkenny Tourism, which took over organisation of the event this year, said the idea to hold a night-time parade had been suggested by event management specialist Mr Michael Burke.
