Today's Dublin parade: Dublin's St Patrick's Day Parade will be the biggest ever held in the city and organisers are expecting more than half a million people to attend the event.
The parade which features giant ants and pigeons on rollerblades along with the more traditional attractions will follow the usual route setting off at noon from Patrick Street and winding its way through the city before ending at Parnell Street.
Pop star Samantha Mumba will perform the role of Grand Marshall. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Dermot Lacey will travel on his eco-friendly electric bicycle followed by his family in the State coach.
There are almost 4,000 participants in the parade including marching bands, street theatre performers and puppeteers. Bui Bolg from Wexford are the lead pageant with the Lilliputian Exploration Party.
Young people from the Fatima Community are set to transform their tower block into a massive flower sculpture as part of their pageant while Spanish bagpipe troupe Lume de Biqueira will perform jigs and reels.
During "The Great Pigeon Race", pigeons "from all walks of life" will take to skateboards and rollerblades in a bid to escape the Kilkenny cats and hawks who will be in hot pursuit.
Traffic restrictions will be in place from 7 a.m. this morning. During the parade traffic will be diverted away from the city centre. Traffic crossing the city should use the East Link Bridge on the east of the city and Church Street Bridge and the Coombe route on the west of the city.
Road closures from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. include St Stephen's Green, Cuffe Street, Kevin Street, Patrick Street, Nicholas Street, Christchurch Place and Westmoreland Street. O'Connell Bridge, Parnell Square and Granby Row will be closed from 7 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Western Way, Mountjoy Street and St Mary's Place will be closed from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Areas for wheelchair users are attached to the side of the following grandstands; Patrick Street by grandstand 1; Westmoreland Street, by grandstand 11; O'Connell Street, by grandstand 16.
