North America: While New York's parade takes place today as usual, the other great Irish-American cities of Chicago and Boston held their celebrations over the weekend. The Chicago river was dyed green on Saturday before the city's main parade, led off by congressman Dennis Hastert.
The 150 parade units included 25 bands from nine states, and more than 200 Irish step dancers, while four-legged participants included 14 Clydesdale horses, and 30 Irish wolfhounds.
For the 25th year running, Chicago's south-side held its own parade yesterday, with 120 groups including bands and Irish dancing schools taking part.
Boston also hosted its main parade yesterday, with the city's fire-fighters, police and other emergency services taking pride of place.
In Canada, one of North America's oldest and largest St Patrick's Day parades also took place yesterday, when Montreal hosted its 179th annual event. The grand marshal was Youghal-born academic, Dr Michael Kenneally.
US parades were held over the weekend everywhere from Dublin, Ohio, to Dublin, California - a city of 30,000 people in San Francisco's east bay area.
