Smithfield extravaganza to open St Patrick's Festival

The St Patrick's Festival kicks off in Dublin tonight with an open-air musical extravaganza at Smithfield courtesy of the Spanish-Argentinian circus troupe Grupo Puja.

This event, suspended 50 feet above ground, is the start of a series of wild, wonderful and colourful events in the Dublin over the next five days that are expected to draw some 1.5 million people to the capital.

Despite the unpredictable Irish weather at this time of year, many of the events, including the parade on Friday, will take place outdoors. The parade starts at noon at Parnell Square and will follow the north to south route used for the first time last year. A live webcast of the parade will be available on ireland.com.

Among the events are a festival market at Wolf Tone Quay offering Irish and international culinary treats and crafts and an open-air circus at Merrion Square on Sunday.

Irish speakers, or those hoping to brush up on the language should join the Lá Gaelach on Saturday for a tour of the city as Gaeilge.

All types of musical predilections will be catered for and even indulged. Among a series of gigs is the free Céilí Mór along Earlsfort Terrace tomorrow evening from 8pm and the Slovenian folk band Terrafolk, at the O'Reilly theatre on Saturday from 8pm.

There is even a children's concert with Micheál Ó Súilleabháin and Mel Mercier at the Ark in Temple Bar on Saturday between 1pm and 3pm.

Motorists are warned that there will be a number of traffic restrictions during the parade. From tomorrow, Merrion Square west will be closed from 8am to 7pm every day until next Monday.

On Sunday Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Merrion Square East and South, and Merrion Street Upper will be closed.

During the parade: Dominick Street Upper, Mountjoy Street, St Mary's Place North, Granby Way, Parnell Square North, Parnell Square East, O'Connell Bridge will all be closed from 7am to 1pm.

Westmoreland Street, College Green, Dame Street, Lord Edward Street, Christchurch Place will all be closed from 7am to 2pm.

Nicholas Street and Patrick Street and Clanbrassil Street Lwr (Kevin Street to South Circular Road) will be closed from 10am until 3.30pm.

On Friday Luas services will operate to a Saturday timetable while a full Dart service will be in operation.