THE BIG DAY:A CHILLY northwesterly breeze is likely to turn majorettes' legs blue today, but threats of a white St Patrick's Day will not be realised.
The worst of the cold weather, which brought snow to Croagh Patrick on Monday, has passed, though Met Éireann has warned the northwesterly will keep temperatures in single figures for most parts of the country.
Parade-watchers on the east coast are also advised to wear raingear as showers passing over the country may not depart in time for the beginning of the festivities there.
Forecaster with Met Éireann Eoin Sherlock said those in the west of the country are likely to fare better as showers should clear by 9am bringing brighter weather. But the eastern seaboard may not be cleared of rain until lunchtime or later.
Almost 120 parades of various shapes and sizes will be held around the country today from Bandon to Belfast and from Tulla to Tallaght. The largest, in Dublin city centre, is expected to attract 500,000 people.
It will begin at noon on Parnell Square, crossing the Liffey at O’Connell Bridge and finishing at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
This year’s theme honours Dublin’s designation as Unesco City Of Literature and the parade aims to bring to life a specially commissioned uplifting short story Brilliant by Roddy Doyle. The story, describing a bid by children to lift the spirits of a depressed capital city, can be downloaded from the festival’s website.
World boxing champion Katie Taylor will be grand marshal for the day.
Other events in Dublin today, as part of its five-day festival, include fun fairs at Merrion Square, Wolfe Tone Park, and Custom House Quay and music with the Kilfenora Céilí Band in the RDS.
There are also walking tours, free traditional music sessions and the Gannon Cup university boat race from O’Connell Bridge to St James’ Gate, starting at 9.30am.
St Patrick’s Day will be marked throughout Northern Ireland, most notably in Belfast, Armagh and in Downpatrick, where the saint is reputedly buried.
In Belfast, SDLP Lord Mayor Pat Convery will lead the city’s carnival parade at midday from City Hall to Custom House Square where a free outdoor concert and other festival events are planned.
The parade will have the environment as its theme with participants and the anticipated large crowd urged to do what they can to help Mother Earth.
The Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, the world’s only permanent exhibition to the patron saint, will be providing a special day of entertainment.
The parade in Cork is the central event in the city’s four-day festival. It will begin at 1pm on Parnell Bridge continuing to South Mall and finishing on Parnell Place.
“Happiness” will be the theme of the parade, which will include arts group Spraoí, Cork Circus and Dowtcha puppets as well as over 2,000 community and voluntary groups.
In Galway city, up to 60,000 people are expected to attend the “World of Wonder” parade which begins at 12.30pm on Father Burke Road. It will travel down Fairhill Road, on to Dominic Street and finish in Eyre Square. There will also be traditional music as part of the festival’s Trad Trail.
Waterford city’s parade, with the theme of “Play your part”, will start at 1pm from The Glen and move down Thomas Street, finishing at Parnell Street.
Organisers are expecting 40,000 people to watch the event, led by playwright and actor Jim Nolan.
Limerick city’s organisers say last year’s parade attracted 70,000 people and they are hoping for even more this year.
With 3,500 participants, they claim to have the biggest parade outside Dublin. It begins at Sarsfield Barracks on Barrack Hill, before travelling on to O’Connell Avenue and ending at Bank Place. This year’s theme marks the city’s reign as European City of Sport 2011.
The St Patrick’s Festival website is stpatricksfestival.ie