In Pictures: St Patrick's Day celebrations in Ireland

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In Downpatrick, early risers made their way to Saul Church – believed to be St Patrick’s first church in Ireland
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Irish President Michael D Higgins also attended church first thing, for St Patrick’s Day mass in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral
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In Ballycastle in Country Antrim, crowds turned out for the town’s first St Patrick’s Day parade in seven years
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People from all over the world travelled to take part in the celebrations, including this group who have come from Italy, Sweden and the US to Dublin
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The parade in Armagh saw people acting out the scene of St Patrick chasing the snakes out of Ireland
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Organisers of the Belfast parade described it as a diverse, multi-cultural, cross-community celebration of Saint Patrick
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The parade, which set off from Belfast City Hall, is the centrepiece of a 17-day programme of celebrations
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The theme of Londonderry’s parade was ‘Forest, Sky and Sea’
Image source, DCSDC
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Crowds lined Shipquay Street to watch as the parade made its way through the city centre
Image source, DCSDC
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Derry’s celebrations also marked the arrival of Spring
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People also gathered in the city’s Guildhall Square for a concert featuring Irish traditional music

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Slide 1 of 11, Crowd of people queuing outside the entrance of a stone church , In Downpatrick, early risers made their way to Saul Church – believed to be St Patrick’s first church in Ireland

Festivities are underway across the island of Ireland as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations.