Belfast was a sea of green on Monday as tens of thousands of people from Northern Ireland and further afield soaked up the spectacle of culture, dance and music which overtook the city.
Many watching were in their finest green regalia to celebrate the occasion, as the parade snaked its way through the city.
Joining them at the annual event was a collection of dance troupes, schools, community groups, live music performers, fantastical floats, and the Beat Carnival show.
The parade celebrated everything around St Patrick, while also embracing the growing diversity of Belfast during the performances.
Irish dancers and bold floats wowed the crowds gathered along the side of the road, with performers waving to onlookers as they danced through the streets.
The main parade is the culmination a 17-day celebration leading up to the main celebration on the date.
Dressed in a bold green and orange suit was Belfast photographer, Aidan Murray.
Lauren Mathieu (L), Haylee Albert (R)
Photo: Gabrielle Swan
“It took me about an hour to sort this outfit out this morning. I knew I was going to wear green, white and orange,” he said.
“I made the decision on what was going to be green, which was going to be white and what was going to be orange.
“I come here ever year to take photographs. I was here last year, I was only dressed in green, but this year I made more of an effort to go the whole way this year.
“A lot of people have taken my photograph today.”
Watch: Tourists come to Belfast to celebrate St Patrick’s Day
Those coming to enjoy the city’s celebrations included visitors from Spain, America and tourists from across the UK and island of Ireland.
Also in attendance were student teachers, Haylee Albert and Lauren Mattieu, who came appropriately dressed in a green dress with shamrock face paint, head bands and sunglasses.
“We are from Kentucky in the United States, we are studying abroad right now. St Patrick’s Day is very big in the States, so this is probably what we would normally wear on St Patrick’s Day.
Veronica Pobre (L), Juna Abbon (R)
Photo: Gabrielle Swan
“This is our first time in Ireland for St Patrick’s Day, we are super excited. I think this evening we will go to a pub,” said Haylee.
“The thing I noticed in America is that we would dress up a lot more. I don’t really see as many people here dressed up. We like making it a big thing,” added Lauren.
Both originally from Madrid, are Angela Jorge and Edu Bonilla, they decided to celebrate their first St Patrick’s Day in Belfast.
The parade was watched by thousands of spectators and was led by Derry City and Strabane District Council Mayor, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr. Picture Martin McKeown.
“I lived in Dublin since September. We are from Madrid, we are really excited. This is our first St Patrick’s in Ireland,” said Angela
“We are going to stay to see the parade, then later we are going to see the Titanic Museum, because we have never gone there before.
“We spent the long St Patrick’s weekend here to see the Giant’s Causeway, we were going to see the parade in Dublin, but we decided to stay here.”
“This is the first St Patrick’s Day for us in Ireland. We really like the nature and the city of Belfast,” added Edu
Coming from Navan and Cavan in the Republic was Veronica Pobre and Juna Abbon.
“This is our first time, I am so excited to be in Belfast, I came from the Republic just to come here to celebrate, it is my first time,” said Juna.
“It is my fourth time celebrating, but it is my first time in Belfast for St Patrick’s day,” said Veronica.
“We are looking forward to the parade, then celebrating.”
Sharon (L) and Debby (R)
Photo: Gabrielle Swan
Coming up appropriately dressed with large green and orange hats for the occasion from Downpatrick was Debby.
“We haven’t been here for ages, there is a lot of stuff going on in the Cathedral Quarter as well, we haven’t been for a couple of years now,” she said.
Belfast Lord Mayor Micky Murray led from the front as the parade left the city hall.
“The parade just gets bigger and better every year,” he said.
“It’s a real celebration of the community.”
Before the parade, revellers were up early to cheer on the thousands taking part in the SPAR Craic 10k.
Runners in their appropriate green kit and costumes took off from the City Hall at 9am.
Other celebrations took Northern Ireland by storm.
In Londonderry ,thousands flocked to the streets to enjoy the annual St.Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival took place, led by Derry City and Strabane District Council Mayor, councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr.
There were also similarly spectacular displays of colour and pageantry as St Patrick himself led the way through the streets of Downpatrick, with the parade offering a feast for eyes and ears as swirling dancers, community floats and costumed characters entertained the crowds.
Meanwhile, children waved the Irish tricolour while visitors watched the long and energetic parade make its way through the streets of Dublin.
Edu Bonilla (L) and Angela Jorge (R)
Photo: Gabrielle Swan
Spectators were adorned in all shades of green, many with shamrocks and the Irish tricolour painted on their faces, while others wore leprechaun hats and Irish jerseys.
It is estimated around half a million people lined the parade route.
The theme of this year’s event was adventures, or “eachtrai” in Irish.
People gathered at the barriers from early Monday morning in green and tricolour gear.
The Dublin parade included 12 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Austria – as well as dozens of performers and extravagant floats.
There were around 4,000 parade participants from across the globe in Monday’s parade.
The parade featured members of An Garda Siochana, a float from Dublin Zoo, the Irish Coast Guard, baton twirlers and Artane Band.
President Michael D Higgins attended the Dublin parade for the final time as president as his term in office comes to end this November. He thanked the people of Ireland before the parade got underway alongside his partner, Sabina.