Up to half a million people are expected to turn out on the streets of the capital for Dublin's St Patrick's Day Parade.
This year's event is all about the past - and is part of a three year theme: "Let's Make History"
Tour de France winner Stephen Roche has just led out 3,000 participants in the parade.
Richard Chambers reports;
These people are among the thousands of visitors from abroad who've come to watch today's Dublin parade.
The following roads will be closed until 5pm:
Dominick St Upr, Mountjoy St, Middle Mountjoy St, Palmerston Place, St Mary’s Place North, Granby Row, Parnell Square North & East, part of O’Connell St and O’Connell Bridge. Westmoreland St, College Green, Dame St, Lord Edward St, Christchurch Place, Nicholas St, Patrick St, New St South and Clanbrassil St Lwr will also close until 5pm.
Route Map:
If you're looking for an alternative to the parade in the city later, there's a few local ones taking place.
Balbriggan, Skerries, Swords and Lucan are having their own ones and for the first time, Stepaside are holding one too.
Joe Lee from the Stepaside Business Association
Meanwhile, on Dublin's northside and 30 minutes from the city centre, Skerries will be marking St. Patrick's Day today with its very own parade.
The town will be celebrating their unique history with the patron saint by retracing his steps from 1500 years ago.
Traditional folklore tells the story of St Patrick and his missing goat sensationally stolen from him by locals and our patron saint retaliating by leaving a permanent mark on Skerries.
All the activities will be free charge and visitors can retrace the Patron Saint's footsteps and witness his arrival via helicopter to Skerries.
