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Tommy Griffin from Edinburgh enjoys his first St Patrick's Day in Belfast along with friends Lucille Murray and Gareth Conway from Keady, County Armagh.

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Pauline Burns and her two children, Emma, 10, Orla, 2, and her 9-year-old niece Lauren Patterson, all from west Belfast, get into the spirit at Belfast's free open air concert.

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Irish Guard Lance Clerkin helps the regimental mascot Donnchadh with his shamrock in Bessbrook, south Armagh.

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Michael and Janet Walsh from the Antrim Road, Belfast, soak up the atmosphere with their sons Lee, 6, and Ryan, 4 at the Belfast festival.

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Belfast hosted the largest parade and thousands gathered at the City Hall for a free open air concert.

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Former Pogues singer Shane MacGowan even had a special beer holder built into his microphone stand at the Belfast concert

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Even the dogs on the streets of Belfast find a way to celebrate St Patrick's Day with a certain sense of pride.

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Alongside the traditional crowd pleasers, the theme of Downpatrick's parade was myths and legends

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Amid Armagh's mardi-gras theme, these traditional "rhymers" demonstrated the ancient tradition of mumming