In pictures: St Patrick's Day parades return

17 March 2022

Pacemaker Belfast St Patrick's Day parade 2022

Thousands have turned out to mark St Patrick's Day across the island of Ireland after two years of muted celebrations due to Covid-19.

Parades were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

On Thursday, revellers went green and lined the streets of Belfast and Dublin city centres.

There were also parades in Downpatrick, Londonderry and elsewhere as many celebrated the return of street festivities.

Pacemaker A performer in Belfast's St Patrick's Day Parade 2022 — There was hoopla in Belfast city centre as the annual St Patrick's Day parade made a long-awaited return

PA Media Belfast's St Patrick's Day parade 2022 — Some rainy weather didn't deter a giant crowd from enjoying the Belfast festivities

Pacemaker People attending Belfast's St Patrick's Day parade in 2022 — Green-tinted glasses the eyewear of choice in Belfast

PA Media Belfast Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl during Belfast's St Patrick's Day parade 2022 — Belfast's Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl was suitably green for the day

Pacemaker A protestor dressed as St Patrick outside the Thales plant near Belfast — Elsewhere in Belfast, a number of people - including one dressed as St Patrick - held an anti-war protest outside a site owned by missile-making firm Thales

Violinist plays at St Patrick's grave in Downpatrick, County Down — In Downpatrick, a violinist plays at St Patrick's grave - the County Down town is considered the final resting place of Ireland's patron saint

Families pose for pictures after climbing Slemish mountain in County Antrim - the mountain is said to have been where St Patrick worked as a shepherd after first coming to Ireland

Martin McKeown Derry — Huge crowds took to the streets of Londonderry

Charles McQuillan A group in fancy dress pose for a photo as Dubliners prepare to celebrate St Patrick's Day on March 17, 2022 in Dublin, Ireland. St Patrick's Day celebrations return to the streets of Dublin after a two-year absence, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. — Shamrocks aplenty in Dublin, where 400,000 were forecast to turn out for the parade

Charles McQuillan A man in fancy dress poses for a photo as Dubliners celebrate St Patrick's Day on March 17, 2022 in Dublin, Ireland. St Patrick's Day celebrations return to the streets of Dublin after a two-year absence, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. — This St Patrick was ready for some shamrock and roll in Dublin

Charles McQuillan Members of the local Ukrainian community pose for a photo with Ukrainian flags as Dubliners prepare to celebrate St Patrick's Day on March 17, 2022 in Dublin, Ireland. St Patrick's Day celebrations return to the streets of Dublin after a two-year absence, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. — Dublin's Ukraine community took part in the St Patrick's Day Parade

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