Revellers flocked to the streets for the St Patrick’s Day festivities, donning shamrocks, leprechaun hats and all things green in celebration of Ireland’s patron saint.
A day that observes the death of the saint and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland has long since been commemorated with copious amounts of booze and riotous fun.
And this year is no exception, with university students in Nottingham and Leeds painting the town green and orange.
Celebrations took place across the UK on Monday and into this morning, with crowds turning out to mark March 17 in towns and cities.
In London alone, more than 50,000 people watched the annual procession, which featured marching bands and Irish dance performances.
And Britons are guzzling 100 million pints as St Patrick’s weekend sees all-time record Guinness sales.
Thousands of extra kegs were rushed to landlords as the black stuff boom sees 12million pints of Guinness alone drunk in bars over this weekend.
Pubs’ biggest weekend of the year so far is seeing five times more Guinness sold than average.
But there are fears taps will be drunk dry by the record rush, with demand even bigger than at Christmas when many bars ran out and stout sales leapt 20 per cent.
Nationwide drinking triggered by Cheltenham last week and the rugby’s Six Nations has left stocks even lower.
Bars are seeing an invasion of fancy dress party goers ordering Guinness, UK pubs’ best selling draft beer.
Barman Paul Sheils of Shenanigans, Southampton, Hampshire, said: ‘We’ve had 50 Guinness kegs delivered compared to the usual 20, but fingers crossed it’s enough.
‘The demand for it is unprecedented.’
Wetherspoon’s, cutting prices of Guinness in its 800 pubs on Monday to £3.15 in England and £2.99 in Scotland, said: ‘We’re reducing the price to mark St Patrick’s Day.’
In Ireland’s capital, thousands of people filled the city streets to watch the national St Patrick’s Day parade.
Children, adults and tourists packed Dublin’s city centre, sporting whimsical costumes and green and tricolour attire.
People began gathering at the parade barriers early in the morning as they eagerly awaited the noon start time.
Pub workers spent their day pouring pints of Guinness as boozy revellers enjoyed Ireland’s most popular brew.
The Dublin parade featured performers dressed in dazzling costumes making their way past Dublin’s landmark streets.
St Patrick’s Day commemorates Ireland’s patron saint and has become a popular holiday worldwide.
Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day Parade started at noon today, pulling in more than half a million spectators who lined the streets to celebrate Ireland’s rich heritage.
Revellers in fancy dress flooded the streets, striking poses for the cameras and waving the Irish flag.
The vibrant display featured more than 4,000 participants, including international marching bands, performers, dancers, and elaborate floats.
To accommodate the festivities, several city center roads were closed and attendees were advised to utilize public transportation.
