The theme for Derry's St Patrick's Day programme incorporates forest, sky and sea as the city celebrates the arrival of brighter days ahead. Activities are planned for Guildhall Square, the Craft Village, Waterloo Place and the Guildhall.

Children, adults and visitors packed into Dublin city centre to see the national parade and to celebrate the festivities of St Patrick's Day. Spectators gathered from early morning 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.

Armagh City, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, was chosen by St Patrick as the site of his first stone church in 445AD and to this day, remains the only city in the world with two cathedrals named after the saint.