DUBLIN (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Dublin on Monday to enjoy Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, a celebration that saw green-clad crowds filling cities and towns nationwide to honor the country’s patron saint. Officials anticipated a turnout of half a million spectators along the parade route in the capital, where colorful floats, performers, and dancers captivated the audience. Many waved Irish flags or adorned themselves with the flag’s colors, some donning leprechaun hats and various shades of green attire. This year’s parade featured 4,000 participants and 12 marching bands from Ireland, North America, and Austria.
Although St. Patrick’s Day parades originated among Irish immigrant communities in the United States in the 1700s, with the largest event now held in New York City, the holiday continues to attract around 100,000 tourists to Ireland annually. Smaller parades also took place in cities such as Limerick, Cork, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
In London, Kate, the Princess of Wales, marked the occasion by visiting the Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks. Sporting a forest green coat and matching hat, Kate, who serves as the regiment’s ceremonial colonel, presented shamrock sprigs and medals to soldiers before their St. Patrick’s Day parade. Following the event, she shared a pint of Guinness with soldiers, engaging in lighthearted conversation and humor. Kate, who had missed last year’s celebrations due to a cancer diagnosis, has been gradually resuming her public duties.
