Excitement is building across Ireland as St Patrick's Day parades get underway this lunchtime.
The Galway Parade kicked off at half-eleven - while festivities in Waterford and Kilkenny get started at 1pm and Limerick at 2 o'clock.
Cork's parade will be led out by Riverdance star Michael Flatley - with tens of thousands already lining the route along Merchant's Quay.
In the capital Tour de France winner Stephen Roche has just led out 3-thousand participants in the Dublin parade - which is being watched by an estimated 500-thousand people.
Our reporter Richard Chambers has been speaking to some of the families in attendance.
