Ireland celebrates St Patrick's Day [audio 4min]

Parades are taking place at home and around the world to mark St Patrick's Day. For marchers and spectators in Ireland, the weather is forecast to be generally dry though with some rain in the east. The biggest march in Ireland will be broadcast live from Dublin on RTÉ One Television. Up to 3,000 marchers will take part and as many as 500,000 people are expected to turn out to see it. Lead by Grand Marshall Eamon Coughlan, marchers began their 3km journey through the city centre at midday, leaving from Parnell Square, passing down O'Connell Street, Dame Street and ending at St Patrick's Cathedral. Parades in Galway, Limerick and Belfast also started at noon while the Cork and Waterford events started at 1pm Irish time.