Green Shoots....

Ceol agus craic as Ireland celebrates our National Saint |  ST PATRICK'S DAY EVENTS TAKING PLACE ACROSS COUNTRY

- DANNY DE VAAL

IRELAND'S the best place in the world for parades and pints today as the craic agus ceol unfolds in towns and cities across the country.

Hundreds of thousands of families will celebrate this St Patrick's Day in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast and paint the nation green.

The capital is set to have the biggest parade which will kick off at noon.

The route will wind its way from Parnell Square to Kevin St Junction, with up to 500,000 expected to line the streets.

Organisers have said this year's parade is "the biggest and most ambitious ever produced in scale, creativity, and participants". The theme is "ONE" with the festival issuing an open invite for people across the world to share, connect, participate, and celebrate together as one.

The Women's National Football Team has been chosen as the Grand Marshal for the parade.

Team Manager Vera Pauw, defender Diane Caldwell and former international Paula Gorham will represent the team and lead the national parade.