St Patrick’s Day celebrations are set to take place across Northern Ireland, with thousands of people expected to participate. Belfast’s parade begins at City Hall at 13:30 GMT on Sunday, taking a circular route through various streets. Meanwhile in Londonderry, festivities begin at Bishop Street Car Park at 15:00, with a route that goes through several famous landmarks around the city. Downpatrick is hosting a pilgrimage walk led by religious leaders at 10:15 from Saul Church to Down Cathedral, followed by a cross-community service and wreath laying at St Patrick’s grave. The parade will commence at Downshire Estate at 13:30.
The police have advised the public of potential traffic disruptions in various areas hosting parades and festivities. Plus, Belfast’s Shankill Road has experienced its own St Patrick’s Day parade, described as a unionist effort to reclaim its cultural heritage. The parade featured a number of loyalist bands. In the Republic of Ireland, Dublin is gearing up for a parade that is anticipated to attract around 500,000 visitors, which starts at noon. More than 4,000 participants, including marching bands, performers, dancers, and extravagant floats, are anticipated to be part of the parade.
St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is thought to have grown up in Britain in the 5th century AD. He was a slave before he returned to Ireland as a priest and missionary after gaining his freedom. Legend has it that he used shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity concept to pagans, hence why the clover is now symbolic of St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Although some legends, such as the belief that he drove snakes out of Ireland, have been proven false. Although Protestants and Catholics both claim St Patrick, he lived and worked long before the Reformation.
Initially, St Patrick’s Day was celebrated as a religious feast day to commemorate his work. Currently, the day focuses on Irish history and culture and is observed nationally in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, plenty of people worldwide participate in celebrations, despite having no connections to the country. Landmarks around the world, including the Sydney Opera House, are illuminated in green, while the Chicago River is historically tinted green. Parades, street parties, and céilis (traditional Irish social gatherings involving music and dancing) are prominent features of the festivities, regardless of the climate
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