From Tuesday's Irish Independent (the foul weather is traditional, something to do with a preference for blue-legged majorettes):

Foul weather fails to dampen Paddy's Day fun

HUNDREDS of thousands of people ignored the miserable weather yesterday to attend St Patrick's Day parades all over the country - including more than 500,000 spectators in Dublin.

Participants included 19 marching bands from Britain, the US, Germany and Norway, while on Saturday up to 1m people thronged the city's streets for free music and special entertainment for children.

On Saturday night, thousands assembled on the banks of the Liffey for a 3,000 tonne fireworks display, however, events were marred after a young man drowned trying to swim across the river.

In New York, President Mary McAleese told an audience of over 1m people that the festival was a time for remembering those who could not be at home, and that the day symbolised much of what it meant to be Irish.

In London, tens of thousands filled parts of the city centre as they gathered for the city's first official St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, addressed the crowd, saying: "We are recognising the contribution that millions of Irish people have made to this city."

Other international venues for St Patrick's Day celebrations were Prague, Hong Kong and Moscow.

Paul Melia