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‘Shamrock’ the dog at the 2009 parade [PETER MORRISON/AP/Press Association Images]
LOVE IT OR loath it — unless there’s a massive sudden outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease*in the next few hours, the country’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parade will kick off in Dublin at midday today.
Led by Grand Marshal Stephen Roche, and featuring a guest appearance from beyond the grave by slain High King Brian Boru — the parade begins from Parnell Square and takes its traditional route down O’Connell Street, across to Dame Street and around to St Patrick’s Cathederal.
Expect various Viking hordes to feature strongly, as the city marks 1,000 years since the Battle of Clontarf and Boru’s famous clash with the Nordic forces of King Sitric.
The annual parade is the culmination of months of planning — and a massive effort, involving hundreds of man hours, has been taking place over the last few days to get everything ‘just so’ in time for the off.
Just how many man hours, you ask? Here’s the Dublin St. Patrick’s Parade in numbers…
[Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images]
HALF A MILLION: The number of people expected in the city centre today as the event takes place.
UNKNOWN: (But probably marginally less than half a million) little green hats.
NINE THOUSAND: Metres of crowd control barriers.
ONE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED: Man hours needed to erect the route barriers.
OVER ONE HUNDRED: ‘Dead Zoo’-inspired performers from ‘Buí Bolg’, outfitted as butterflies, jellyfish and dinosaur skeletons.
ONE HUNDRED: Performers from the ‘Inishowen Carnival Group’, including a giant merman and ‘wave-dancers’.
TWELVE: Articulated trucks full of infrastructure
EIGHT: Pageant companies in total, including Macnas — and ‘Spraoi’ who’ll be bringing the events of 1014 back to life.
EIGHT: Marching bands from the US of A
THREE: Marching bands from elsewhere: Germany, Estonia… and Clondalkin.
ONE. St Patrick himself.
ZERO. Snakes (see above).
Look at him there. Isn’t he great? [Photocall Ireland]
*The 2001 parade was postponed until May due to an outbreak of the livestock disease.
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No way I’d go near town today, full of Dirtbags
Good morning dear lady.
I too would draw the line at circumnavigating feral tracksuits and pools of vomit in our fair capital. If I may make so bold though, I would opine that you would be more then capable of making such ruffians cry out for the comforting embrace of their equally indomitable mothers.
I trust you will enjoy the day in the company of your fortunate family.
I wouldn’t go near that parade too many drunks and losers that makes it anti family event.
I’m with ya Declan, it’s my worst nightmare.
The parade is grand, just as long as you leave soon afterwards.
I personally feel the whole occasion could be so much more if drink was banned until say 8pm. It just turns into chaos.
And a sunday service on public transport on an extremely busy day
I can’t believe it a Sunday service transport system on a day where half a million people are expected to visit the city centre. No wonder this country grinds to a halt when half a mm of snow falls.
SCANGFEST DOSSERS DAY OUT
We do it better in Dingle we have two parades today ..
the first one was at 6am
Photo: http://goo.gl/2oJl8y
Incredible. Are those flags? And hats too! Amazing
cynical …
Take a look at this video from this morning..
Maybe you feel a bit Irish
http://youtu.be/nQJ8LtWMc0E
I’m sure it was great fun.
indeed it was….
Happy Pattys day one and all!
Paddys day! Not Pattys!
It’s Patricks day not pattys day
I will be going to the Parade in Cabo Roig , 23 degrees ,,,I won’t miss the rain or the pushing and shoving,,,
Last year I was in Hawaii for Paddys day. Great Parade along Wikiki beach,
Loads of Hells Angels had their bikes decorated a sight to see,
Lá Feilè Padraigh shòna Diobh , have a good one wherever you are
Like u Elaine
GOD BLESS AMERICA !
No irish rugby team in parade, €60 for a grandstand seat or in early to guard a space for kids.
St Patricks day parade is my worst nightmare. Pushing and shoving and drunks and junkies out in there hundreds
Kids on ur shoulders to let them see and all it is,is art students twirling around with face paint on and stupid floats that are ready to clap out. Its a disgrace. Turn on rte and let the kids potter around at home and watch it on tv.
Mortified for those so called celebrations
and a few dicks to ruin it all
Here’s a link for Paddy’s Day that will help brighten everyone day
http://youtu.be/gXBKrC58Ti8
have your say