In Pictures: St Patrick's Day celebrations

Crowd of people queuing outside the entrance of a stone church
Michael D Higgins pictured waking through the door of a stone church. He is wearing a green suit with a bunch of shamrock in his lapel. He is holding two walking sticks. A man in military dress is walking behind him.

In Downpatrick, early risers made their way to Saul Church – believed to be St Patrick's first church in Ireland
Irish President Michael D Higgins also attended church first thing, for St Patrick's Day mass in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral

Festivities are underway across the island of Ireland as part of the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Thousands of people have lined the streets in Belfast city centre for the annual St Patrick's Day parade.

Parades have also taken place in Londonderry, Enniskillen, Downpatrick, Newry and Armagh and - for the first time in seven years - in Ballycastle.

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