Irish mark Saint Patrick's Day with parades, optimism on peace

AFP, March, 2008

DUBLIN (AFP) — Hundreds of thousands of revellers took to the streets of Ireland Monday for celebrations to mark the annual Saint Patrick's Day national holiday.

An estimated half a million people watched the country's biggest event in the capital, Dublin, where a 3,000-strong parade snaked its way through the city centre.

The procession was bolstered by 16 marching bands from countries including Ireland, Japan, Italy and the United States and members of Ireland's burgeoning immigrant population.

Other parades were held across the country while a cross-community, multi-cultural parade was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

President Mary McAleese, who reviewed the Dublin pageant, said the Belfast event was particularly poignant because it was the first since a power-sharing government was set up in Northern Ireland last May.

"This year, more than any in our recent past, is one to savour with special ...