17 Things You’ll Always See At The Patrick’s Day Parade

A marching band

Eh - would the parade be the parade without the presence of at least 45 marching bands from American high schools from towns we've never heard of? We're feckin' thrilled to see that they've made the journey back to the motherland though, and always have a little wince at just how chilly they must be... it's never very warm in mid-March, now is it?

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Shamrocks on faces

A vastly important part of any 17th March is the presence of paint on one's face. If it can form the vague approximate shape of a shamrock, you are quids in, lady.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Enthusiastic musicians

With hundreds of musicians playing with gusto all at once, the parade's never exactly what you'd call... melodic. But feck that - we don't care! We love getting bursts of different triumphal tunes as the bands march past.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Bemused tourists

They're enjoying themselves - honest to god, now - but they're a bit bamboozled by the whole affair, now to be honest.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Bonkers-looking floats

The more bananas the concept (hi, Macnas), the better really, when it comes to our national saint's day. This one? No idea. None. We'd say it was a deadly buzz though.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

The pint of Guinness

Show us a tourist who's come to Ireland for Paddy's Day and NOT had a pint of the black stuff and we'll, well, we don't know what we'll do. What we do know is that it's a rite of passage and no, we can't confirm if this pair finished their glasses.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Trad music

This is, after all, about our national saint (Patrick, yo) and celebrating Irish culture. So you'll always expect to see some traditional music, song and dance throughout the day of the 17th March. #salute

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Getting into the spirit

The one thing we do really well on St Patrick's Day? We embrace that mother, and we do it well. If that means wrapping ourselves in a tricolour and raiding an O'Carrolls shop, well then, so be it.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Colourful dancers

No parade, and we repeat, no parade, is complete without at least seven sets of ladies dancing in skirts which have had a hula-hoop inserted into the hem.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Scary fire breathers

How do they do it? No scratch that! We don't wanna know! Adding a bit of edge to proceedings are always some fire-breathing types, who you're totally sure are going to come a cropper any second now, but nope. They're mad fond of a pint after all that, though. #cantimaginewhy

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Tri-dye facepaint

The elusive face painters of Ireland ply their trade in secret (or at kids parties) the rest of the year, but on 17th March, they're out and proud, striping up the faces of adults, who might well work in financial audits the other 364 days of the year, but today, Matthew, they ARE the flag. Go on the lads!

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Amaze-o costumes

Wouldya look at that? The inventiveness and ingenuity in the parade never fails to impress. Schools, organisations and charities among many others, spend months prepping their floats and routines and it's a huge testament to them that the parades around the country are as good as they are. Pats on the back all round.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Beauty inspo

Surely these ladies are channeling Mrs Doyle the time she was going out with Pat Mustard? Whatevs, we're strangely drawn to that blue shadow 'n' red lip combo...

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

The huge crowds

In Dublin alone, half a million people are expected to line the parade route, with hundreds of thousands more supporting parades nationwide. We're really a great bunch of lads, aren't we?

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

Leprechauns

They're real, you know.

No, really.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland

The spectacle

One thing you can say about a Patrick's Day parade in this country and it's this: it's never boring. With a steady pace and so many participants, the scene changes second-by-second. Your only real challenge is to get a good spot from which to watch the action unfold.

Pic credit: Tourism Ireland