Hollywood actor John C Reilly has helped to officially launch the Dublin St Patrick's Day Parade, and he even enjoyed a pint of at the Guinness Storehouse earlier today.
Up to 400,000 people are expected to attend the parade in Dublin on Thursday, which organisers have promised to be the largest and most ambitious event ever produced, combining contemporary and traditional Irish arts.
Olympic and Paralympic sporting heroes Kellie Harrington and Ellen Keane will be the grand marshals of the parade.
Read more: St Patrick's Day 2022: Dublin parade times, transport, events and everything to know
Mr Reilly, the Irish-American actor who starred in Step Brothers, will be the international guest of honour at the parade.
Speaking at an event in the Guinness Storehouse on Wednesday to mark the festival, he told the Irish Times that being chosen to take part in the parade is a "big honour" for him as an Irish-American.
He said: "This is a big honour for me, actually. It might seem like a goof to just appear at a parade but to me, it has deep meaning as an Irish-American.
“It feels especially important to come here now to let people know that Ireland is open for business again. We’ve all been through so much. Obviously it’s a very difficult time in the world in many different ways and for many different people, but we can’t let that stop us from expressing our joy.”
The parade is to begin at noon on Thursday at Parnell Square, coming down O’Connell Street, moving around College Green and Dame Street, before looping down Lord Edward Street and finishing on Kevin Street at around 2pm.
Read more: John C Reilly announced as International Guest of Honour for St Patrick's Day Parade
Read more: St. Patricks Day 2022: 5 family-friendly events to enjoy in Dublin
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