Guinness hats, giant screens and thousands of glasses - including two-pint steins - are at the ready as Paddy Fest prepares to welcome its first wave of partygoers this evening.
The four-day celebration for St Patrick's Day gets under way inside its giant marquee in Newcastle 's Times Square at 7pm and will continue with as much music, food and drink as it is possible to squeeze in between now and late Saturday night when it will wrap up with a grand finale party.
A 25-metre bar running the length of the marquee is all set for serious business and, besides the adjacent music area to host bands and Irish dancers, there are big screens showing live coverage of Six Nations matches.
