St Patrick's Day celebrations got off to an early start for one county as a parade kicked off at 6am in Dingle, Co. Kerry this morning.
The community of Dingle will be embarking on a four day celebration as they mark the holiday in public for the first time in two years.
The tradition of staging Ireland's first St Patrick's Day parade remained strong despite having some time off as the Fife & Drum band led marchers around the town centre from 6am before finishing at St Mary's Church.
Dating back decades, the parade has gathered much attention, but the community also caters for those enjoying a lie-in with another parade scheduled for lunchtime.
Thousands are set to take to the streets today as they mark the momentous occasion.
In his annual address, President Michael D Higgin's urged the public to celebrate together after the "painful sacrifices" of the pandemic.
He said: "Today, on our national feast day, we join together in whatever may be our circumstances, vulnerabilities or diversities to recall all those lessons that we, across the generations, have drawn as inspiration from our reflections on the life of St. Patrick, our national Patron Saint.
"Wherever they may be, Irish people gather to celebrate the rich culture and heritage that speaks so profoundly of a shared past.
"It is now two full years since we in Ireland, together with nations across the world, were plunged into facing a global pandemic that was unprecedented in our recent history.
"We Irish found ourselves invoking some of the most basic values embodied in the story of St. Patrick – values such as solidarity, care, kindness and compassion.
"It was inspiring and moving to see how our people sought to respond. These are values that the migrant Patrick could see as serving all humanity."
He added: "Every year, as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, we join together as one global Irish family united by a shared heritage, history and culture. We do not allow boundaries and distance to stand in our way, but reach across them generously in a spirit of unity and friendship. We have a better future to make together. That great spirit is one we must extend to all those with whom we share this planet.
"On this day during which we honour our Patron Saint, Patrick, a person whose life embodied the values of solidarity and a shared sense of humanity, let us do so by resolving to renew our commitment to upholding those values that guided his life.
"As we connect to our wider Irish family and to the many friends of Ireland who celebrate with us, let us show positivity in embracing our role as global citizens, and take on and make into reality our responsibility to work with fellow citizens across all continents for a better, fairer and more inclusive world."
President then signed off the address saying: "As we celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2022, may I wish again all those who share this island, all those Irish people by birth or descent wherever they may be in the world, and all those fellow global citizens who consider themselves to be friends of Ireland, a very happy and peaceful day."
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