TWAS a tale of two temperatures as St Patrick’s Day festivities brought the Irish and their friends out to celebrate our national day over the weekend.
While London and Birmingham bathed in the balmy mid-teens, scarves and stockings were in order for parade-goers in Manchester and Coatbridge.
Early morning gales in Leeds proved so strong that the organising committee feared the show might not go on, before a break in the weather saw the parade continue as planned.
But whether chilly or fine, hundreds of thousands of people made their way to their local city to celebrate their heritage at a host of St Patrick-inspired events – with some claiming record numbers.
In Pictures: View all the St Patrick’s Day parade photos from across Britain in our St Pat's section
In Glasgow, the covered Merchant Square venue proved the only spot on Britain’s bustling St Pat’s line-up which was unaffected by the weather.
Roughly 6,000 Scots-Irish came out in force to ensure a full house for Saturday’s family fun day – which was headlined by local singing star Michelle McManus.
Not so far away in Coatbridge, the long-standing St Patrick’s Day Festival, which regularly welcomes 20,000 people, was receiving similar attention – with the community from across Scotland making their way to the Irish heartland to celebrate their heritage.
The good fun and fine spirits already on show across Saturday’s festivities were given a further boost when Ireland beat France to claim Six Nations glory.
Those celebrations spread well into Sunday, where rugby fans took to St Patricks’ Day parades in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and London - and in many smaller towns across the country - with renewed vigour.
In Manchester the celebrations kicked off with a mass said in Gaelic held at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Irish Town Way, in Cheetham Hill.
The parade then made its way through the city and into Albert Square’s festival market before crowds of thousands moved on to a range of local Irish venues to party into the early hours.
Simultaneous celebrations in a particularly sunny Birmingham saw more than 80,000 people turn out early to enjoy the annual parade and festival – which boasted the theme ‘Irish myths and legends’.
A further 100,000 people were out in London, where a gloriously sunny day saw crowds packed into Trafalgar Square following the annual parade, this year led by Irish dancing star Michael Flatley alongside Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall and Irish Minister Pat Rabbitte TD.
But the festivities don’t stop there as events across the country continue today, on the feast of St Patrick.
Nottingham’s parade is currently weaving its way towards the city’s Market Square, while in Luton the fun continues with a range of musicians taking to the Mall Stage in the city centre this afternoon.
In Liverpool a number of bars are hosting St Patrick’s themed parties across the city, while St Michael’s Irish Centre welcomes members to music by Michael Coyne this evening.
Further events will take place in Manchester, Birmingham and London over the course of the day and evening - with some festivals running until March 22.
In Pictures: View all the St Patrick’s Day parade photos from across Britain in our St Pat's section
See More: Ireland, Irish, Irish In Britain, St Patrick's Day
