In pictures: St Patrick's Day parades return

Thousands have turned out to mark St Patrick's Day across the island of Ireland after two years of muted celebrations due to Covid-19.

Parades were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

On Thursday, revellers went green and lined the streets of Belfast and Dublin city centres.

There were also parades in Downpatrick, Londonderry and elsewhere as many celebrated the return of street festivities.

There was hoopla in Belfast city centre as the annual St Patrick's Day parade made a long-awaited return

Some rainy weather didn't deter a giant crowd from enjoying the Belfast festivities

Green-tinted glasses the eyewear of choice in Belfast

Belfast's Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl was suitably green for the day

Elsewhere in Belfast, a number of people - including one dressed as St Patrick - held an anti-war protest outside a site owned by missile-making firm Thales

In Downpatrick, a violinist plays at St Patrick's grave - the County Down town is considered the final resting place of Ireland's patron saint

Families pose for pictures after climbing Slemish mountain in County Antrim - the mountain is said to have been where St Patrick worked as a shepherd after first coming to Ireland

Huge crowds took to the streets of Londonderry

Colourful costumes were the order of the day for Derry's parade

Shamrocks aplenty in Dublin, where 400,000 were forecast to turn out for the parade

This St Patrick was ready for some shamrock and roll in Dublin

Dublin's Ukraine community took part in the St Patrick's Day Parade

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