Paddy's Day

St Patrick's Day seems to be quite a big deal here in Ireland - who would have thunk it! Mum, Dad and I caught a bus into the city - along with a lot of other people shrouded in green. Braving the crowds we walked the path of the parade up O'Connell Street. There were some interesting characters in the crowd - including a few Leprechauns.

We walked past the Cab Drivers' Shrine at the northern end of O'Connell Street.

Having not attended a parade in perhaps two decades I was unfamiliar with the accessories people now bring to assist with achieving an elevated viewing position.

We found a parade viewing position just near the intersection of O'Connell and Parnell Streets. Early in the parade there were a number of horses and behind each group of horses a council worker with a vacuum - it turns out the council worker was a bigger hit than the horses.

There were lots of colourful floats.

And some fancy puppets.

A local pontiff spectator

And marching band

after marching band

The parade finished and we wove our way back through the Dublin streets towards home. 

We walked along the Grand Canal for a while enjoying the sound of the water and the soaking up another sunny afternoon. We spotted a fluorescent blue kingfisher darting along the canal too.

After stopping at a local pub for lunch we continued our stroll home, happily escaping the crowds.