Manchester was a sea of green as more than 100,000 people lined the streets for the annual St Patrick's Day parade.
Floats representing all 32 counties of Ireland were accompanied by bagpipe bands, Irish dancers and an array of vintage vehicles.
Huge crowds sporting painted faces and Ireland shirts and scarves cheered on an estimated 1,000 people taking part in the parade.
The event was the biggest ever staged in Manchester ? and the biggest in Europe outside the Emerald Isle. Although St Patrick's Day is not until next Saturday, the parade is traditionally held on the Sunday before.
The parade began at the Irish Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill before making its way down Cheetham Hill Road and into the city centre.
The floats moved down Cross Street before entering Albert Square, outside the town hall, for a rousing finale.
Organisers said an estimated 12,000 were packed into Albert Square alone ? with more than 100,000 lining the full parade route.
One of those taking part was Brian Boru, 63, who donned full medieval costume to represent 'the last kind of Ireland'.
Brian, from Fallowfield, said: ?I've been coming to this parade for seven years ? and it's fantastic.
?It's just a great occasion with a real sense of community.
?The kids absolutely love it.
?It's all about tradition. That's why I dress up in the costume and take part. If we're not careful, we can lose it.?
Kevin Beswick 56, was playing with the Manchester Phoenix Pipe Band.
He said: ?It's a massive community thing - we play all the traditional Irish songs.
?It's really important to get everyone together, co-ordinate our community and promote our roots.?
Irish Community Care, a group which offers support and advice to elderly members of the Irish community in Manchester, showed off its new minibus during the parade.
Deirdre Carroll, from the group, said: ?For us it's just a great family day out and means we can showcase what we are doing.?
Christine Bleakley, 39, came to watch the parade with her and daughter Ellie, 10 and her mum Mary, 74 - originally from County Louth.
Christine said: ?It was really, really good.
?They really went to town on it this year with all the music and the tractors.
?It was really enjoyable.?
Stan Persse, 49 from Mottram visited with his wife Glenys and grandson Matthew, seven.
He said: ?We moved here in the 60s so wanted to come down and be part of it. It was great.
?So much effort went into the floats - we thought everyone did really well and made it a great spectacle.?
Among the guests at the event were the Irish Ambassador to the UK, Eugene Ford.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, the co-chairman of the festival, said: ?I just want to thank all the volunteers.
?It takes a lot of time and effort get the floats together but it is great for the Irish in Manchester.
?There is a lot of history there and this parade celebrates that.?
John Flanagan, the second co-chairman, said: ?It's the biggest festival we have ever had.
?We have had great support from the whole of Manchester.
?Everyone's enjoyed themselves and I just hope they enjoy the rest of the festival.?
The parade is part of the?2012 Irish Festival, which?began last Sunday and has seen more than 200 events take place at 80 venues.
It will conclude next Sunday - the day after St Patrick's Day - with a series of events across the city.
Here is our live coverage of the event from earlier today:
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