St Patrick's Day celebrations to take place across Northern Ireland
St Patrick's Day celebrations take place across Northern Ireland
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of people are expected to attend St Patrick's Day parades and festivities in towns and cities across Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
Thousands of people are attending St Patrick's Day parades and festivities in towns and cities across Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
The Belfast parade starts from the city hall at noon and will make its way to Custom House Square for a free concert.
The Belfast parade began from the city hall at noon and made its way to Custom House Square for a free concert.
Motorists have been advised of traffic diversions, which began at 08:45 GMT due to a fun run in the city.
Parades and celebrations are being held in Londonderry, Armagh, Newry, Enniskillen, Omagh and Downpatrick.
Parades and celebrations will also take place in Londonderry, Armagh, Newry, Enniskillen, Omagh and Downpatrick.
For the first time, Stormont is among landmark buildings "going green" in honour of Ireland's patron saint.
The public has been advised to use public transport where possible and to expect some traffic disruption along parade routes.
'Going green'
Metro bus services in Belfast will run as normal on St Patrick's Day, but some Ulsterbus services will operate a holiday service while Northern Ireland Railways will operate on a Saturday train timetable.
For the first time, Stormont will be among the landmark buildings around the world that are "going green" in honour of Ireland's patron saint.
Derry City Council has promised a "kaleidoscope of colour and culture" during its celebrations, with a free family fun day in the city and a carnival parade setting off from the council's headquarters at 14:30 GMT.
Derry City Council has promised a "kaleidoscope of colour and culture" during its celebrations, with a free family fun day in the city and a carnival parade setting off from the council's headquarters at 14:30 GMT.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will be the guest of honour in County Down, where he will take part in a service at Saul Church - built in 1932 to commemorate St Patrick's first church in Ireland.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is the guest of honour in County Down, where he took part in a service at Saul Church - built in 1932 to commemorate St Patrick's first church in Ireland.
The archbishop will then set out on the pilgrimage walk to Downpatrick, where he will lay a wreath at St Patrick's grave before joining a parade through the town.
The archbishop then set out on the pilgrimage walk to Downpatrick, where he laid a wreath at St Patrick's grave before joining a parade through the town.
Carnival
Carnival
Armagh's five-day St Patrick's Day festival culminates in a carnival procession through the city centre on Tuesday, starting at Palace Demesne at 13:00 GMT.
Armagh's five-day St Patrick's Day festival culminates in a carnival procession through the city centre on Tuesday, which began at Palace Demesne at 13:00 GMT.
Newry's parade begins at noon outside The Quays shopping centre and will be followed by live music, Irish dancing and street theatre in the city.
Newry's parade began at noon outside The Quays shopping centre and will be followed by live music, Irish dancing and street theatre in the city.
Enniskillen's celebrations start at 13:30 GMT with a family fun day at Broadmeadow, followed by a parade through the County Fermanagh town from 15:30 GMT.
Enniskillen's celebrations start at 13:30 GMT with a family fun day at Broadmeadow, followed by a parade through the County Fermanagh town from 15:30 GMT.
Omagh hosts a parade followed by an open-air concert, with the festivities kicking off in High Street from 13:00 GMT.
Omagh hosts a parade followed by an open-air concert, and the festivities kicked off in High Street from 13:00 GMT.
Full details of public transport timetables for St Patrick's Day are available on Translink's website.
Police advised motorists that Belfast city centre traffic is likely to be disrupted by the fun run, which began at the city hall at 09:00 GMT and travels through Divis Street, Falls Road, Broadway, city centre, Waring Street, Victoria Street and onto Titanic Quarter.
Belfast's St Patrick's Day parade will cause minor traffic disruption from 11:30 GMT in Donegall Square, Wellington Place, Chichester Street, Victoria Street and around Custom House Square.
