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St Patrick's Day festivities in pictures

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Colourful celebrations got underway on Sunday as St Patrick's Day was marked.

Thousands gathered to enjoy parades across the UK and Ireland.

Landmarks and rivers turned green as dancers and entertainers performed to deep crowds in towns and cities including Belfast, Dublin and Downpatrick in County Down - the patron saint's burial place.

Have a peek at the festivities as they unfolded.

image copyrightGetty Images
image captionDancers in the Dublin parade
image copyrightGetty Images
image captionThree happy revellers in Dublin
image copyrightGetty Images/Charles McQuillan
image captionMembers of the Artane Band in Dublin's annual parade
image copyrightPacemaker
image captionA reveller shows off his high kick in Belfast
image copyrightPacemkaer
image captionThere were plenty of colourful characters in Belfast's well-attended parade
image copyrightPacemaker
image captionSaint Patrick took time to greet children lining the parade route in Belfast
image copyrightGareth Fuller
image captionThe Duchess of Cambridge after the St Patrick's Day parade at Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow, where she presented shamrock to officers and guardsmen of 1st Battalion the Irish Guards
image captionDownpatrick's celebrations took place within reach of the iconic St Patrick's Centre and Down Cathedral - where the patron saint is buried
image captionDerry City and Strabane Mayor John Boyle paid particular mention to the city's young people for showcasing "their tremendous imagination" in the parade
image captionA jet skier got into the St Patrick's Day spirit on Lough Erne
image captionSt Patrick went hi-tech in Enniskillen, landing by helicopter for the celebrations