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While many cities around the world are celebrating St. Patrick's Day today, Dublin takes the celebrations to the next level with its multi-day St. Patrick's Festival, running from March 15 to March 19.
Today, families gathered at every corner, including O'Connell Street, to take in the famous National St. Patrick's Day Parade, with a special theme, home.
Greetings from O’Connell Street #StPatricksFest pic.twitter.com/VUGgmTptFp
— St. Patrick's Festival (@stpatricksfest) March 17, 2018
More than 2,000 international musicians, dancers and storytellers participated in the parade.
We have begun @stpatricksfest #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/CwowoNk1I4
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) March 17, 2018
However, the crowds were larger than normal, as this year's parade hosted a special international guest.
For the first time, the parade invited 'home' an International Guest of Honour, Mark Hamill, the Jedi master himself. The honourary role celebrates the achievements of one individual who has special ties to Ireland.
Our International Guest of Honour @HamillHimself has arrived to view the #StPatricksFest Parade outside the #GPO @gpowithistory #starwars #loveDublin #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/P3qGLVHHWU
— St. Patrick's Festival (@stpatricksfest) March 17, 2018
"Mark has a special affinity to Ireland through his filming of Star Wars and family history and has done much for our film industry," said Susan Kirby, St. Patrick's Festival CEO. "We're looking forward to welcoming him back 'home' to celebrate our national holiday and St. Patrick's Festival with us."
Skellig Michael, a legendary island off the coast of Kerry, was put on the map in Star Wars: The Force Awakens when Rey finds the long-lost Luke Skywalker hiding out in his last days.
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, several locations along the western coastline of Ireland have served as film locations, including County Donegal as well as the cliffs of Counties Clare, Cork and Kerry.
It’s not every day you meet a Jedi master! Star Wars™ actor @HamillHimself enjoying the electric atmosphere and cheering fans at Dublin’s @stpatricksfest! Happy #StPatricksDay! pic.twitter.com/HTi4pzHQUV
— Tourism Ireland GCC (@GoToIrelandGCC) March 17, 2018
In addition to the Star Wars connection, his great-grandmother, Elizabeth Keating, was born in Kilkenny and his great (x3) grandparents were married in Gurteen, Tipperary County.
Just before the parade @PresidentIRL joined @HamillHimself at the #StPatricksFest Grandstand. pic.twitter.com/vZM9FMhTZR
— St. Patrick's Festival (@stpatricksfest) March 17, 2018
Hamill did his own pre-parade prep for the event, by gathering a few of the fan-favourite Jedi-Irish memes.
Today would be a good day to deploy these #StPatricksDay images, because today..... THE WHOLE GALAXY IS IRISH. 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚😜 pic.twitter.com/09xeCbJept
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) March 17, 2018
Thousands of painted faces and flag wavers lined the chilly streets in Dublin to celebrate the thousand-year-old capital city.
We always love to see @PurdueBands in Dublin. #StPatricksFest #IrelandAAMB pic.twitter.com/wBbEV1MKYO
— St. Patrick's Festival (@stpatricksfest) March 17, 2018
In 2016, the festival adopted an instrumental theme by Pete St. John called, March To Dublin. It resurfaced this year as well.
And we're not sure why but for about 50 years running, 'Paddy Drac' has never missed the St. Patrick's Day parade. However, he says this will be his last.
Got to meet the legend Paddy Dracula. I'm the one one the left 😀 #StPatricksDay #Ireland pic.twitter.com/uzToMIX2Kp
— Old Ireland (@OldeEire) March 17, 2018
The parade wound its way through the heart of the capital city past Trinity College, through Patrick Street and finished at Kevin Street.
Our International Publicity team @FailteIntMedia are with overseas media @stpatricksfest and @TourismIreland giving them an authentic experience of #StPatricksDay here in #Dublin pic.twitter.com/GU7b1LPgMF
— Fáilte Ireland (@Failte_Ireland) March 17, 2018
The Dublin Fire Brigade piped the parade along.
Arriving at the finish line! 🤗🤗 #SophiesPaddysDay @stpatricksfest pic.twitter.com/Wpo0tngVbA
— Creative Ireland (@creativeirl) March 17, 2018
To add to the momentous day, Ireland scored a victory in Ruby this morning, beating England 24-15 and crowning Ireland the 2018 champions in the Grand Slam Rugby event.
Full Time score - England 15-24 IRELAND. IRELAND win the Grand Slam! #ShoulderToShoulder #TeamOfUs #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/qC8ujoPol3
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 17, 2018
Celebrations will continue into Sunday when the team returns home.
Homecoming: Celebrate Ireland’s Grand Slam on Sunday afternoon in @AvivaStadium
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 17, 2018
Welcome the Ireland rugby heroes home at 4.30pm on Sunday at the home of Irish Rugby.
Download your free ticket from https://t.co/gzmhHs0fDe pic.twitter.com/0SXCVEs2EV
And since we can't all make it to Dublin today, here's a tip on what NOT to say from a Guinness Beer Specialist in Ireland's capital city.
Here’s how to talk like an actual Irishman while you’re having a pint this #StPatricksDay weekend, from a Guinness Beer Specialist straight from Dublin and @HomeOfGuinness, Aaron Ridgeway. ^Heather, Guinness Correspondent pic.twitter.com/QmTDkxJ5AP
— Guinness US (@GuinnessUS) March 17, 2018
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