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DUBLIN-Hundreds of thousands of revellers took to the streets of Ireland Monday for celebrations to mark the annual Saint Patrick's Day national holiday.An estimated half a million people watched the country's biggest event in the capital, Dublin, where a 3,000-strong parade snaked its way through the city centre.The procession was bolstered by 16 marching bands from countries including Ireland, Japan, Italy and the United States and members of Ireland's burgeoning immigrant population.Other parades were held across the country while a cross-community, multi-cultural parade was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.President Mary McAleese, who reviewed the Dublin pageant, said the Belfast event was particularly poignant because it was the first since a power-sharing government was set up in Northern Ireland last May."This year, more than any in our recent past, is one to savour with special joy," she said."The welcome return of devolved government to Northern Ireland has brought to the island of Ireland a promising era of peace, prosperity and partnership," she added.Saint Patrick was a fifth century Christian missionary who is the Catholic country's patron saint.Celebrations to mark the national holiday-often fuelled by the national drink, Guinness beer-are held by the Irish diaspora and others around the world including in Tokyo, Moscow and Sydney.Beijing held its first Saint Patrick's Day parade this year and, for those unable to get to the real thing, Ireland's tourism body hosted the world's first parade in online virtual world Second Life.Irish premier Bertie Ahern was in Washington for Saint Patrick's Day, presenting US President George W. Bush with the traditional bowl of shamrock, the green plant which is the nation's symbol.The two will also hold talks on Northern Ireland and US trade and investment in Ireland, among other issues, a statement from Ahern's office said.Most of his ministers are scattered around the globe, using the occasion to try to drum up new investment and boost tourism.
As in the days of Noah....
