The St Patrick’s Day parade in the north has become a major festival over the past 20 years. Revellers have donned costumes and green clothing to gather for the annual parades. We have gathered a collection of photographs.

In one of the most bizarre St Patrick's Day celebrations from around the world, the Chicago River is dyed green to mark the occasion. Each year the Chicago Plumbers Union dumps a concoction into the waterway from a series of plumping pipes and spout pumps.

Photos show how St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated at the White House through the years. As President John F. Kennedy was America's first Irish-Catholic president, St. Patrick's Day held special meaning for him.