St Patrick's Day celebrated globally - social distancing style
Landmarks are beacons of green and there are special video messages from around the world for Lá Fhéile Pádraig .
Last updated 17th Mar 2021
For the second year in a row, those wishing to mark the cultural and religious celebration of St Patrick’s Day will have to do so remotely.
From Dublin to Chicago, London to New York, landmarks and rivers shine out in emerald green for the emerald isle on March 17, despite covid restrictions which mean that parades and parties are axed across the board.
The V&A in Dundee
There’ve also been some special video messages from well wishers.
The President of Ireland, Uachtarain na Heireann Michael D Higgins, had this special message to mark the occasion.
He said another lockdown event provides a moment to reflect on the story of St Patrick.
"Perhaps, in the special circumstances of this year, we should give the day back to the story of Saint Patrick, that powerful mythic source upon which our National Day, which we offer to the world every year on the 17th of March, is based," he said.
You can watch his message here:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have appeared in the special video greeting with US president Joe Biden, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, New Zealand's leader Jacinda Ardern and Australian PM Scott Morrison.
Prince William even tried his hand at speaking Irish!
The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has also released a statement.
Archbishop Eamonn Martin said he hopes "people who are struggling with the pandemic, whose livelihoods have been threatened, or have contracted the virus, that they will find in Saint Patrick the courage and resilience to go on."
Ireland's Taoiseach Micheal Martin has already urged the public to enjoy a safe St Patrick's Day.
He stressed it was very important that people avoid social gatherings amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.