Wetin be St Patrick's Day and why dem dey celebrate am

Thousands of pipo dey gada for towns and cities across Northern Ireland to celebrate St Patrick's Day on Monday.

Belfast promise to be multicultural celebration of music, culture, di Irish language and community.

Derry City and Strabane go "celebrate our heritage" wey go bring togeda pipo from local schools, sports clubs and drama groups.

Newry and Downpatrick go do parades wit street performers, community groups, dancers and pageantry.

Meanwhile, our BBC Dublin reporter Kevin Sharkey say di party don alreadi start for Irish capital, wit tens of thousands of visitors arriving ahead of di main event on Monday.

BBC News for Ireland don pull togeda wetin dey go on across different places as dem dey celebrate St Patrick's Day.

How St Patrick's Day take come?

Millions of pipo around di world dey celebrate St Patrick's Day on 17 March evri year.

St Patrick Day na celebration of Irish history and culture, and na national holiday for di Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

St Patrick na di patron saint of Ireland and e dey celebrated for bringing Christianity to di kontri.

E grow up for Britain during Roman times, but dem kidnap am and take am to Ireland as slave.

Once dem free am, e train as a priest and go back to Ireland to convert thousands of pipo to Christianity.

Di dates of Patrick life no dey fixed wit certainty, but sometime afta 431 AD, Patrick dey appointed as successor to St Palladius, di first bishop of Ireland.

Wia dem dey celebrate St Patrick

Belfast

Belfast don dey host events since di start of March, wit a packed programme of cultural activities across di city leading up to St Patrick's Day.

Di St Patrick Day parade on Monday go start at 13:30 GMT.

Local dance troops, schools, community groups and musicians go weave dia way from Belfast City Hall, through di city centre via Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place, bifor returning to di city hall.

Belfast TradFest dey host a four-day music festival until Monday.

Féile an Phobail dey run a trad trail, wit ova 100 sessions for venues across di city.

Seachtain na Gaeilge, annual festival wey dey promote di Irish language and culture don dey host events since di beginning of di month.

Londonderry

Di theme for Derry St Patrick Day programme incorporates forest, sky and sea as di city celebrate di arrival of brighter day ahead.

Activities dey planned for Guildhall Square, di Craft Village, Waterloo Place and di Guildhall.

Di St Patrick's Day parade go begin at 15:00 GMT, departing from di Bishop Street carpark.

Around 120 children from local schools go take part for dis year parade.

Dublin

BBC reporter Kevin Sharkey send dis from Dublin say di streets of di city centre dey alreadi dey like sea of green.

St Patrick festival events bin happun for different parts of di city throughout di weekend.

Di national St Patrick's Day parade go begin at midday local time (12:00 GMT) on Monday, and go celebrate Irish culture and heritage.

Ova half a million spectators go gada to watch more dan 4,000 participants, including marching bands from around di world, performers, dancers, and colourful and creative St Patrick's Day floats.

A special pageant go celebrate 40 years of di Irish non-govmental organisation (NGO) Pavee Point, showcasing Irish Traveller and Roma traditions.

Downpatrick

Downpatrick dey known as di final resting place of St Patrick and dem go host a carnival parade wit street performers, community groups and dancers.

Di parade go leave from Downshire Estate at 13:30 GMT and go arrive di city centre.

Entertainment go dey throughout di afternoon for di Grove and St Patrick's Square.

Armagh

For Armagh, thousands of visitors dey expected for a week-long celebration, wey begin on Sunday, 9 March, wit a lineup of music, art, theatre, and cultural experiences.

Di city parade organised by di local community go start for 13:00 GMT on Monday from di Christian Brother's School.

Newry

For Newry, di St Patrick Day parade dey depart from Albert Basin at 13:00 GMT on Monday.

Live music and celi go dey for di Marcus and Margaret Squares.

Dungannon

A free St Patrick's Day concert between 13:30 GMT and 16:30 GMT on Monday for di Hill of di O'Neill and Ranfurly House, Dungannon.

Irish trad and folk band The Muddlers Club go provide entertainment for di crowds.

Face painting, amusements, arts and crafts and food vendors go dey on site.

Enniskillen

Di Enniskillen St Patrick's Day parade go take place at 15:30 GMT on Monday - e go leave from Enniskillen Castle.

A free family fun day for di castle go play host to live entertainment acts.

On Sunday, illuminated tractor and truck run go take place along di traditional parade route.

Omagh

Omagh St Patrick Day Parade go begin for 14:00 GMT from South West College. Dis year theme na 'snakes alive', taking inspiration from di 2025 Lunar New Year of di snake.

Entertainment go dey and Strule Arts Centre go host a variety of family-friendly activities including arts and crafts, storytelling, and face painting.

Antrim and Newtownabbey

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council get an array of St Patrick's Day events on offer.

Dem go do exhibition of historic Irish dancing costumes dating back to di 1940s for di Theatre at The Mill, running until 13 April. Di exhibition go showcase di tradition and artistry of Irish dance and na free to visit.

A fun family day of live music, storytelling, and traditional Irish dancing and highland dancing dey take place for Antrim Castle Gardens.

To round off di celebrations, on di evening of St Patrick's Day, di Rapparees go take to di stage for Theatre at The Mill.

Lisburn

A St Patrick's Day celebration and tea dance go take place for di Market Square, Lisburn.

For di Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, e go get free drop-in arts and crafts themed around di patron saint.

Ballycastle

For Ballycastle, County Antrim, e go get activities for families and a St Patrick's Day parade.

Inside di Marine Hotel, dem go do arts and crafts for families, including quiet area and informal sports demonstrations.

Why dem dey celebrate St Patrick's Day?

Saint Patrick Day bin start as religious feast to celebrate di work of Saint Patrick, but e don grow to be international festival wey dey celebrate evritin wey be for di Irish.

Pipo dey take part for parades and dancing, eat Irish food, and enjoy huge firework displays.

Di day also dey famous around di world for pipo wearing shamrocks, dressing up as bearded Irish fairies called leprechauns, and wearing all green.

Di famous St Patrick Parade dey often feature bands from around di world.

Dem dey do dis to celebrate di work of St Patrick wen e dey alive and di impact wey e don make.