Dublin prepares to celebrate St Patrick

Flights to Dublin will prove popular in March as revellers flock to the city to experience its famous St Patrick's Festival.

The annual celebration of Ireland's patron saint will run from March 12th to 17th.

Visitors will be able to enjoy street theatre performances, dance shows, live music, comedy and much more during the festival.

All events will lead up to the climactic St Patrick's Day parade on March 17th, which will see hundreds of thousands of people throng the streets of Dublin to see a procession featuring a variety of performers, characters, floats and marching bands.

Full details of the programme for the 2010 St Patrick's Festival will soon be confirmed on the event's official website.

The festival was founded by the Irish government in November 1995 with the aim of putting on a national celebration that could rival other St Patrick's Day parties being held around the world.

Its first outing was in March 1996, meaning it will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

People planning to visit the 2010 festival can catch flights to Dublin with bmi, Aer Lingus, Flybe and other carriers.

• Singapore attractions to take part in green initiative
• Flybe promotes flights to France
• Austrian Airlines targets 1m extra passengers this year
• British Airways staff offer to work during strike
• Paris festival to celebrate jazz
• BAA signs contract for construction of Heathrow Terminal 2
• Travellers promised value for money in Malaysia
• Bmi to launch London Heathrow to Berlin flights this month
• Whale sharks arrive in Western Australia
• Sonar festival to return to Barcelona