Glasgow will be the toast of the Irish today as the city’s world-renowned St Patrick’s Festival gets under way.

The city bids a warm “Céad Míle Fáilte” to visitors from across the globe who will descend on Glasgow for the annual event.
And fans of the popular festival are being given two extra days of entertainment.
Organisers have announced St Patrick’s Festival 2015 will run for two full weeks from today.
The festival, which will take place at dozens of venues across the city, is packed to the brim with Irish entertainment from across the cultural spectrum.
Merchant Square, the Shed, the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Malones Glasgow are among the venues, with a host of free and ticketed events, taking place during the next fortnight.
One highlight is the Festival’s Gala Dinner Dance, which is hosted by the Govanhill-based Irish Heritage Foundation.
Hundreds of guests will be on the green carpet at the Crowne Plaza this Saturday for the event.
Glasgow is set to benefit from a tourism boost sparked by the festival, with visitors flocking to the city. Now in its fourth year, organisers promise Glasgow St Patrick’s Festival 2015 will be the “biggest and best yet”.
Dr Padraig O Neill, chairman of Glasgow St Patrick Festival, said: “We have an intensive programme of music, song, dance, film and theatre, planned for this year’s festival.
“The official ball will take place in the Crown Plaza Hotel on Saturday 7 March and the festival will culminate with the family day in the Merchant Square on March 14.
“We hope to showcase the best of Irish culture and we look forward to the support of Glaswegians and visitors in celebrating St Patrick’s.”
The festival launched in 2011 to celebrate the Irish  heritage of Glasgow and Scotland.
Another of the many highlights of the is the Festival Family Day on Saturday March 14.
The free event, which will be jam packed with music, dance, and competitions, takes place between 12pm and 5.30pm in Glasgow’s Merchant Square.
Irish play, Hame, will run from Tuesday March 10 until Friday March 13  at The Shed in Shawlands.