By Press Association

Parades were held across the island of Ireland on Tuesday to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

In Belfast, the streets were filled with crowds who turned out in the sunshine to watch the floats.

A masked woman watches the parade in BelfastA masked woman watches the parade in Belfast (Mark Marlow/PA)A woman in a green hat in Belfast(Mark Marlow/PA)A man in a green hat in Belfast(Mark Marlow/PA)Two men in green jackets in Belfast(Mark Marlow/PA)Two children wave green flags(Mark Marlow/PA)A band plays in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in DublinA band plays in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin (Evan Treacy/PA)A performer in the Dublin paradeA performer in the Dublin parade (Evan Treacy/PA)A performer in the Dublin parade(Evan Treacy/PA)Performers in the Dublin parade(Evan Treacy/PA)A performer in the Dublin parade(Evan Treacy/PA)

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who will meet US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office later on Tuesday, emphasised the depth of the link between Ireland and the US during engagements in Philadelphia and Washington DC.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and his wife Mary O’Shea are greeted by US vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha VanceTaoiseach Micheál Martin and his wife Mary O’Shea are greeted by US vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance before a breakfast at the Naval Observatory, his residence in Washington DC (Niall Carson/PA)US vice president JD Vance (left) and Taoiseach Micheal Martin US vice president JD Vance (left) and Taoiseach Micheál Martin (Niall Carson/PA)A note written by Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the guest book A note written by Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the guest book at the Naval Observatory (Niall Carson/PA)JD Vance shows off his socksJD Vance shows off a pair of shamrock-patterned socks (Niall Carson/PA)US vice president JD Vance (right) and Taoiseach Micheal MartinUS vice president JD Vance (right) and Taoiseach Micheál Martin (Niall Carson/PA)