Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, Ireland

© Colm Keating/Tandem Stills + Motio

Saint Patrick's enchantment. Happy St Patrick's Day!

St Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, honours Ireland's patron saint and national apostle, Saint Patrick—a fifth-century missionary. A national holiday in Ireland, the festivity is marked by a range of cultural events, parades and traditional music and dance enjoyed across the globe. Interestingly, the first St Patrick's Day parade wasn't held in Ireland but in the United States. The earliest celebration was organised by Irish vicar Ricardo Artur in St Augustine, Florida, in 1601.

For the occasion, Irish landmarks like the surroundings of Dublin's Samuel Beckett Bridge—seen in today's image—are often illuminated in green, the striking symbol of the festivities. The bridge, which spans over 122 metres across the River Liffey, was named after the Dublin-born writer Samuel Beckett. The bridge was designed to evoke the image of Ireland's national symbol, the harp.