Irish take over the world

DUBLIN, Ireland, March 17 (UPI) -- All the world was Irish Saturday as Saint Patrick's Day was marked by parties and parades in Ireland and across the globe.

Not only was the day marked in Ireland and the United States but also in such ex-pat outposts as Dubai, Montreal, Sydney and Seoul.

Sky News said Ireland hosted both the largest and smallest parades -- half a million people in Dublin and a 100-yard march between two pubs in Dripsey, County Cork.

Uruguay featured a strange custom of spinning an Irishman around once for every year of his age and then having him or her stumble dizzily to someone of the opposite sex for a kiss.

Ireland's favorite son Van Morrison gave a concert in Amsterdam while Chicago carried out its annual tradition of dying the river green.

London planned to hold its celebration Sunday, although Sydney and Singapore held their parades last weekend.