Here's how your kids can see the parade (without you having to go outside)

The forecast is for cold and snow, and many of us will be debating whether to head into the city for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. If you are in two minds about braving the weather or staying in, you'll be gald to hear you don't have to compromise on either!

That's because, wherever you are in the world, you can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade live from Dublin thanks to RTÉ Player. 

Presented by Aidan Power, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh and Des Cahill, from 12.15pm (Irish time), the St. Patrick's Day parade will weave its way through the heart of the capital city in a flourish of colour and flair.

This year sees Dubliner Liam Cunningham, star of Game of Thrones, lead the parade as Grand Marshall.  

Community groups and pageant companies from all over Ireland will come together to celebrate the parade theme “Home Is Where the Heart Is”, with over 2,000 band members from far and wide delivering dazzling rhythms and uplifting music that will reverberate throughout the city’s streets.  

In addition to the live parade, viewers can watch cities around the world go green in a series of special news reports.  Audiences can also catch up on regional parades from across the North, South, East and West of Ireland which will be added throughout St. Patrick’s Day on RTÉ Player.

Celebrate all that Ireland has to offer with RTÉ Players ‘Best of Ireland’ collection including fantastic entertainment with The RubberbanditsGuides, The Nathan Carter Show, Garda Down Under, a look back on Ireland’s legendary TV soap in The Riordans: Tea, Taboos and Tractors and interview clips from The Late Late Show featuring some of Ireland's greatest including the nations sweetheart, Saoirse Ronan.

Grab your front row seat to this years' St. Patrick’s Day celebrations as they are available to watch worldwide for free on RTÉ Player .  

Available across desktop, iOS and Android, you can immerse yourself in RTÉ Player’s St. Patrick’s Day offering of top Irish programmes, documentaries and lots more.