Officials from the police department of the Central administrative district of Moscow told RIA Novosti that there were no incidents during the parade. The traffic on New Arbat resumed after 14:00.
St. Patrick, a British shepherd, lived in the 5th century. He proselytized Christianity in Ireland.
Fifteen groups, representing Russian and Celtic cultures, participated in the parade. Each group stopped at a platform erected at the end of the route near Arbatskaya subway station to receive greetings from the representatives of Moscow City government and the Irish Embassy.
Among the participants and guests of the parade were people of all ages. Many came wearing traditional Irish costumes featuring green, orange and white colors - the colors of the Irish national flag.
The tradition of the St. Patrick's parade in Moscow started 15 years ago. The parades were conducted every year, except 1999 and 2000, when due to the 1998 crisis the parade could not be organized. Despite the ban on beer drinking (beer is an official St. Patrick's holiday drink in Ireland) imposed by the authorities and chilly weather, both the participants and the guests enjoyed the parade.
