Live webcam shows Temple Bar absolutely wedged at just 10am with St Patrick's Day revellers

St Patrick's Day celebrations are well underway across Ireland, with revellers set to paint towns and cities green today.

Up to half a million people are expected to descend on Dublin this afternoon, with many other parades also happening up and down the country.

One area in particular that is sure to salute Ireland’s patron saint is the iconic Temple Bar area of Dublin.

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The area is synonymous with Irish culture and each year on March 17 thousands of revellers head there in celebration of Ireland’s patron saint.

Both locals and tourists alike have been flocking to the iconic area since early this morning, with live webcam footage showing hundreds of people there at just 10.30am.

A live stream by the website EarthCam has been documenting it filling up with green clothes, novelty hats, Irish flags and shamrocks from early morning.

Watch a live stream of Temple Bar on St Patrick’s Day

While pictures from this morning show it dry and sunny, Met Eireann is forecasting a change in the weather.

It's set to turn wet and dull this afternoon, with some heavy showers and possible thunderstorms.

The national forecaster said: "St Patrick's morning will be generally cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle. The rain will be followed by scattered showers and occasional sunny spells through the afternoon and evening. Some showers will be heavy, particularly in the west with isolated thunderstorms possible over Connacht. Drier in the east and northeast. Highest temperatures of 11C to 14C in a moderate south to southeast breeze.

"Scattered showers early tonight will gradually die out, leaving a good deal of dry weather for a time. Outbreaks of rain will develop in the west and northwest towards morning. Patches of mist will develop in a light southerly breeze. Lowest temperatures of 5C to 8C."

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