Shamrocks on parade for St Patrick's celebration

Hundreds of soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, will be taking part in the parade on Saturday.

Officers will be presenting the 200 soldiers with shamrocks flown in especially for the occasion.

The day, which is marked every year by Irish regiments across the globe, will be attended by families and VIP visitors.

The annual event, which always takes place on the Saturday before St Patrick's Day, is an opportunity for soldiers and their families to get together and celebrate their Irish heritage and culture.

Also joining the parade this year will be a stand-in regimental mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Kelahg – and her handler Ranger Robert Moore, from Carrikfergus.

Kelahg is the sister of dogs who have previously paraded in front of the Queen and US President Barrack Obama.

The previous mascot, Brian Borou (Finn) died last year and the battalion is awaiting the arrival of a new permanent mascot – due to join them some time later this year.

Lieutenant Colonel Graham Shannon, commanding officer, said: "St Patrick's Day is a proud day to be in an Irish Regiment to remember our heritage and where we come from.

"It is a chance to say thank you to our families, the community and those who support us. No matter where we are in the world we will always stop to mark the occasion. We are an Irish unit and we welcome all who want to share our culture to join us and take part in these celebrations."

Captain Steve Maguire, added: "The Royal Irish Regiment is at the end of a busy year becoming a light mechanised infantry battalion; looking forward the regiment deploys to Kabul in December for a year on active operations abroad."

And joining his first parade since leaving basic training, ranger Arran Pearce, 21, from Donegal, said: "It's a very proud day to wear this uniform and to be surrounded by friends and family.

"It doesn't matter where we are from, North or South Ireland or across the UK – today we are just a regiment and it's also great to have a good party to mark the occasion."

Musical accompaniment will be provided courtesy of the bugles, pipes and drums of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.

The event starts at 10am.