THIS weekend people across the globe celebrated St Patrick's Day.

The iconic day celebrates Ireland's patron saint and is a day acknowledged by people the world over.

The day is marked on March 17 which is the traditional death day of St Patrick. It was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is acknowledged by the Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Lutheran Church.

The day commemorates St Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. However, nowadays it is also used as a way to celebrate the heritage and culture of Ireland in general.

In the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, along with some other places around the world, the days is a national holiday, although it is celebrated in a number of other places.

Parts of West Cumbria have strong Irish ancestry, particularly Cleator Moor which has been dubbed Little Ireland.

This is because of the Irish immigrants who settled in the town over a century ago making Cleator Moor their home and building St Mary's Church which is still the main catholic parish to this day.

The first Saint Patrick's Day parade in Ireland was held in Limerick in 1903, hundreds of years after the first parade in North America.

The week of Saint Patrick's Day 1903 had been declared Irish Language Week by the Gaelic League.

In Cumbria, like many other places, many people celebrate the day by spending time with their friends and embracing traditionally Irish traditions.

Some places may choose to play Irish folk music and Guinness, along with Irish whiskey, are popular drinks over the holiday.

These photos show people enjoying St Patrick's Day celebrations at The Club in Cleator Moor and an event at Monkwray Court in Whitehaven.