Bookings for Paddy's Day up 50% this year

New figures show holiday bookings to Ireland for St Patrick’s Day have increased by 50 per cent compared to this time last year.

Dublin is still the number one destination, with 66 per cent of tourists choosing the capital, followed closely by Galway, and then Cork.

The research was carried out by online travel agent Expedia.ie and shows that visitors from America and Britain are our top tourists.

Jill Lloyd, Head of PR with the travel agent- outlines some of the reason for the huge rise;