Festivals have been held across Ireland for St Patrick’s Day while the global diaspora joined the party in honour of the Emerald Isle’s patron saint.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen faced a backlash on Monday for agreeing the EU-IMF bailout for his debt-laden nation.

Irish leaders will jet off around the world this week to promote the Emerald Isle ahead of this weekend’s annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations, an increasingly global excuse for…