Charleston celebrates St. Patrick's Day with parades, mass and beer (updated with photos)

Image by Flickr user pixiesticks23♥

Update March 18: The Post and Courier has published a small photo gallery.

Update March 17: We had a chance to catch up with downtown's St. Patrick's Day Parade and snapped some shots of the action.

Check out the goods below.

Break out your green gear and let the spirit of the Irish take over -- It's St. Patrick's Day and that means parades, Catholic mass and beer. Lots of beer.

Today's downtown events kick off with an 8 a.m. Catholic Mass at St. Patrick's Church on Radcliffe Street. The always enjoyable St. Patrick's Day Parade follows at 10 a.m. The parade begins on Radcliffe Street and ends at Broad and Legare Street. The Hibernian Society Parade will follow just behind the main parade.

At 11:30 a.m., the South Carolina Irish Historical Society, along with Mayor Joe Riley will raise the Irish flag over Charleston City Hall.

There are also plenty of beer and bar specials going on all day long. Cheers!

Hat tip to The Post and Courier for outlining the day's events and for the map of the parade route they've provided.