Irish writer Roddy Doyle, author of "The Commitments," has written an original short story for this year's St. Patrick's Day festival in Dublin. "Brilliant!" can be downloaded for free from the festival's website (here), and will be used as the theme of Thursday's parade.

This is in recognition of Dublin being named the fourth Unesco City of Literature, with celebrations all year long.

Can't get there yourself? You can read the Doyle story online and then watch the parade on the webcam of Dublin's main newspaper, the Irish Times.