IRISH eyes are smiling as the big party day of the year for everyone with connections to the Emerald Isle approaches.

Preparations for St Patrick's Day, on March 17, are under way at O'Neill's bar in Durham, supervised by Irish sisters Elaine and Michelle Cupples.

They have just taken delivery of this year's St Patrick's night promotional prizes - outsize Irish hats and miniature fiddles, which will be given away on the night to drinkers of Ireland's famous stout, Guinness.

During the day, the pub menu will feature Irish favourites including chicken and ham boxty, sausage and colcannon, black pudding melt, and steak and onion melt.

Elaine and Michelle, who come from County Down, have run the Claypath pub for the past three years, and experience tells them to expect a busy day, particularly as St Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday this year.

"It's one long party. We'll have all eight staff in because it can get pretty hectic," said Elaine.

The St Patrick's Day celebration at O'Neill's also traditionally benefits a good cause.

Last St Patrick's Day, about £20,000 was raised from the sale of 50p Shamrock badges by the O'Neill's group for the Children's Society.

This year's chosen charity is the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and with ten more outlets bearing the O'Neill's name, the total is expected to grow.