St Patrick's Day Goes Green: London Eye, Empire State, Tower of Pisa [SLIDESHOW]

Landmarks around the world have gone green to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Major sites in the UK, US, Australia, South Africa and China are taking part in Ireland's biggest celebration of the year by being bathed in green light.

The 'Go Green' celebration, launched by Tourism Ireland three years ago, will see the London Eye, Leaning Tower of Pisa and the whole town of Moraira in Spain lowing green.

"We aim to bring a smile to the world and to convey the message that Ireland continues to offer a warm welcome, fun and spontaneity," chief executive of Tourism Ireland, Niall Gibbons, said.

Ireland commemorates its patron saint St Patrick for bringing Chritianity to the country.

Born in Wales in AD385, he is thought to have originally been a pagan until he found his faith and decided to travel through Ireland, converting others.

Passages often mention St Patrick having "driven the snakes" from Ireland, although this is thought to symbolise pagans he converted to Christianity in his travels rather than the reptiles.

He used the image of a three-leafed clover as a symbolic tool of the Holy Trinity during his teachings. This led to the clover (or shamrock) becoming the symbol of choice to brandish on his day of celebration.