Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Children feature in St Pat's Day Parade

The theme of this year's St Patrick's Day parade in Belfast is Páistí an Domhain/Children of the World, said Irene Sherry, chairperson of Carnabhal Naomh Pádraig, at the recent launch of plans for this year's celebrations.

Sherry has called on festival organisations from all over Belfast "to get ready to party" to make up for the disappointment of last year when the Festival was cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth crisis.

This year, St Patrick's Day falls on Sunday and the Carnival committee is launching a fundraising drive to finance the celebrations, including a massive parade to the city centre.

"The Carnival Committee is asking community groups, schools, youth clubs and anybody else who is interested to make a float, dress up bring your band to ensure that we make this the best carnival yet and showcase Belfast as a diverse multi-cultural, vibrant city," said Sherry. "This year's theme, Páistí an Domhain, is very appropriate considering the current situation at home and abroad. The Carnival will hopefully highlight the plight of children from Ardoyne to Afghanistan but should also show the positive aspects of childhood."

For further information contact Irene Sherry at Belfast 028 90 742255 & 0798 0006585 or Carol Jackson 028 90 313440 & 0775 1566563.