City Council, loyalists and rain fail to stop play
The people of Belfast who went to the city centre this year to celebrate St Patrick's Day had a good day, and that's the official version of events!
yone who tells you different is in the pay of that large body of snakes driven out of the country by Patrick all those years ago and who will take every opportunity to spoil a good party.
Whether or not the loyalists who phoned in warnings about bombs being planted at three main points leading to the City Centre as they tried to disrupt the show are in the pay of the snakes or not is open to debate, but they failed to spoil things. The bomb scares were at Barrack Street, Albert Street and at Sorella Street and all three were declared hoaxes before the West Belfast parade set off from Dunville Park.
The City Fathers, as they are called, also failed to stop the parade given their refusal once again to give the St Patrick's Day Carnival Festival any money to fund the event.
It was therefore down to the rain to try to put a dampener on events, but once again the stout hearted citizens of Belfast ignored the inclement weather and headed to the City Hall, where they revelled in the entertainment provided by African band King Masco, Durkan Folk and The Answer from Downpatrick.
As the theme of this year's celebrations was Children of the World, youngsters from all over the city turned up clad in the national dress of countries throughout the world.
Children from the Holy Cross school had pride of place in the parade that made its way from Ardoyne and down through North Belfast to the City Hall.
Palestinian children, for the first time ever, took part in the parade in Belfast and marched under the banner 'Palestinian children deserve a future also'. The children were very well received by the thousands who lined the streets of Belfast city centre. Their banner was particularly poignant, given the killings and destruction ongoing in Palestine at the present time and the continuing illegal military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by the Israeli State, despite all UN demands for them to withdraw.
"It was a great day", said Carnival chairperson Irene Sherry. "Despite the rain clouds, we have had a great turnout and everybody enjoyed themselves."
London festivities a huge success
Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin travelled to London at the weekend to participate in the British Capital's first ever official St Patrick's Day celebrations, which were a massive success. Police had to divert the second half of the parade away from Trafalgar Square, which was already packed with 30,000 people, and tens of thousands lined the route from Westminster Cathedral, down Whitehall and ending in Trafalgar Square. The parade consisted of all the usual elements, plus the rather incongruous sight of a contingent of the Metropolitan police complete with green sashes.
The Foyle Assembly member said:
"The London celebration of St Patrick was a fantastic success and all credit to the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone - a long time friend of Ireland. The Mayor's Dinner at the Savoy Hotel was attended by leading members of the London/Irish business community, sporting personalities including Niall Quinn and many from the world of entertainment.
"A great night was had by all - entertained by the legendary Dubliners, Mary Coughlan, Paddy Reilly, Finbar Furey as well as the Wexford Male Voice Choir and an array of London/Irish dancers and singers.
"The highlight of the weekend was the Parade on Sunday organised by the Irish Counties Associations starting with Mass at Westminster Cathedral. I was privileged to accompany Mayor Ken Livingstone and the Irish Ambassador, Daithí Ó Ceallaigh at the front of the parade to Trafalgar Square. The attendance exceeded all expectations - over 60,000.
"The event made history in that it broke the Code of Standards drawn up by Westminster stating that NO Irish events were allowed take place in Trafalgar or Westminster Squares. Following his election, responsibility for these areas fell within the remit of the Mayor who in his own words 'in recognition of the contribution made by the Irish community to every aspect of life in London', decided that proper recognition was long overdue.
"The relaxed and jubilant atmosphere in which the crowds enjoyed the event after so many years wait should ensure even bigger and better celebrations in future years. In the words of Ken Livingstone - 'it could rival New York in years to come'."
Tom Smith honoured
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