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Wednesday, 17 March 2010

St Patrick celebrated across Ireland

Thousands of people across the island of Ireland and beyond took to the streets to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

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St. Patrick’s celebrations: Belfast
St. Patrick’s celebrations: Dublin

In Belfast, a springtime-themed carnival parade featuring 1,000 participants left City Hall at midday and made its way to Custom House Square for an open-air concert headlined by teenage rap star Chipmunk.

Musicians, performers and community groups danced through the heart of the city for the fifth successive year.

A significant police presence was deployed in the Holyland area of the city to ensure there was no repeat of last year's riots.

Representatives of both of Queen's University and the University of Ulster and residents groups worked to ensure St Patrick's Day passes off peacefully.

The area is now covered by a new CCTV system which authorities hope will help combat anti-social behaviour.

In Derry, events included carnival parades, concerts, dancing, flag-making, storytelling and Celtic characters

The showpiece event saw Victoria Market Car Park transformed into a child friendly alcohol free zone with non-stop music, dance and carnival fun.

In Dublin, the sun came out just in time to shine on an estimated 650,000 spectators at the world-famous parade.

Shamrock-painted faces and novelty hats filled the capital's streets, with some brave bystanders dangling from lampposts to catch a better view of the festivities.

Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Packie Bonner acted as Grand Marshal for the day, leading his green army along the bustling 1.8-mile route.

This year's "Extraordinary World" theme for Dublin saw hundreds of international street performers in spectacular costumes make their way through the crowds.

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10 Comments

At 23:03 on 18 March 2010, maggie wrote:

When the IRA coffins were draped with the tricolour this gave the Protestants whose lives have been ruined by them no love for the tricolour. Likewise the Ulster flag linked with loyalist makes it not be accepted by the Catholics

At 16:30 on 18 March 2010, lorna wrote:

I wonder what ST Patrick would say if he saw Northern Ireland now, the way his Christianity has changed . There were possibly no flags. surely no drinking and since he had come over from Britian unity with the British

At 13:09 on 18 March 2010, dazz wrote:

if for both sides why not let prod bands in it with no flags from anyside after all saint paddy was not a rc

At 11:08 on 18 March 2010, OldSod wrote:

St Pats should be for everyone. I can understand why many would be uncomfortable with the tricolour (it, like all tricolours, is a republican flag). It would not bother me down in the republic (it does not carry the same message down there), but in the north I always feel a little uncomfortable with it flying. Maybe we should just fly the St Patrick cross? St Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland, not the Republic of Ireland (tricolour) or Northern Ireland (ulster banner), so his legacy should be for everybody.

At 10:18 on 18 March 2010, Fed Up wrote:

I agree Tanya. It should be about celebration. Unfortunately the comment made by Robert is quite correct and reflects Northern Irish culture at present. St Patricks day is seen as a Republican/Nationalist '12th' with the sea of Tricolours and Green. Just as the 12th is Unionist with a sea of Orange and Red White and Blue. Maybe in the future things will be different, we can only hope, but at the minute that is the sad truth.

At 10:11 on 18 March 2010, Deaglan Bhreathnach wrote:

History lesson for Robert! Firstly, St Patrick is Patron Saint of all Ireland, second, St Patrick represents Christianity, Orange Order is a protestant organisation and very much an anti-Catholic one! I commend the PUP councillor for taking a stand, it wasn't that republican event, as from what I seen, he was received very well. If a lodge member married a Roman Catholic they would be thrown out, thats why July 12th is sectarian, not St Patrick's day! Do you mean to tell me that African-Americans should not join in St Patrick's Day festivities in the US? Think about it Robert, stop throwing out a sectarian card to play on every issue in the country. I only seen a handful of tricolours, I did see every colour under the rainbow!

At 03:06 on 18 March 2010, John wrote:

whats the differance between people being aloud to openly drink Alchol on the streets of Belfast on st patricks day and not beging aloud to do the same thing on the 12th of July. Is it one law for one side & one for another?.