United Christian organisation to protest at St Patrick’s Day parade

United Christian organisation to protest at St Patrick’s Day parade

8 March 2023

A CHRISTIAN organisation is planning to stage a protest in Downpatrick during next week’s St Patrick’s Day parade which draws thousands of visitors to the town.

United Christian Witness has notified the Parades Commission of its intention to stage a parade-related protest in the town as the cross-community parade takes place.

The group is seeking to protest in the town centre between 12.30pm and 5.30pm and has informed the Commission that 20 people will be taking part.

The stated purpose of the United Christian Witness protest is “to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ who is the light of the world”.

The organisation has posted a message on its Facebook page which reads: “St Patrick came many years ago to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the pagan Irish and, unfortunately, the people are in need of the Gospel more than ever today.”

The social media post adds: “Come along and join the outreach.”

South Down MLA Colin McGrath said community support for the parade in Downpatrick was stronger than ever and that protests by fringe groups will not deter that support.

“Downpatrick really is the place to host the St Patrick’s Day celebrations,” he said.

“The town is the final resting place of Ireland’s trinity of patron saints after all. Downpatrick’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations have always brought out the best in our community and brought our community closer together.”

Mr McGrath said that following the end of lockdown restrictions last year’s parade “really emphasised the joy and hope people felt at emerging from the shadow of Covid-19”. 

He went on: “This year will be no different and I was absolutely baffled to receive notice that a fringe church has lodged protest to this celebration with the Parades Commission,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, this group spends more time proselytising through fear and anger, not through sharing the joy and hope of Christianity which St Patrick epitomised.”

Mr McGrath described plans to protest against a celebration of the patron Saint as “bizarre”.

He continued: “The St Patrick’s Day events are a celebration of all that is joyful and hopeful about our shared home place, to say nothing of the economic lift it provides for Downpatrick and I have absolutely no doubt that this year will continue that tradition.  

“The protest by this fringe group will not deter us and it will, as it has done before, fail.”

A spokesman for the Parade Commission confirmed that the organisation has received a notification from United Christian Witness which indicated that there was an intention to organise a parade-related protest on St Patrick’s Day in Downpatrick. 

He said the notification is scheduled to be considered by the Commission and its decision is expected today.