St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday

St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday

30 January 2013 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

DOWNPATRICK will host its first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade on a Sunday this year.

Local politicians have decided the spectacular cross-community event will take place on Sunday, March 17, and will not be moved to the following Monday, despite requests from senior clergymen.

The Church of Ireland Dean of Down, Very Rev. Henry Hull, and Downpatrick Parish Priest, Canon Sean Rogan, said they would prefer the parade to be held on March 18 when a number of traditional church services are taking place, including the ecumenical service at Down Cathedral. But their suggestion has been rejected.

In previous years when St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Sunday, the cross-community parade was moved to either the Saturday before or the Monday after.

Dean Hull said while he and Canon Rogan had no issue with a Sunday parade, they would have preferred the parade to have been aheld on the Monday to coincide with the traditional St. Patrick’s Day religious services.

Down Council’s decision to hold the parade on Sunday for the first time means Downpatrick will now host two major events on March 17. The hugely popular Jimmy’s 10K road race takes place in the morning and within hours of the event finishing, the carnival float parade is due to start.

Unionist politicians argued a Sunday parade is “insensitive” and when St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Sunday in previous years, the event was moved. But nationalist and republican councillors insisted if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this should not prevent the parade from going ahead.

During Monday night’s council debate, DUP councillor William Dick claimed the Downpatrick business community would “lose out” if the parade was held on the Sabbath. He claimed traders will not enjoy the same income they would expect if the parade was held on a Saturday or Monday.

“If the parade is held on Sunday, any potential economic benefits it provides for the local business community will be lost. A Sunday parade is inadvisable and a great mistake in my opinion,” he added.

Sinn Fein’s Éamonn Mac Con Midhe said the issue of what day the parade is held on was discussed in depth at the council’s Cultural and Economic Development Committee. He also confirmed members of the Downpatrick business community had been asked for their views and “had no issue with a Sunday parade.”

He added: “The St. Patrick’s Day parade does not benefit all businesses in the town. If the parade was held on a Saturday or a Monday, some shops would close as they would not be doing any trade.”

Independent councillor Cadogan Enright said while he initially proposed the parade should be held on March 18, he was convinced by traders that they did not want any of their busy shopping days “blocked off” and would be happy with the event taking place on Sunday.

“Some Downpatrick traders are under huge pressure with one business set to close in the near future. I can however see difficulties getting people to the town due to the Sunday service which will be provided by Translink,” he added.

SDLP councillor John Doris said “St. Patrick’s Day should be celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day” and could not understand why anyone would say otherwise, while party colleague Colin McGrath said many traders in Downpatrick town centre have never opened during the March 17 parade as they do very little trade.

He also said that in advance of Monday night’s council meeting, community groups across the district had already been informed the parade would be held on Sunday.