Unionists out of Saint’s parade

Unionists out of Saint’s parade

14 March 2013

DOWN Council’s unionist politicians won’t be taking part in this weekend’s St. Patrick Day parade in Downpatrick which is being held on a Sunday for the first time.

DUP and Ulster Unionist councillors say their decision is not a formal boycott of the event, but a stand over the decision to hold the parade on a day which will exclude some people from taking part as a result of their religious convictions.

Confirmation the unionist councillors won’t be in Downpatrick for Sunday’s traditional cross-community parade was confirmed at Monday night’s meeting of Down Council.

DUP councillor William Dick said when the local authority agreed to hold the main festival parade on Sunday he warned against “being insensitive” to people with deeply held religious convictions.

“Sunday is not the day for this parade in my opinion. This is a carnival event and that’s why I object to it taking place on the Sabbath. There are many people who agree with what I have been saying on this issue. Holding the parade on Monday would have been more inclusive,” he added.

Ulster Unionist councillor Walter Lyons suggested if more respect was shown to the unionist community in the area they might have decided to attend the weekend parade.

Sinn Fein councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe said while senior clergymen in Downpatrick would have preferred the parade to be held next Monday, they had no issue with it taking place the day before.

“The vast majority of people including local business owners favour a Sunday parade. If Down Council had received even a reasonable number of complaints about its decision to hold the parade on Sunday it would have been brought to our attention,” he added.

Council chairman Mickey Coogan said people from all faiths and none and all political persuasions and none are more than welcome to attend this Sunday’s parade which he described as a family event.

“I fully understand the sensitivities for some people around the event being held on a Sunday. Everyone is welcome to come along to Downpatrick for the parade and I hope people will participate in many of the other festival events which are taking place all this week and again next Monday,” he said

Councillor Coogan said he hopes people from the Protestant community in particular who feel they can’t participate in Sunday’s parade will take part in some of the other festival events.