Hibernia's Champion Saint All Hail!

Posted by nancy call nemchik | 21.03.09, 16:56 GMT

st patrick's is a fake festival propagated by the Free Staters.

Posted by Greg | 18.03.09, 22:56 GMT

Madeline Hart, The people who move to Canada who were "wearing their green and touting their Irish heritage like they would never have done had they been back in Belfast." probably do so because they get SICK of people telling them they are irish so just go along with it for a quiet life. I however will NEVER tire of correcting the ill informed cannukes that people from NORTHERN Ireland are NOT Irish, but will remain British; and for that reason I totally refused to wear even a trace of green on paddys day. and YES I DO reside in Canada.

Posted by Stuart | 18.03.09, 21:57 GMT

i find it difficult for a paper of belfast to leave out 2 groups also in the parade, fathers for justice and gay pride

it is obvious to the members of fathers for ustice that the belfast telegrapg care little for childrens rights that were highlighted on a fmaily day like saint patricks day

Posted by hugh | 18.03.09, 20:04 GMT

Jake M's comment "There is nationalist community in NI about 40% and many of that population consider it their flag and they are entitled to that view and to use the flag.

So if I consider something regardless how inaccurate, I can justify its accually right. The fact that Nationalists WANT a united Ireland suggests to me its still divided. Divided with seperate Governments, seperate Heads of State, different currency's and low and behold, different national flags. Regardless how much I consider it, I can't change any of those things and neither can nationalists.

Posted by Facts are facts | 18.03.09, 19:08 GMT

Let me just say that it was an absolute disgrace yesterday. Not the Parade, not the people taking part, not the citizens who turned out in their thousands to watch the parade and go to the events. The organising and handling of the whole St Patricks Day Events yesterday was poor. Many families with children were also discusted and outraged at what developed when the people got to custom house square for the free concert.

Tourists Americans, British, French, German, Polish, Asian, African, Spanish, Canadians and I'm sure there were many more who we didn't speak to or film. Tourists here in our city in Northern Ireland spending their money, making the effort to come and visit. These people were all being excluded from the "Free Concert" because they had no tickets. As tourists they were asking how would we have known in advance that we would have needed tickets they were even asking can we not just pay to go in.

Posted by Patrick | 18.03.09, 17:04 GMT

What do you say to your children when they look out from behind the curtain and ask why they can't go to the parade.
What parade? 12th, St Patrick's Day, just tick the box.

Posted by MacLochlainn | 18.03.09, 16:24 GMT

Real Fathers for Justice were on this parade. First time ever that a fathers` group has gained permission to join any parade in NI.

We ARE in Belfast, and yesterday was just a nice wee stroll to show our banner.

We WILL up the ante with the politicians no!!!! Watch out for Batman near you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, or above you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Real Fathers for Justice | 18.03.09, 15:12 GMT

Aaron, whats your opinion on the 12th July.
A lovely family event for all the people of northern ireland??
Grow up.

Posted by b* | 18.03.09, 13:49 GMT

I hope everyone had a great St Patrick's day, i know, i had pottering about in the garden & wishing my Roman Catholic neighbours all the best for heading off to their parade. Then the added bonus of seeing the country bumpkins on the news wearing their Celtic / GAA tops generally causing havoc in their boozed up party in the Holy Lands - there was me thinking it was only us Prods who got the bad press on the 12th but it will be brushed under the carpet as light hearted celebrations if the media is anything to go by.

Posted by Stephen | 18.03.09, 13:02 GMT

You people are pathetic, just look at some of your comments. I doubt there are more backward people anywhere in the world!

"..we can get Irish flags, Celtic tops and GGA tops totaly out of the supporting crowd. "

How can you possibly dictate what someone wears, grow up! This may come as a suprise to you, but not everyone in a Celtic jersey is a raging republican or bigot, as I'm sure not everyone in a Rangers jersey is a bigot either! They are football teams after all, not political parties

Posted by Mark | 18.03.09, 12:02 GMT

The comments suggesting that the Irish Tri-colour is inappropriate at a St Patrick's Day parade in NI are nonsense. There is nationalist community in NI about 40% and many of that population consider it their flag and they are entitled to that view and to use the flag. That doesn't and definately shouldn't stop anyone else using a St Patrick's, NI or other flag. St Patrick's is Ireland's Day north and south so symbols of all of Ireland should be welcome and encouraged.

Why does it always have to be a zero sum game in NI. The approach to all these things should be respect for the symbols and flags that the communities have. In the recent Ireland vs Scotland rugby game I noticed a number of NI and Ulster flags along with the tri-colour in the crowd of Ireland supporters which is the way it should be. St Patrick's Day should be no different.

Posted by Jake M | 18.03.09, 11:35 GMT

i think this comment article should be removed from the site, i come here to read the news and catch up with current events from home, not to be subjected to the apparent spew of an individual's political opinions.
research history, from both sides, perhaps from 20 sides, whatever, draw your own conclusions and be happy with your own feelings. there's nothing wrong with a discussion and a bit of banter, but stop enforcing your opinion onto others.

we are better than this

now lets go for a pint.....

Posted by a man from co down | 18.03.09, 11:09 GMT

and please, no one suggest the twelf is not all inclusive and republicans dont feel welcome. the difference is that it is a celebration of protestant heritage and has no need to be all inclusive. Yesterday was a celebration of christianity being brought to these countries, and therefore is for everyone. Some drunk idiot waving a tri colour clearly doesnt even know why they are there, or where they are. Wrong flags, wrong attitudes, wrong time and place. thats how the parade is and thats why half the country dissappear for the day to let the divisive bigots have their big day out.

Posted by baryy | 18.03.09, 10:18 GMT

maybe we could have accepted the tri colour being flown in a foreign land (Belfast not being part of RoI, the country the flag actually represents) if it hadnt symbolized the republican movement here for soo long. this flag does not represent me or my family and never will. It is not an all inclusive flag and only brings division here, not the unity you claim. It should not have been flown full stop. St patrick was the saint of all of ireland, and as has been rightly stated, that is now north and south and there is no reason what so ever to fly a foreign flag at our parade. if you want to pretent your from RoI, keep it behind closed doors and dont spoil other peoples days, by making Northern Irish protestants feel unwelcome. Our saint to. Get the ulster flags and NI flags hoisted high and proud

Posted by disgruntled | 18.03.09, 10:14 GMT

Get a grip of yourselves! It's a day for both sides! Just wise up the lot of ya - complaining about tricolour! Nobody was thinking that yesterday! Their day wasn't ruined just because of the tricolour. Get a grip of yourselves, you're all so quick to judge. It's a step forward from 30-40 years ago. I'm from Belfast and I live in Cambridge - and I only WISH I was home for the celebrations!

Surely Northern Ireland has moved on from the stupid flag arguments! It seemed like a good day - just forget all the silly pettiness. Just enjoy it for one day of the year!

Posted by Amanda | 18.03.09, 10:14 GMT

One the one day of the year when the whole world is Irish, you can relay on the Irish themselves to fight and argue about it. What's wrong with the people in this country! The problem with the use of Tricolours on St Patricks day is not the flag itself but the fact that it is either being flown by an idiot in a football top and I'm pretty sure St Patrick didn't play football (GAA or otherwise) or it's normally draped around a 14 year old who's too drunk and ignorant to know what the day is really about. The same thing happens on the 12th July and it’s disgrace to both countries and cultures.

Posted by John | 18.03.09, 09:58 GMT

The Twelfth got hi-jacked such that no one remembers the Pope's victory at the Boyne. It is an Irish thing.

Posted by John smith | 18.03.09, 05:12 GMT

St. Patricks Day is a celebration of all things Irish including the Northern Irish and there's nothing more Northern Irish that dredging up pointless, decades old arguments at every available opportunity. So thanks lads for your contribution but if you don't mind I might sit this one out and celebrate with a pint of Guinness instead. (And yes, I do know Guinness wasn't around at the time of St. Patrick but hey, I'm having one anyway)

Posted by Mick | 18.03.09, 02:20 GMT

People moaning about tricolours on St Patricks Day??

What next? No gays at the Pride march??

No union flags on the Twelfth??

Wise up!! What flags are we Irish supposed to fly on St Paddys??

It was good fun and the kids loved it. Now calm down

Posted by ger | 18.03.09, 00:30 GMT