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Turkey trot has Parades Commission in a flap
Monday, 15 December 2008
PSNI Sergeant Scott Fallis announces to the people of Irvinestown the Parades Commission's final decision on the turkey parade
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Feathers flew on Saturday when a motley band of Christmas turkeys paraded in County Fermanagh – without permission from the Parades Commission.
The birds – staging Ireland's first Turkey Walk – attempted to walk along Mill Street in Irvinestown but fell fowl of the law when they came up against a police barricade. Tongue in cheek signs attached to the PSNI barrier read 'No turkeys across police line'.
Around 20 turkeys, ducks and geese took part in the light-hearted parade – organised by a number of townspeople including hotelier Joe Mahon – and were joined by a donkey, two goats and a man in a chicken suit who were marching in solidarity.
Tensions warmed as PSNI Sergeant Scott Fallis warned the turkeys by loudhailer that without permission from the Parades Commission they couldn't cross the barrier. And matters came to a head as Santa Claus stormed the barricades, insisting on the right to walk.
But the marchers won an 11th hour reprieve when a fax arrived from the Parades Commission revealing that they had permission to waddle their way up the length of Mill Street – despite having failed to give notice of the parade 28 days in advance.
And as the parade wound down, the marchers got their comeuppance for their belligerent attitude as they were rounded up for a turkey auction.
Afterwards Joe Mahon said he had been worried that police would put a spanner in the works, but the parade had gone brilliantly in the end.
"We shall overcome, as they say," he said.
"We are going to make this into a traditional walk every Christmas.
"We did have to apply to the Parades Commission six or seven years ago when the leprechauns paraded up the street as part of the Lady of the Lake festival."
Sergeant Fallis added: "It was a bit dodgy at the start – the turkeys were being arrogant and they were going to come through the police line whether they had permission or not.
"But at the last minute they were saved – the Parades Commission allowed everything to go ahead and the riot was prevented."
Sadly, Sergeant Fallis's one-legged rooster Hopalong was unable to take part in the parade as originally planned – he and many of his fellow chickens had fallen prey to a fox attack two nights previously.
The tongue-in-cheek event marked the 100th anniversary of the Irvinestown Fairs and Markets Trustees and along with a Christmas craft fair raised money for the Relay for Life cancer charity.
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Good job the Cops dont have to catch murderers, rapists and child abusers as they are too busy with the other fowl members of society
Posted by C. Lyons | 15.12.08, 19:12 GMT
The article mentions walking ducks and geese.
Posted by Redbreast | 15.12.08, 18:44 GMT
Why did those turkeys cross the road anyway?
T'was a fowl business, methinks.
:-)
Posted by alwyn | 15.12.08, 17:25 GMT
Good for the PSNI, nice to see everyone joining in on the joke. And a great sign that cross community get togethers can raise a laugh as well as community support. Well done Irvinestown.
Posted by Bongo Bailie | 15.12.08, 17:18 GMT
Why do people joke when the people of nationalist ireland have truely sufferred at the hands of this loyalist parade commission
Posted by Garty Lost | 15.12.08, 16:27 GMT
Why shouldn't these turkeys march when the others turkeys march?
Can I say it? Only in N. Ireland. Not America.
Posted by earl | 15.12.08, 16:23 GMT
Is it not discriminatory that only turkeys were allowed to march? What about all the chickens, geese and ducks. I smell something fowl.
Posted by robin | 15.12.08, 16:22 GMT
O. K. point taken funnybone,.............
p. s. I'd be laughing too if I were getting the same fat allowances the Parades Commissioners get for every 'march' decision they make!.........Ah well, I suppose it's only tax payers money,........ so it doesn't really matter too much then.
Posted by T J McClean | 15.12.08, 16:20 GMT
Wow, "S", really? That would be what the Belfast Telegraph meant by "tongue in cheek"? I am so grateful to you for pointing that out to me. I was afraid of "ruffling feathers" (ahem!) when I made that remark earlier about Republican or Loyalist turkeys.
I am so relieved that there have not been any reports of illegal parades or riots by offended "Tele" readers - so they must have realised I was joking too....!
Posted by Centaur | 15.12.08, 16:09 GMT
o k point taken funnybone
Posted by t j mcclean | 15.12.08, 14:57 GMT
You would think that we would be used to it my now considering the amount of turkeys we have observed marching over the years, at least they got reprieved and are now roosting happily in Stormont with grain for life.
Eugene
Posted by Eugene | 15.12.08, 13:39 GMT
If everyone hasn't already realised, this was a bit of fun! It was an effort to come together, police and the local community to raise the profile of a Cancer Charity.
Neither the Parades Commission nor the police had any real intention of blocking a 'turkey walk'. A sense of humour is called for here!
Posted by S | 15.12.08, 13:15 GMT
give it a rest T J McClean! This was only in fun - if you'd been there and been part of it you would understand the hilarity of it! The police are only doin their job and the parades commission - like it or not ARE set up to handle all marches - serious or frivolous! So lighten up!
Posted by funnybone | 15.12.08, 12:57 GMT
Where's the sashes and bowler hats
Posted by Sean | 15.12.08, 12:50 GMT
One has to ask, were they Loyalist or Republican turkeys?
Posted by Centaur | 15.12.08, 12:26 GMT
ye couldn;t make it up....loada gobbledeegook :-D
Posted by SP | 15.12.08, 11:54 GMT
Oh look. Another case of "political bodies" throwing their weight around and talking a load of nonsense!!!
Posted by Richard F | 15.12.08, 11:40 GMT
This is unbelievable... is there a hidden message in this march?
Turkeys not allowed march traditional route
Police blocked road
Parade commission then gives permission (which in itself is a complete joke)
Turkeys march
Then get sold out to the highest bidder
And finally get stuffed.
Posted by G | 15.12.08, 11:24 GMT
It was great event in aid of charity and it was fantastic to see local business, police and the community come out in support. Please leave political point scoring out of it. This was only a bit of fun for a good cause.
Posted by OldSod | 15.12.08, 10:20 GMT
This is not the reason the Parades Commission was set up. They were to give direction on contenscious parades. Now they poke their noses in everywhere to try and justify their existence and huge allowances. A waste of taxpayers' money. Scrap them now! The PSNI are just lackeys to the Parades Commission. They are rarely seen before real trouble arises. They only arrive an hour later, too many important things to do!
Posted by T J McClean | 15.12.08, 07:58 GMT