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MLAs seek St Patrick's Day holiday
Monday, 19 April 2010
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MLAs said it would attract tourists and recognise St Patrick's role as the bringer of Christianity of all denominations to Ireland.
The Alliance Party's Kieran McCarthy tabled the motion.
"Northern Ireland has massive tourism potential and to realise this potential we need to make sure St Patrick's Day is a real public holiday for all.
"We need to make the most of St Patrick's Day and attract tourists to Northern Ireland to celebrate the day with us, enjoy our hospitality and help boost our economy," he said.
He added it was about creating a shared future and giving everyone ownership of the day.
"It is about making St Patrick's Day the best it can be because we have a lot to be proud of in Northern Ireland and this is one of the biggest days on our calendar," he said.
Many young people currently cannot take part in celebrations because they are at school and many other people have to work on the day too.
Mr McCarthy added: "We had this very same debate over 10 years ago and I sincerely hope that we don't have to wait another 10 years for the Secretary of State (Shaun Woodward) to make it a public holiday for everyone."
Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy backed the motion and said it was a matter which should command cross-community support. SDLP Assembly member Alban Maginness said St Patrick was Ireland's patron saint and it was fitting that he be recognised with a public holiday.
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Proud to be ''Northern Irish''? Can one also be proud to be ''Western Scottish''? ''Eastern English''? or ''Southern Welsh''?
What utter semantic nonsense. St. Patrick's Day is a day for celebrating Irishness, just like George's Day celebrates Englishness or St. David's Day fetes Wales.
On second thoughts, give the pervading PC mindset, maybe we should have a St. Llewellyn to celebrate ''North-East Welshness'' after all.
Posted by Euskal Herria | 21.04.10, 17:41 GMT
Bunk, I think Warren should have used the term "Republicanism" instead of "Irishism" in his post. Of course St Patrick's day is an Irish celebration but it should be able to be celebrated by both sides of our divided community without having the flag of the Irish Republic flouted in the faces of those citizens who are happy to be Irish but prefer to remain part of the United Kingdom.
Posted by Roy | 21.04.10, 14:55 GMT
With some of the bitter comments here it is a wonder that some of you haven't tried to have the name of your homeland changed.
Even if you move to another country, you will still be Irish, your maternal nationality.
Quit sucking on lemons.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 21.04.10, 11:43 GMT
Warren
"Until Irishism is taken out of the St.Patricks day events..."
Can't actually believe I'm engaging in a conversation after such an idiotic statement but here goes anyway.
Should we also refuse to celebrate Independence Day until all the Americanisms have been removed?
Should Australians be banned from Australia Day?
The clue is in your own statement - 'he brought Christianity to the island'.
Warren, could you be talking about the island of...Ireland?
Posted by Bunk Moreland | 21.04.10, 01:48 GMT
I get the day off but to be honest it's a complete waste and I would rather have the day off between September and November when we currently have no public holidays.
I am proud to be Northern Irish but sorry, I couldn't care less about St Patrick's Day and 'celebrating being Irish' - even more so when newly inclusive politicians tell us we should! It is a day that was hi-jacked beyond the point of no return long ago, to the point where we now really just don't care!
Posted by Steam | 20.04.10, 20:05 GMT
Yes, Steven, a great day to celebrate a true Brit!
Posted by Taffy | 20.04.10, 19:45 GMT
Well Said HC!
Posted by James | 20.04.10, 18:02 GMT
Hi Mod,
Hopefully the sectarianism will eventually be removed from St Patrick's Day in Belfast, I noticed a vast improvement this year with a much lighter atmosphere.
I too used to go to St Paddy's day in England wearing the things I associated with my Irishness, be that my Ulster rugby top or my Glentoran top, along with my shamrock I was ready for Paddy's Day!
We all enjoyed Paddy's Day, catholics, protestants, nationalists and unionists, we all celbrated being Irish; someday I too hope to be accepted as Irish by both republicans and loyalists in Northern Ireland.
But great news on the public holiday, a step in the right direction!
Posted by Steven73 | 20.04.10, 17:52 GMT
A fun day for everybody of all faiths and none.
Posted by matt | 20.04.10, 17:48 GMT
I am a unionist and have no interest in St Patricks Day, but i'll take happily take another public holiday.
Posted by Dave | 20.04.10, 17:46 GMT
All in good time, all in good time. LEts not jump ahead of ourselves here!
Posted by barry the God | 20.04.10, 17:43 GMT
It wont change anything, the majoirty Protestants simply wont attend any events when irish flags are been waved around. Until Irishism is taken out of the St.Patricks day events and we get back to remembering the true meaning of the day that he brought the Christian faith to the island, Unionists simply wont attend and therefore the event will always be a fail.
Posted by Warren | 20.04.10, 17:05 GMT
I can assure Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy that the Parade I seen in Belfast City Centre was anything but Cross Community. Just looking at some of the candidates the Ulster Unionist Party have running in the election it seems that they are going Cross Community
Posted by East Side | 20.04.10, 16:11 GMT
Great move. However, I was in Belfast for this year's "cross community" St.Pats Day Parade and while the endeavour is there, more effort is required to prevent the day evolving into a republican celebration. Tricolours, while not obvious in the parade, were abundant around the City Hall and Custom House Square later. As someone else said, if anyone appeared with a Northern Ireland flag there would have been murder.
Posted by Roy | 20.04.10, 15:39 GMT
NI playing catch up as usual! There has been a misplaced fear among some unionists that acceptance of St Patricks day is acceptance of 'Irish' culture and hopefully most have now seen the light and moved on. No doubt there will be a few that would rather celebrate St Georges day than St Patricks day but we wont miss them on the day!
Posted by Ulsterman | 20.04.10, 15:36 GMT
Since making St. Patrick's Day an official holiday in the North has cross-community support, then Stormount should empowered to do so.
Here at this side of the Atlantic, St.
Patrick's Day has been celebrated for 2½ centuries in NYC, but it is NOT an official holiday. Many centers of R.C. education, including Fordham University (bronx), keep their classrooms open that Day.
Posted by Seán Mac Curtáin | 20.04.10, 15:25 GMT
About time if you ask me!
Time for us all in Northern Irelnad to really start to enjoy St Patrick's Day and celbrate being Irish!
Posted by Steven73 | 20.04.10, 13:12 GMT
Good move long long overdue!
This year once again Protestant children and parents missed out for another year on all the fun because most state schools, (apart from a few Grammars attending the Schools Cup rugby) had to stay in and do lessons!!!!
It's a shame that after all the advances made in politics and community relations we can’t all get together and celebrate our joint history and Christian birthright!
Inexplicably this St Patrick’s Day situation mirrors our daft educational setup which segregates at birth! Can our children not be allowed to mix for one day of the year? Would that be too much for our Executive to make right for next year?
Posted by T J McClean | 20.04.10, 12:59 GMT
Brilliant idea,should have been done years ago. Sadly though,and i really dont like to have to say this,but if i walked into the town with an ulster flag,not a union jack,- an ulster flag, i would probably get kicked and beated.The irony of the story is because when i lived abroad for over a decade,i used to bring my ulster flag into a bar i worked in,and every st patricks day i brought it in and had a brilliant day celebrating without any fear,and drinking in the good company of both north and southern catholics. We all have one common bond, and that is, that we were all born on ireland and that exactly how other countries view us all.Its totally bizarre over here,were still living in the dark ages.
Posted by mod | 20.04.10, 12:38 GMT
It makes sense to make this a national holiday - not catholic,not protestant, not unionist and not nationalist. A day that all the people can look forward to and raise their spirits after the toils of winter.
Posted by HC | 20.04.10, 12:26 GMT