Coronavirus: Cork City cancels St Patrick's Day parade as Mary Lou says Dublin cancellation is 'inevitable'
A number of other parades across the country have been postponed or cancelled.
8 hours ago
St Patrick's Day in Dublin last year. St Patrick's Day in Dublin last year.
Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
Updated 21 minutes ago
CORK CITY HAS cancelled its St Patrick’s Day parade while Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she thinks it’s “inevitable” that the parade in Dublin will not go ahead.
In Sligo, organisers have confirmed the town would also be cancelling its parade this afternoon, citing guidelines from health authorities.
“The health and well-being of our community is our first priority and having reviewed the guidelines from the HSE and the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19, the committee feel it is appropriate to cancel this years event,” Finbarr Filan, the chairperson of Sligo’s St Patrick’s Day committee, said in a statement.
It was announced this afternoon that the Cork City St Patrick’s parade would be cancelled.
On Friday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said “there is no recommendation to cancel mass gatherings at this stage” amid global concerns about coronavirus.
No official decision has yet been made on the 17 March festivities but Health Minister Simon Harris has said this morning that ‘clarity’ on this should be expected within 48 hours.
Cancelled and postponed
The Wicklow town St Patrick’s parade has been cancelled, the committee announced in a statement earlier.
The parade was cancelled in the interest of public health and safety. The committee said it “did not make this decision lightly”.
Other parades have been cancelled or postponed:
Mallow, Co Cork
Churchtown, Co Cork
Kealkill, Co Cork
Greystones, Co Wicklow
Newbridge, Co Kildare
Castlegregory, Co Kerry
Mountmellick, Co Laois (called the Boglands Festival)
The parade in Durrow, Co Laois has also been cancelled this year, but out of respect for the passing of the committee’s treasurer, a community group said on Facebook.
Carlow TD Jennifer Murnane O’Connor has called on organisers of the Carlow parade to postpone due to coronavirus fears, Carlow Live reports.
Clare TD Cathal Crowe said he believes it is “imperative” that large public events and gatherings such as St Patrick’s Day parades should be “cancelled in the interest of public health”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke programme, Mary Lou McDonald said “steady and determined leadership” was needed.
“I’m very glad to hear the indication from the Six Nations that the matches are going to be postponed until the autumntime. I think that is a very wise and responsible thing to do. I think there is an ongoing conversation across the land about St. Patrick’s Day and parades, we need a decision on that. It seems to me inevitable that the parade will be postponed, again my personal view is that that is the responsible and necessary thing to do,” the Dublin Central TD said.
Not to create panic but on the contrary, to assurances to people that there is steady and determined leadership and that we are prepared to take the necessary actions to keep people safe.
French media are reporting that the Six Nations rugby match scheduled for this coming weekend is set to be postponed.
In Dublin City Council, Independent councillors Christy Burke and Anthony Flynn are tabling a motion at an emergency meeting of Dublin City Council this morning for the Dublin parade to be cancelled indefinitely.
The St Patrick’s parade in Maynooth has been postponed to minimise the spread of Covid-19, it was confirmed today.
“We intend to run the 2020 parade later in the year when it is deemed to be safe and that the spread of Covid-19 has ceased,” chair of the Maynooth St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and county councillor Naoise Ó Cearúil said in a statement.
The planned parade in Youghal, Co Cork was cancelled last week.
Speaking last night, Burke said the fear among members of the people is “unbelievable”.
“My phone is ringing non-stop with concerned people over the spread of the coronavirus – especially over the past 48 hours. Cllr Flynn and I believe we will have the full backing of our motion by all councillors on Tuesday. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar needs to finally listen to people on this and the feelings out there,” he said.
“The public don’t want the parade to go ahead as people are going to be 20 deep and in close quarters trying to view it. It also makes its way from Parnell Square in the north of the city down to the south-side.”
“I’ve had people coming to be telling me they are leaving the city to get away from crowds of people for a few days,” Burke said. “It’s not about saving face any longer and the might of big business – it’s about people’s lives and health and safety. Ordinary people are scandalised that the government don’t seem to be taking this situation more seriously.
Burke said that “people want to see spray machines in public and to see the government more hands-on”.
“Our European counterparts are taking the coronavirus crisis very seriously and we as a nation need to take a more serious note out their books.”
With reporting from Dominic McGrath, Céimin Burke and Orla Dwyer