Councillor says 'it seems to be a celebration of Irishness, rather than a celebration of St Patrick'
At a committee meeting this week, the chamber’s sole TUV Councillor, Ron McDowell, who represents the Court area, made the suggestion as elected members were asked to approve the budget for next year’s St Patrick’s Day festival. He said his own community celebrated the festival in a way “rather than being a celebration of Irishness.”
“For the people of my community, we celebrated St Patrick’s Day last year, and there were events in the Orange Hall. We celebrated Patrick the evangelist, and the life story, rather than being a celebration of Irishness.” Councillor McDowell said: “Looking at this funding from my community’s point of view, and the shareholders, it seems to be a celebration of Irishness, rather than a celebration of St Patrick, of whom there are different viewpoints within the city, even though we all mark St Patrick’s Day.
He said: “In terms of the community groups that were engaged across the city, they were representative of all the traditions in the community, and that is something we want to do more of in the future.” He added: “It would never be for a council officer to engage with one community at the cost of another.”
“So I would like to see more efforts being made, I would like to see more involvement with the Ulster Scots Agency. I know you can’t make people apply for funding as such or put in an expression of interest, but I would like to see more efforts being made. He proposed a council paper to come back before the committee by September “giving a critical look” at officers and what further needs to be done for a “more expansive and rich” community engagement.
DUP TUV St Patrick's Day Shankill Road Belfast City Centre
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