San Patrizio: unionisti contro Sinn Fein per prevista esposizione tricolore irlandese

Anger over SF tricolour parade plan

A row has erupted over the flying of the tricolour at a St Patrick’s Day parade in Downpatrick, Co Down.

Unionists picketed a Down District Council meeting after Sinn Féin councillor Eamonn Mac Con Midhe said he planned to lead Thursday’s march carrying the flag.

Speaking to UTV, Mr Mac Con Midhe says he still plans to do so: “I’ll be there on Thursday with my tricolour marching down the street with the councillors as I said I would be.

“Very little unionist councillors have ever participated in the parade, so why are they telling people to stay away when they never came themselves?”

Twenty-five years ago, the council made the decision to give out red and white St Patrick’s flags to those attending the annual celebrations

In recent times some concerns have been expressed behind closed council doors about the flag’s perceived Protestant links.

But this very public challenge to the council’s official stance has sparked outrage in unionist circles, who said it could harm community relations.

“What he has done is driven a wedge between the two communities, tried to divide the two communities,” local DUP man William Walker told UTV.

“Now if people turn up at the parade with the tricolour he’s succeeded at that.”

Meanwhile the council’s SDLP chairman Eamonn O’Neill said it dishonours the flag to use it as a “taunt”.

“I’m very proud of the flag, but it stands for peace between the two traditions on the island,” he told UTV.

“In fact, that’s the honourable nature of the flag and I would never dishonour it by using it as a taunt.”

In a statement from Sinn Féin MLA Willie Clarke, the party clarified its position on the flying of flags, saying the issue has been “blown out of all proportion”.

“The display of our national flag on St Patrick’s Day is a legitimate position and something I would robustly defend,” he said.

“As political representatives we have an obligation to represent the views of our constituents. I also recognise the St Patrick’s Day event as an occasion everyone should share and enjoy.

“It is unfortunate that the debate around this issue has been blown out of all proportion and I believe that all of us need to be sensitive to causing offence but also mature enough to debate these issues without inflaming passions.”