Yes, a rather belated Happy St Patrick’s Day to everyone who is either Irish or of Irish descent.
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated quite a lot in Britain nowadays. Any excuse for the drinks industry to sell more of their products and for other people to drink too much alcohol!
On a more serious note, is is good to see that celebrating it is becoming more of a cross community affair in NI. I am glad the BDP has used the Cross of St Patrick to headline this article rather than the Irish Tricolour as that flag is the emblem of a sovereign state and thus has political connotations whereas the St Patrick’s Cross (or St Patricks’ Saltire) is much more neutral in its symbolism and can be used by everyone on the island of Ireland.
“The sound of bag pipes filled Newcastle as the Northumberland Fusiliers paid tribute to fallen Irish soldiers on St Patrick’s Day.
They gathered at Eldon Square war memorial to remember the Tyneside Irish Brigade, who fought during the First World War.
Piper Ian Nelson opened proceedings with a rendition of ‘The Minstrel Boy’ before Reverend Fusilier Michael Purtill read prayers.
In keeping with tradition, wreaths were laid at the foot of the memorial – the Shamrock Wreath was laid at this site by veterans of the Brigade on St Patrick’s Day until the 1950s, and this was revived by the Tyneside Irish Cultural Society in 2009.”
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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all our Irish friends.
Lá Shona Fhéile Pádraig le gach ár gcairde na hÉireann.
Yes, a rather belated Happy St Patrick’s Day to everyone who is either Irish or of Irish descent.
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated quite a lot in Britain nowadays. Any excuse for the drinks industry to sell more of their products and for other people to drink too much alcohol!
On a more serious note, is is good to see that celebrating it is becoming more of a cross community affair in NI. I am glad the BDP has used the Cross of St Patrick to headline this article rather than the Irish Tricolour as that flag is the emblem of a sovereign state and thus has political connotations whereas the St Patrick’s Cross (or St Patricks’ Saltire) is much more neutral in its symbolism and can be used by everyone on the island of Ireland.
“The sound of bag pipes filled Newcastle as the Northumberland Fusiliers paid tribute to fallen Irish soldiers on St Patrick’s Day.
They gathered at Eldon Square war memorial to remember the Tyneside Irish Brigade, who fought during the First World War.
Piper Ian Nelson opened proceedings with a rendition of ‘The Minstrel Boy’ before Reverend Fusilier Michael Purtill read prayers.
In keeping with tradition, wreaths were laid at the foot of the memorial – the Shamrock Wreath was laid at this site by veterans of the Brigade on St Patrick’s Day until the 1950s, and this was revived by the Tyneside Irish Cultural Society in 2009.”
More:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northumberland-fusiliers-pay-tribute-allen-6843673