ireland, irish, ulster, belfast, northern ireland, british, loyalist, nationalist, republican, unionist

(Editorial, Irelandclick.com)

We can guess what the Orange Order would say if they were told for their Twelfth of July parade in Belfast that they would be required to ditch their collarettes and sashes and get rid of anything orange on the day.

That's how absurd it sounds to nationalists who only want to celebrate their culture with St Patrick's Day parades around the world.

Banning football jerseys suggested by DUP councillor Nelson McCausland is a valid point and it's true the event should be inclusive to all, but banning the flag of the nation of Ireland is just preposterous.

Northern Protestants celebrate St Patrick's Day as ex-pats across the globe, and wouldn't even think of being offended by the orange and the green.

The Irish tricolour is green for republicanism, orange for Protestantism and white for peace, so Councillor McCausland is banning his own identity and his policy and resources committee could be robbing nationalists of theirs.

It's time to cut out this nonsense and come up with a realistic plan so that Ireland's second city can for once stage a council-endorsed St Patrick's Day event.

This article appeared first on the Irelandclick.com web site on November 11, 2005.