St Patrick's Day in Belfast has become very trashy. I'm no kill-joy. I enjoy
a drink as much as most people. But the festival is fast becoming one of
tackiness and tat, matching the worst excesses of the Twelfth that
nationalists complain about.
Of course, there are plenty of families just having a good time. But there
are also thousands of people drunk on the streets by early afternoon.
Northern Ireland rarely does fancy dress well and the tawdry green wigs,
green hats, and leprechaun garb is no exception.
A sea of St Patricks clutch their carry-outs along with their croziers. It's
as embarrassing as inebriated Orangemen marching alongside Temperance
banners. One fund-raiser is 'The Battle of the Bulge' which involves two
Sinn Féin councillors dieting. Will we have West Belfast grannies doing a
'glamour' calendar next?
The celebrations now fall into the 'Begorrah' and 'Bejaysus' stereotype that
nationalists once denounced. This in-yer-face, cheap Hibernianism has
unfortunately increased with the peace process. There's a growing trend of
plastic Paddies.
The shamrock on sale appears to be punier and more over-priced every year.
At least the lily - Orange and Easter - is an attractive, substantial
symbol.
When it comes to carnivals, we will never be Rio but can't we do better than
this? It doesn't have to be the stiff, soulless affair I suspect some
councillors would propose as an alternative.
But the old St Patrick's Day which meant a few pints in the pub, a bowl of
stew at a roaring fire, and a traditional music session was much better than
this tasteless spectacle.
As St Paddy's Day approaches, maybe we should petition the saint to forget
about the snakes - banish the tacky celebrations instead.
