Gangland hit is beyond the Pale
Stars Wars legend is guest of honour at national parade
NOW gangland is rearing its ugly head outside of Dublin.
Serious organised crime is not a new phenomenon beyond the city boundaries.
But the latest attempted execution in Wexford by the Kinahan cartel is certainly beyond the Pale.
It’s bad enough when gangsters are gunned down in their own little fiefdoms in the city without it spilling into rural areas as well.
Again, we have to commend gardai for preventing a brutal death which would have condemned yet another family to a lifetime of grief. Little Jenny Malone with rugby stars Rory Best & Johnny Sexton yesterday THE whole world turns green tomorrow in honour of our patron saint.
Most of us will raise a glass to St Patrick – and to our rugby heroes if we beat England for the Grand Slam at Twickenham.
Hundreds of parades and festivals are being organised around the country as cities, towns and villages savour an explosion of colour, music and entertainment.
As some of the world’s most famous landmarks go green for the day, here’s what to watch out for at home...
WEATHER
Those heading out to watch a parade are advised to wrap up well as yet another Arctic blast is on its way to Ireland.
Met Eireann confirmed there would be “frequent snow showers” in parts tomorrow.
The cold front is set to move in from Siberia and hit by the weekend though thankfully it’s not expected to be anywhere near as bad as The Beast from the East and Storm Emma.
PARADES
Local authorities are putting in place final preparations to for more than 150 St Patrick’s Day parades all over Ireland with around 800,000 expected to attend.
The National Parade will take place in Dublin and is expected to attract half a million visitors – with Star Wars actor Mark Hamill the guest of honour in the Presidential stand.
Best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the hit movies, Hamill has Irish roots. His great grandmother Elizabeth Keating was born in Kilkenny in 1873 before moving to America as a teen.
This year marks the 116th anniversary of the Galway St Patrick’s Day Parade and festival goers have been promised they’ll be thrilled with this Year’s Guest of Honour – the city’s favourite adventurer Gavan Hennigan who rowed solo across the Atlantic last year.
The Parade will start at 11.30am and finish at 1pm.
In Cork, the parade will starts at 1pm and is celebrating the theme of Democracy For All – 100 Years of the Vote for Women and is billed as a carnival of colour, music, pageantry and comic fun.
TRAFFIC
Major traffic restrictions have been put in place for the day with a number of major roads being closed off tomorrow.
In Dublin there are closures and suspensions right through to Tuesday.
They include on Western Way, Dominick Street, Mountjoy Street, Palmerston Place, St Marys Place North and Granby Row until 3pm tomorrow.
More information on road closures around the country are available at www. dublincity.ie and www.theaa.ie