Organisers left bitterly disappointed as parades are called off
The Government’s decision to call for the cancellation of all St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country due to the coronavirus, was greeted with resigned disappointment by the Wexford town parade secretary John Fowler on Monday evening.
‘It’s very disappointing but what can you do. If the Government pulls the plug, we have to abide by it’, he said.
The news came as Independent councillor and HSE paramedic Ger Carthy called on Wexford County Council to show leadership and ensure the cancellation of all parades in the county, as an act of public responsibility.
‘Absolutely, the parades should be cancelled, no question. You’ll have thousands of people gathering in Wexford and the other towns of the county. We have to make every effort we can until we get a handle on this’, he said.
Months of preparation have gone into organising the 103rd Wexford parade which is the oldest in Ireland, having been held for the first time in 1904.
‘We started planning months ago. It’s not something you put together in a few weeks. We’ve been working on it since last October really’, said the secretary who was in contact with the Department of Health on a regular basis in recent weeks, seeking advice on the holding of the parade, due to general concern over the coronavirus.
‘For all the groups who have applied to take part, it’s also very disappointing for them’, he said.
‘A lot of work has gone into it and we will be at a loss as a result’, said John who did feel that some Wexford groups had been holding off on registering this year due to uncertainty over Covid-19 and he had extended the closing date for receipt of applications until March 14 to facilitate them.
But yesterday (Monday), it was announced that a cabinet sub-committee on the coronavirus had decided that all St.
Patrick’s Day Parades in the country should be cancelled in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Wexford parade secretary said he hadn’t received any official notification of the decision yesterday.
About 5,000 people usually take part in the Wexford town parade with up to 7,000 people lining the streets to watch it on a good year.
The cancellation marks a disappointing chapter in what is the oldest parade in the country.