Tuesday, January 18, 2011

NI politicians call for public holiday for Saint Patrick's Day

Politicians on both sides of the political divide have called for Saint Patrick's Day to be declared a public holiday in Northern Ireland.  

While Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, it is only a bank holiday in the North. 

However it has emerged this week that the leader of the SDLP Ms Margaret Ritchie, MP MLA, has written to the secretary of State Owen Paterson looking for Saint Patrick's Day to be declared a public holiday.  

Her calls have been backed by DUP MP Ian Paisley jnr.

Margaret Ritchie was last year elected as an MP for the South Down constituency that includes the town of Downpatrick where Saint Patrick is reputed to be buried in the grounds of the local Church of Ireland Cathedral. 

Speaking to the media, she said “Saint Patrick is one thing that we can all, both Catholic and Protestant, unite around in Northern Ireland.  His legacy unites us all and he is a unifying figure in Northern Ireland.  He is a symbol of reconciliation and a symbol and a symbol for unity between the two communities.” 

She claimed that Mr Paterson should back her calls for action on marking the day with a public holiday. 

A major conference on Saint Patrick is due to take place at the Saint Patrick Tourism Centre in Downpatrick in March.  

According to Margaret Ritchie, such a conference will help to raise the Saint's profile and show his huge role in Irish ecclesiastical history.

SIC: CIN/IE