A chara, – The decision by the organisers of the Dublin St Patrick’s Day parade to ban a trade union float commemorating the anniversary of the 1913 Dublin Lockout in this year’s parade is a scandal and smacks of cultural censorship. The reported reason given – that the proposed float was not in keeping with this year’s theme “the Gathering” – indicates how politically compromised the Dublin parade organisers are.
There should now be a review of who made the final decision to ban the 1913 Lockout anniversary commemoration float, what political influences, if any, were at play and why exactly a Dublin Lockout commemoration float would not be appropriate in a Dublin parade.
The parade organisers would also do well to remember that the Dublin St Patrick’s Day parade is the people’s parade and not just another government quango. – Is mise,
EF FANNING,
Whitehall Road,
Churchtown, Dublin 14.