The legacy of St Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland, “should not solely be about green beer, leprechauns or the flag of the Republic of Ireland”, the Orange Order has said.
The Protestant fraternal organisation has sent St Patrick’s Day wishes to Irish embassies and consulates around the world, in a move that could be seen as surprising by some of its own members, and others.
“For too long, many St Patrick’s Day events at home and abroad have been dominated by the nationalist/republican tradition, are not inclusive and make little effort to recognise the Protestant/unionist tradition in Ireland,” said the grand master of the Orange Institution, Edward Stevenson.
People need “to be reminded” that St Patrick “is not the sole preserve of Irish nationalism”.
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“First and foremost, Patrick was a Christian, who brought the good news of the Gospel to Ireland – a large part of that story is of course centred in Ulster.”
In the message to Irish ambassadors and diplomats, Mr Stevenson highlights the “need to recognise the wider political, cultural and religious diaspora of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the importance of St Patrick to many within the unionist community who are increasingly marking the day with services, parades and functions”.
The greetings card sent to the diplomats on Friday highlights “the integral part” played by the Cross of St Patrick in the design of the Union Flag, adding that everyone “should look to Patrick’s own writings which reinforce the Biblical truths of our need for salvation and God’s grace”.
President Michael D Higgins has used his final St Patrick’s Day message as head of State to call on people to choose a “path of understanding” and “shared responsibility”.
On the eve of a national holiday that will be marked by parades, pageants and parties, the President said “in spite of all the challenges we face, there remains within the Irish people a profound and unyielding commitment to seeing beyond the self, to seeing the other as a friend, the principles of generosity, decency and care for one another”.
Public events will be held across the weekend. The St Patrick’s Day parade will make its way through central Dublin from midday on Monday, drawing hundreds of thousands of people into the city.
