Orange Order withdraw from St Pat's parade

The Orange Order has said it is withdrawing from a St Patrick's Day parade in Cork because of a “vociferous and misleading media campaign” by representatives of Sinn Fein.

The Order had been invited to take part in the celebrations on 17 March by Cork City Council.

However, a statement by the Order said that since the invitation had been extended, "representatives of Sinn Fein have mounted a vociferous and misleading media campaign claiming our attendance would be ‘offensive’".

“As a result, the Orangemen and their families who had planned to go to Cork are no longer confident that their personal safety can be guaranteed by the authorities," the statement read. "We are also mindful that our presence could have become the focus of media attention and protest that might have detracted from the enjoyment of other participants and spectators.”

The Order said it had been invited to send a small delegation which would have included a number of children to parade alongside Chinese, Filipino and African community groups in an event designed to recognise and celebrate cultural diversity. “Those involved were greatly looking forward to their visit to the European Capital of Culture. Our presence would have been both appropriate to the occasion and dignified. It was never our intention to offend anyone,” it added.

The Order claimed that “Sinn Fein/IRA” was determined to use the invitation to the Orange Order “as an excuse to try and divert public attention from their current political difficulties”.

A statement ended with thanks to the festival organisers and the Lord Mayor of Cork “for their support and encouragement over our proposed participation in the festival”. “We share their dismay that the city's reputation for friendliness and hospitality should have been tainted in this way by a handful of cultural fascists,” it added.

(MB/SP)