A Chara, - As St Patrick's Day draws near, people all over the country are organising parades and other events. Is it too much to ask that organisers remember what we are celebrating?
St Patrick's Day is the national festival of the Irish nation. It ought to be an occasion for giving prominence, for one day in the year at least, to Irish music, history, language and tradition, all that makes us unique as a nation.
Instead, in recent years St Patrick's Day (at least in Dublin) has been marked by parades which feature nothing of our Irish traditions. The typical Dublin affair now consists of groups of people in weird costumes shuffling along and beating drums, in a style stolen from events in places such as London. There is little or no Irish music, Irish dancing, or celebration of Irish achievements in science, art and sport. More prominence is given to the representation of the culture of migrant workers than to that of Ireland.
St Patrick's Day is Ireland's day, yet you'll hardly think so if you stand watching the parade next month. - Is mise,
Dr DAVID BARNWELL, Bóthar Páraic, Baile Átha Cliath 9.