Sir, - With the passing of the Christmas celebrations the next important date in our social calendar is St Patrick's Day. Though celebrated all around the world the day is not properly recognised in Northern Ireland where the day is not even given the status of a public holiday. However, the July 12th is celebrated as a public holiday. If this is not a case of blatant discrimination, I don't know what is!
Many people, including myself, who want to join in the St Patrick's Day celebrations have to take a day's holiday from work but this is not the case for someone wanting to celebrate the Twelfth. Given that St Patrick spent most of his time in the north of Ireland and was buried here, and that two towns (Templepatrick, Downpatrick) are named after him, I find it bizarre and sad that the day is not celebrated properly as it is in the Republic and all around the world.
Shame on those sinister elements blocking the funding of the Belfast parade. Good luck to those people who are making positive efforts to celebrate this proud day in style, and maybe one of the first things our elected representatives might do in the Assembly is finally make St Patrick's day a public holiday. - Yours, etc.,
S. de Bleine, Belfast.