Cootehill Chamber defends parade after Celt editorial
Cootehill Chamber of Commerce has defended its St Patrick’s Day parade, following a questioning editorial about the amount of parades in the county, printed in this paper last week (issue dated March 21, 2013).
The article, under the headline ‘Perhaps it’s time to look at one big parade for County Cavan’, pointed out that 13 parades are staged around the county and suggested that three would be enough in total. It suggested that one might even suffice: “When you consider what Cavan Town and county was able to achieve with hosting three successive All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoils.” It referenced the smaller parades suiting local families and publicans but noted the “grumbling” or “joking” at “tractor parades” and futher that “if you don’t get semi-decent weather (and let’s face it, this is Ireland and more often than not it will rain), it can quickly turn to disaster”.
Pointing to an online poll on The Anglo Celt’s website where 47.7 per cent of people said that St Patrick’s Day was “an excuse for drink”, the piece suggested that this would not be the case if more activities, mini-festivals and so on could be provided as an alternative.
The Chamber responded saying that “a number of our members” “expressed concerns”. It stated that their parade was in its 28th year, that the community were extremely proud of the parade and that it had expanded over that time.
While calling the parade a “significant” social event it says that spending is up during the parade “thus safeguarding jobs”.
It points out that it “is an opportunity for local dignitaries including Councillors and TDs to take a position on the Review Stand and to mingle with those who attended the parade” and defends the calibre of floats and the lift it gives to the town. Concluding, it reads: “Perhaps the Author of the Article would be happier if the parade in Dublin was the only parade to be held.”
The links to both the editorial piece and the Chamber of Commerce’s response in full can be found below.
Cootehill Chamber's letter in full
The Celt's editorial in full