Revellers venture out in force for parades marking St Patrick's Day

MORE than 100,000 revellers took part in the Mayor of London St Patrick's Day Parade, bringing an array of floats, marching bands and dance groups from the Irish Counties.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Mar 2010, 22:34 BST
Updated 14th Mar 2010, 22:34 BST

The march travelled through central London from Green Park to Trafalgar Square and culminated in live music and dance.

The parade featured a giant St Patrick and the Snake pageant and an Emerald Queen. Similar parades took place around the country and in Leeds hundreds gathered in the city centre where the procession was led by the Leeds Pipe Band.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Organisers said the event, held ahead of St Patrick's Day on Wednesday, was a great success.

However in the United States Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was criticised for supporting St Patrick's Day events which exclude women and gays.

Mr Adams visited a club that bans women in Boston on Saturday night and was due to take part in a pre St Patrick's Day parade which does not allow gay participants in the Massachusetts city yesterday. Mr Adams said he was committed to full equality between all sections of society.

West Belfast MP and Alliance Party leader David Ford said: "Sinn Fein at home talks a lot about inclusivity and equality, on the face of it seems Mr Adams applies different standards in the US."

Related topics:MayorLondonSinn FeinOrganisersTrafalgar Square