Belfast celebrates despite the begrudgers

Around 40 children from the Cumann na Fuiseoige GAA Club, along with their parents, took a break from their weekly training session to lead the West Belfast St Patrick's Day Parade from Dunville Park to Belfast City Hall.

The parade went ahead despite the refusal of Belfast City Council to fund it.

Reception

Sinn Féin's Deputy Mayor of Belfast, Joe O'Donnell, hosted a reception in the Deputy Mayors Parlour last Wednesday, where he presented the St Patrick's Day Carnival Committee with a bowl of shamrock to recognise their sterling work in organising the Carnival over the last number of years.

"The idea behind the reception is for me on behalf of the city of Belfast to congratulate the Committee on the efforts they have made to make the Carnival as inclusive as possible for the people of this city," said O'Donnell.

"Obviously, there are still begrudgers out there who do not want to see any public expression of Irishness in Belfast but the Carnival Committee have actually gone further than what was asked of them this year in an attempt to find accommodation."