14.2.05
BBC
Council refuses St Pat's funding
Thousands attended last year's event in Belfast
Belfast City Council has voted not to grant £30,000 to this year's St Patrick's Day parade in the city.
Councillors decided on Monday not to overturn an earlier decision to refuse grant aid.
Unionist councillors said that while efforts were being made to make the event more inclusive, not enough been done for the council to endorse it.
One of the organisers, Conor Maskey, said they had done all they could to make sure no offence was caused.
"We as a committee designed an official logo, a multi-coloured shamrock, which would not be offensive to anybody," he said.
"We tried to look at all the issues relating to St Patrick's Day. This might not have been good enough for some people."
However, Ulster Unionist councillor Chris McGimpsey said the event was not yet inclusive enough.
"They have yet to prove that they can produce an all-inclusive carnival which would be supported by and could be bought into by both sections of our community," he said.
"Until that happens, I don't think we are in a position to formally fund the St Patrick's Day carnival.
"It happens anyway, but they are looking for us to fund it and endorse it, and we cannot yet do that."
Council refuses St Pat's funding
Thousands attended last year's event in Belfast
Belfast City Council has voted not to grant £30,000 to this year's St Patrick's Day parade in the city.
Councillors decided on Monday not to overturn an earlier decision to refuse grant aid.
Unionist councillors said that while efforts were being made to make the event more inclusive, not enough been done for the council to endorse it.
One of the organisers, Conor Maskey, said they had done all they could to make sure no offence was caused.
"We as a committee designed an official logo, a multi-coloured shamrock, which would not be offensive to anybody," he said.
"We tried to look at all the issues relating to St Patrick's Day. This might not have been good enough for some people."
However, Ulster Unionist councillor Chris McGimpsey said the event was not yet inclusive enough.
"They have yet to prove that they can produce an all-inclusive carnival which would be supported by and could be bought into by both sections of our community," he said.
"Until that happens, I don't think we are in a position to formally fund the St Patrick's Day carnival.
"It happens anyway, but they are looking for us to fund it and endorse it, and we cannot yet do that."
