Belfast City Council turns down LGBTQ St Patrick’s Day parade invite

A committee meeting at City Hall has turned down an invitation for elected member representation at the 26th annual “St Pats for All” Parade, Queens, New York City on March 17, 2027. The trip would have cost the council £1,500.

St Pats for All was founded in 2000 by Irish LGBTQ+ activists and supporters, as an alternative to the longstanding Fifth Avenue parade, which had historically banned LGBTQ+ groups from marching openly.

The motto of the parade is a line taken from the 1916 Easter Proclamation of the Irish Republic: “Cherishing all the children of the nation equally.”

The parade attracts over 3,500 participants and around 28,000 spectators and is attended by many influential business, political, academic and civic leaders.

Former gay New York City councillors Christine Quinn and Corey Johnson have spoken at the event, along with former New York Irish Consul General Helena Nolan, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Belfast Lord Mayor, the Irish-speaking Sinn Féin Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, had already said she was not able to attend the event, but her invitation in theory could be passed down to the deputy Lord Mayor or High Sheriff of the council, or to the various committee Chairs.

At the 15th annual event in 2024, former Belfast Lord Mayor Micky Murray attended and took part in a number of side meetings with City and State political representatives. He was also invited to speak at the Stonewall Inn.

A report for the Belfast Council Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on the invitation states it is “a very unique opportunity for a non-New York politician to address the event” and said Councillor Murray’s attendance was “deemed a real success for transatlantic community relations, and positive Belfast City Council inclusive profiling.”

The report adds: “City Council has now received a second invitation for current Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnolly, and available BCC elected members working on diversity and inclusion, to attend the 28th annual Parade.

“The theme of this year’s parade is “We All Belong”, reflecting the Parade Board and friends’ commitment to celebrating diversity, inclusion, acceptance, and the many communities that make our neighbourhoods and our world stronger. It has been confirmed that this year, Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach, will also serve as Grand Marshal for the 2027 parade.

“This year will also be a unique commemoration celebrating the enduring friendship between the Choctaw and Cherokee Nations and the people of Ireland, recognizing the extraordinary generosity shown by the Choctaw Nation during the Great Famine, and honouring the continuing bonds of friendship between many communities.”

At the October meeting of the Belfast Council Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting asked what the benefit of the visit would be to the council.John Walsh, Chief Executive of Belfast Council, replied: “It is really up to (elected) members to take a view on the benefits accruing. Sometimes relationships are important.”

Alliance Councillor Michael Long said: “I don’t think it is a lot of money to do that.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “In any event, we are always trying to make a judgement to see what the city gets out of it. I appreciate Micky was there, and there was a benefit, and other things organised around it. I am not entirely convinced that we need to go this time around.” He added: “If there are councillors who are involved, have an interest and have been invited, they can go of their own accord.”

Councillors agreed to not send a council representative this year.