Council defends Omagh St Patrick’s celebrations

THE local council have been quick to defend Omagh’s St Patrick’s Day festivities from heavy fire this week, after a slew of scathing criticism branded the parade ‘too short’ and some of the entertainment ‘unbefitting’ of the holiday.

The event split public opinion down the middle, with some reporting they ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ the day, while others described it as ‘dismal’, and even ‘a flop’.

Some of the most uncompromising criticism honed in on the brevity of the parade, with one UlsterHerald reader claiming, “If you had blinked, you’d have missed it.”

In addition to a sense of disappointment over the short duration that the green and gold procession was in motion, questions were also raised as to whether a Taylor Swift tribute performer – ‘Taylor Made’ – was an appropriate headline act for a St Patrick’s Day concert.

When WeAreTyrone posted a video online of the blonde-locked songstress singing to a packed town centre, almost 100 people left their opinion in the comment section.

The confusion over Taylor Swift’s connection with Ireland was well-encapsulated in one sardonic comment left by Owen McCusker, who said, “When I think of Ireland and St Patrick’s Day I immediately think of Taylor Swift.”

However, despite the waves of backlash, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council were steadfast in their endorsement of the day’s events, labelling it ‘a day of wonderful celebration’.

In a statement to the UlsterHerald, they said, “The council sponsored the St Patrick’s Day event in Omagh, which was organised and delivered by Urban Events NI.

“This year’s St Patrick’s Day event in Omagh embraced a diverse range of activities, aiming to cater to various interests within the local community with a primary focus on entertainment and offering free activities for families to enjoy together.

“Local groups including Síle, Fintona CCE, St. Eugenes Brass and Reed Band, Dromore CCE, Urban Motion, and Clann na hÓmaí along with acts like The Coves and Taylor Made, contributed to the vibrant atmosphere of the event. The Taylor Swift tribute act was part of the entertainment programme and received very positive feedback from parents and young attendees, adding a fresh and popular element to the festivities.

“In addition to the town centre activities, Strule Arts Centre hosted various performances, including highland dancers, a Djambe taster drumming session, the Three Rivers Choir, and an open cultural music session.

“Also on offer were family movies, arts and crafts and Revolting Children’s and Celtic Sand Mandala workshops. This diverse lineup of entertainment and activity aimed to appeal to a wide audience and create an inclusive celebration of St Patrick’s Day. An open call for participation in the celebrations was undertaken via the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Community Newsletters and Business Newsletters, the Council website and local press outlets including the UH, and the Council would like to thank all those who took up the offer, helping to make the day a wonderful celebration.”

It must also be noted that the WeAreTyrone comment thread also documented plenty of examples of people that were pleased by the celebrations.

One contributor, Sinéad Louise said, “(We) had a fantastic time at the celebrations. Loved all the trad bands. My daughter was dancing non stop! And loved ‘Taylor Made’, the aquarium and farm… so much to do for wee ones. The parade was short but we enjoyed it and fair play to them the skies opened just as they were getting going.”

Likewise, Mandy Chism called for people to be more thoughtful of those who had taken part, commenting, “I wonder how some of these comments make the people feel who were a part of the parade. All the time and effort put in by them and the children for people to say it was ‘crap’.”