Sunshine brings out extra numbers at parades

OVERVIEW:UNUSUALLY HIGH temperatures for the time of year meant much larger than expected crowds – close to one million spectators in all – attended some 70 parades around the State.

Around the world, hundreds of thousands took part in celebrations from New York to Shanghai.

An estimated 675,000 people lined the 2.5km Dublin city centre parade route yesterday. Organisers had expected half a million people but temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees, dry weather and sunshine brought the crowds out.

Spectator expectations were also exceeded in Cork, Galway and Limerick.

Over 50,000 people watched the Cork city parade lead by US astronaut Dan Tani. Galway saw triple the expected crowd as 60,000 thronged the streets for the maritime themed celebration. Limerick city had its biggest ever parade with 60,000 spectators and 300 participants.

Gardaí said the festivities passed without any serious public order incidents in Dublin, with a strong Garda presence visible throughout the city centre.

A Garda spokesman last night said he had “nothing of note” to report.

“Everything has gone perfectly. There were huge crowds, that far exceeded expectations we think,” Supt Joe Gannon of Pearse Street Garda station said.

A spokesman for the emergency services said ambulances were “extremely busy” but that there had been no “major incidents” or “serious rows”. Those enjoying the festivities were described as “lively but well behaved” by one officer on the beat in the Temple Bar area.

Across the State, Garda stations reported a peaceful day, with only a small number of arrests for public order offences. Garda stations in Cork, Limerick and Galway said they had busy days, but that there were no major events to report.

Celebrations in Lurgan, Co Armagh, were cancelled following last week’s murder of Constable Stephen Carroll. The Right Rev Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, said the recent murders were entirely opposed to the message of St Patrick.

Abroad, hundreds of thousands of people lined New York’s Fifth Avenue for the city’s 248th parade in which some 200,000 participants marched. China held its largest St Patrick’s Day parade ever as 1,500 people marched in Shanghai. Other cities such as Sydney, London, Boston and San Francisco held their celebrations over the weekend.

Some 50,000 tourists were expected to come to Ireland over the St Patrick’s Day period, according to Fáilte Ireland. However, hoteliers and publicans reported a quieter than usual St Patrick’s period.

While the number of hotel guests over the period was about the same as previous years, yields were expected to be down because hotels have cut their prices, John Power, chief executive of the Irish Hotels’ Federation, said.

Val Hanley, president of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, said there seemed to be fewer tourists around than last year. Speaking from his own pub, the Murty Rabbit in Galway city, he said there was a reasonable crowd but not as good as other years.

Entrepreneur Jay Bourke whose businesses include the Market Bar and Cafe Bar Deli said drink sales in the city centre were not as good as previous St Patrick’s Days. However business on Monday was like a Friday night and he was “happy enough”.

Many off-licences in Dublin city centre closed until yesterday afternoon on a voluntary basis in an effort to curb public drinking.

Supermarkets such as Super Value on Aston Quay, Tesco in Jervis Street and Dunnes in St Stephen’s Green did not begin alcohol sales until 3pm.