NI Conservatives’ vice chair, Trevor Ringland, has wished everyone in Northern Ireland ‘a happy St Patrick’s Day’.
“The 17th March should be a day for everyone on this island to share, whatever their background”, Trevor observed. “A lot of good work has been done to make the celebrations more inclusive and that work in progress should be continued, so that we have festivities where all the many cultures and identities here feel comfortable.”
“St Patrick is a patron saint for all of us. He represents the abiding power of faith in our society, the longstanding British tradition on the island of Ireland, and the Gaelic Irish culture with which he came to be associated. He was also an immigrant who made a lasting impression on his adopted land, which makes him very relevant to the new generations of Northern Irish people who come from a Chinese, Indian, Filipino or Polish background and many others.”
“I wish everyone happy St Patrick’s Day. Let’s enjoy the holiday and avoid trappings which make parts of the community or families feel unwelcome. We have a shared heritage on this island and part of that is St Patrick. The day is a great opportunity to come together and everything should be done to encourage an inclusive atmosphere.”