Parade access made possible - Luas strike called off

IT is gratifying to learn that wiser heads have prevailed in the Luas strike in Dublin and that tens of thousands of people will be able to enjoy the St Patrick’s Day celebration in the capital without having to go to extraordinary measures to attend them.

The decision to call off the strike is welcome for a number of reasons. It shows, in the first instance, that face-to-face talks and negotiations, even in the most fraught of circumstances, can lead to some measure of agreement.

It is also important for the wider Irish diaspora to be able to see that we can celebrate our patron saint without rancour.

Paddy’s Day — as we like to call it — is an extraordinary phenomenon. From Bandon to Boston to Bangkok, the globe goes green for a day.

We should be proud of that and proud of the fact that in the region of 80 million people around the world regard themselves as Irish.

This year, the world’s biggest St Patrick’s Day parade will finally welcome the gay and lesbian community.

New York City’s LGBT Irish community, who since 1991 have sought to march in the parade under their own banner, will finally be able to do so.

In the wake of last May’s marriage equality referendum, to them we extend to them a céad míle fáilte.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh go léir.