St Patrick’s Day - Sinn Féin must move with change

ONCE a symbol of Irish Christianity, St Patrick’s Day is now symbolic of a burgeoning Ireland that counts itself among the richest nations of Europe and the world.

No doubt, as the national feast day is celebrated from the White House in Washington to the Palace of the Emperor in Tokyo, the popular image of Paddywhackery will resonate to the strains of Macushla and distant memories of the ‘ould sod’ will be drowned in rivers of green beer.

But the reality of an Ireland that is rapidly changing will also be projected to millions of people around the globe.