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rfmcdonaldThis news item has gotten a fair amount of attention.
As the above article notes, it may well be that McAleese really is unable to attend because of scheduling issues. Then again, it does seem--here, say--at least somewhat plausible that McAleese is staying away because of the St. Patrick's day parade's ban on GLBT groups. Can anyone Irish chime in on the relative plausibilities of the two motivations?
At any rate, the contrast between Irish and Irish-American officialdoms on GLBT issues seems noteworthy, illustrative of the principle that diasporas often exist isolated from changes in the countries where they live and the countries that they come from. One Irish expert noted on the irony that the New York City St. Patrick's day parade barred queer groups at the same time that a GLBT float won first prize in the Cork parade.
The organisers of the world's largest St Patrick's Day parade had invited the President to be grand marshal to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the event next year.
A statement from Aras an Uachtarain said the President had attended the New York St Patrick's Day parade in 2002 and was honoured to be considered as grand marshal for 2011.
"Unfortunately, due to scheduling constraints in a very busy final year in office, it is not possible for the President to travel to New York next March.
"The President has conveyed to the organisers her deep appreciation for the invitation as well as her best wishes for the success of the parade in this significant anniversary year."
But Irish-American commentator Niall O'Dowd insisted yesterday that Mrs McAleese's decision was connected to the issue of gays being refused the right to march in the parade under their own banners.
"I think she made her decision based on the fact that she has a great relationship with gay groups in Ireland and this would be a hugely controversial move for her because of the ban on gays in the parade," he said.
She had made her decision and many gay groups in Ireland would probably agree with her, Mr O'Dowd said.
As the above article notes, it may well be that McAleese really is unable to attend because of scheduling issues. Then again, it does seem--here, say--at least somewhat plausible that McAleese is staying away because of the St. Patrick's day parade's ban on GLBT groups. Can anyone Irish chime in on the relative plausibilities of the two motivations?
At any rate, the contrast between Irish and Irish-American officialdoms on GLBT issues seems noteworthy, illustrative of the principle that diasporas often exist isolated from changes in the countries where they live and the countries that they come from. One Irish expert noted on the irony that the New York City St. Patrick's day parade barred queer groups at the same time that a GLBT float won first prize in the Cork parade.
