Council bans Shamrock event after IRA chants
Ashleigh Burns • Published 14 Jun 2012 08:00
7 Comments
CLACKMANNANSHIRE Council has cancelled the annual Shamrock Festival which was due to be held in Alloa Town Hall after online footage emerged of a crowd chanting 'IRA' at last year's gathering.
The local authority has confirmed that it pulled the plug on the event which was set for Friday 29 June.
It said the decision was made after "offensive" activities carried out during the 2011 event came to light.
Council chief executive, Elaine McPherson, explained, "The council's policy states that community facilities may not be used for any activities considered by the council to be offensive. We recently became aware of evidence of activities and behaviour at last year's event which fall into that category."
Council officers met with the applicant for the let, on 29 May, and explained their decision.
Council leader, Gary Womersley, said he supported the decision, "I have seen the evidence regarding the offensive activities and agree with the decision to cancel the let.
"The activities are unacceptable in terms of our policy and inappropriate in a publicly subsidised building."
Leader of the opposition, councillor Bobby McGill, also backed the move, saying, "Having been made aware of and seen the evidence of the activities and behaviour at last year's event, I fully back the decision to cancel this booking."
The Advertiser understands this was in relation to a YouTube clip, in which people can clearly be heard singing 'IRA' repeatedly at last year's St Mungo's Shamrock Alloa & District event in the town hall.
Organisers of the Shamrock Festival declined to comment.
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 13 Jun 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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William Orange
Unregistered User
Jun 15, 00:19
Report commentScotland's real shame. Well done to the council.
Recommend?
Yes 38
No 6
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AlloaYankee
Unregistered User
Jun 15, 22:33
Report commentAlloa Advertiser 2nd June 2011
'AN Orange Lodge's licence for an after-walk party has been approved amid concerns over children being exposed to bigotry, sectarianism and racism.
Licensing officer Paul Fair claimed that allowing young people to attend the Brother Kenneth Aitken Memorial, District 61 event would contravene licensing policy set to protect them.
Despite this councillors approved the license at Thursday's board meeting on the condition that the only children attending would be part of the flute band. '
I in no way condone the behaviour at the Shamrock Festival, and agree with the cancelling of the let. However, shouldn't both of these sectarian organisations be treated on an equal footing. They are quite obviously not. One is denied the let because of sectarian chanting and yet the other one which spouts the same bile, albeit from the other side, were granted the license. The council should explain this anomaly.
Recommend? Yes 6
No 4
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******
Jun 16, 19:50
Report commentThis comment is currently in a queue awaiting moderation.
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Jock Knewinton
Unregistered User
Jun 16, 19:51
Report commentI just KNEW this was going to be stopped. Correct decision.
Recommend? Yes 6
No 1
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Ding Dong Del
Unregistered User
Jun 16, 20:07
Report commentNo doubt we'll hear the usual mud slinging of anti Irish Racism but no true Irishman would watch that video and think it remotely relates to their homeland. Ireland is a wonderful, peaceful place full of friendly welcoming people, it seems it's only in Scotland we find the bitter, twisted bigoted Irish wannabe's. I would suggest they take a look at how the real Irish conduct themselves but they are so steeped in their own bile they probably think the whole of Ireland supports them while in reality they are cringing in embarrassment.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 2
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Fife Rab
Unregistered User
Jun 16, 20:10
Report commentGood to see people saying "No" to terrorist sympathisers......No place in Scotland for IRA supporters.
Recommend? Yes 7
No 2
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MacDobber
3 posts
Jun 21, 15:23
Report commentAs an ex-pat Hillfits man living in Belfast/Béal Feirste, I'm deeply ashamed to see such behaviour taking place where I grew up. The majority on this side of the Irish Sea are moving on, albeit slowly and it will be at least a generation yet before we can expect anything close to a 'normal' society. The sad thing is that these so-called fans of the IRA don't even have a handle on what is happening over here. The groups responsible for most dissident acts now are the likes of RAAD and Óglaigh na hÉireann (formerly real IRA) but what's a little bit of fact among bigots?
Alloa Yankee highlights another important issue that other posters appear to either forget or ignore and while I too, strongly comdemn the actions of these 'Irish' fools and bigots, we mustn't forget the orange order is also an overtly sectarian organisation. I fail to see why concessions are being made for either group, given they both represent opposite sides of the same sectarian coin. Both are equally a disgrace to any rational thinking Scot and both have no place in modern Scottish society.
Sadly it is the small-minded majority who perpetuate this cycle of bigotry and these are the people who resist change most.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 1
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MacDobber
3 posts
Jun 21, 15:45
Report commentOops, I meant the small-minded minority! Obviously.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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