Cancelled: Derry St Patrick’s Day parade called off after emergency meeting as precaution against coronavirus

The meeting was convened by the Mayor Michaela Boyle at the suggestion of Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy.

Over 600 people were due to take part in the parade and thousands more would normally have come along to watch the spectacle.

However, a decision by the Irish government to cancel all St Patrick’s Day parades south of the border, left many local people wondering if the organisers of the Derry Spring Canrival and Strabane parades should go ahead next Tuesday.

Following the meeting of party leaders and Council officers at the Guildhall yesterday, the Mayor Michaela Boyle, said that the decision to cancel was taken as a precautionary measure.

“We have been reviewing the situation daily and following the advice of the health agencies in relation to Covid19, felt that we should be proactive in our response regarding public events,” she said.

“The safety of Council staff and the general public are as always paramount and although official advice on the cancellation of public events has yet to be issued, felt that this would be a sensible response to what is a growing concern.

“Council will continue to adhere to the health advice being issued in relation to all its activities and events, and take proactive measures to assist in the containment of Coronavirus and the protection of the general health and wellbeing of all local citizens.

“I would also urge people to be mindful of protecting themselves and others by heeding the guidance with regards to hygiene and wash hands regularly following the advice of the Public Health Agency.”

For more information and advice please go to http://pha.site/coronavirus

It is unclear at this stage whether the move will have implications for the City of Derry Jazz Festival, which is due to take place at the end of April, and it understood planning will go ahead and the situation will be monitored.