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President Mary McAleese declines St. Patrick's Day NYC Grand Marshal invite

The gay issue said to figure prominently in the decision

NIALL O'DOWD,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 7:24 AM

Updated Thursday, September 23, 2010, 4:52 PM

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President Mary McAleese pictured on the viewing stand at the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade this past March 17

Irish President Mary McAleese has turned down an invitation to be grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2011, the historic 250th anniversary of the event.

The turn down is said to be connected to the issue of gays being refused the right to march in the parade under their own banners, and McAleese’s strong relationship with gay and lesbian organizations in Ireland.

As she will also be in the last year of her term in 2011, officials in the president’s office were reluctant to become embroiled in a major controversy about her taking part in the parade which has excluded gay organizations for over 20 years.

Efforts at a compromise where President McAleese could attend the gay-organized, all-inclusive St. Patrick’s parade in Queens on the weekend before March 17, and then march in the actual Fifth Avenue parade the Thursday following, also failed because the president could not remain in New York for such a long period of time.

Marching in the Queens parade as well as the Fifth Avenue one also has been the way most major U.S. politicians, such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have handled the issue in recent years.

McAleese’s refusal to accept the grand marshal invite will come as major blow to parade officials who were intent on making the day an historic showcase. New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York is now being considered a likely replacement.

Despite a reputation as a conservative Catholic when she took office, McAleese has become a firm advocate for marginalized groups in Irish societies including gay groups.

She is very popular with such groups and was risking putting one of the signature accomplishments of her presidency at risk if she accepted the New York invite to lead the parade.

“This was a no win for McAleese,” said one official.

“Becoming embroiled in a huge controversy on Fifth Avenue on St. Patrick’s Day with gay groups protesting her presence is not what her legacy is all about.”

Nster.com

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15 - 76 | See all comments

maryo137 | Oct 29, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT

Thank you MANHATTAN for your insightful posts, and for rekindling many memories. I must say though, based on some of the comments here that you are "Casting pearls amongst the swine"

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maryo137 | Oct 26, 2011, 09:40 PM EDT

Gays know why they are not welcome in the St. Patricks day parade, and why the Boy Scouts of America do not want them as Scout leaders. They just like to be an "In Your Face" group. I will never forget and neither will other New Yorkers the day the "Gay Org. Act Up" went into St. Patricks Cathedral and kneeled at the alter for Communion and then spit it out onto the floor and then threw condoms all over. When your rights infringe mine you are wrong. This is another political load of crap. Why doesn't she get a most friendly to people award? Gays have plenty of parades to march in, so what is gained by wanting to go where your not wanted for a reason anyone can understand.

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killowen | Nov 10, 2010, 01:30 PM EST

she is happy being with her dublin mardi gras version of a parade - so happens its a mostly gay and colorful event. St Patrick as like Jesus - who knew?

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PhilipOHayda | Oct 17, 2010, 05:41 AM EDT

I say Go on! McAleese’s. I can't belive that they taking a Dark age view on gays.Ireland it's slef is leading the way with the times since 300AD and it looks like we still are. I just wish the rest of the world would follow us as well. :(

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ancavker | Sep 29, 2010, 04:39 PM EDT

Sorry my original post should have said why are manhattan's arguements ludicrous and entertaining. Woodkern sounds like one of those new and improved Irish I am talking about. You know the self hating anything Irish is bad kind. Plus the bitterness that flows through his posts, and the arrogance; he like many of the other so called new and improved Irish know it all, about everything. Oh to think of all the times over the years while visiting there I have had to listen to them go on endlessly about America and how bad we are, and the Bushes, and Ronald Ray-Gun. Incredibly rude. They are insufferable!!And on and on about how we Irish-Americans have no claim on Ireland or anything Irish at all. There was nothing funnier than having Irish people dressed in Levis, sweat shirts , American sneakers, and baseball caps (worn backwards) of course telling us we are not Irish, while watching them desperatley trying to be American. And nothing sadder than when mentioning Irish traditional music, their response was who would want to listen to that ou'l sh@te. Well we do, and many of us love it, so we will keep it and treasure it, and nuture, and pass it on. And since you have no use for it, why do you even care??

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ancavker | Sep 29, 2010, 12:04 PM EDT

Why exactly are woodkerns arguments ludicrous and entertaining? I think he or she hit a nerve. Many of the Irish people in Ireland belittle and make fun of their own culture. If it is not English or American, than it is no good. Now I have seen in other countries where the young people are into so much of American culture, but they at least respect their own, and they do not have the contempt and disgust for it that I have seen so many so called Irish people display towards it. As far as the Dublin parade, nice enough, but a huge yawn if you ask me. (Oh and I saew lots of drunks at it too, and young kids, younger than the ones seen at NYC's parade). However if you wanted to see drunks, well back in the 80's we had all the new and improved educated Irish drunk on the streets of Woodlawn and Mc Lean Ave. I used to walk over them. What a disgrace!! Thankfully that crowd for the most part has gone back, oh and please don't come back. Look you so called real Irish need to understand that we Irish Americans (and we will continue to call ourselves that with pride), are exactly that Irish Americans not Irish, big difference. We do not have the big chip on our shoulder. Nor are we as incredibly critical and negative and bitter as so many of the real Irish of today are. We are proud of the culture that was passed on to us by our parents and gradprarents, and we do not belittle it, and will pass it down to our children. And no we do not all sit on bar stools in the Bronx and sign Sen South. I wish the so called new Irish would get over themselves.

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Woodkern | Sep 28, 2010, 04:33 PM EDT

"Yes, Mary McAleese could learn a lot from we Irish Americans who kept Irish culture alive"... LOL! Thanks for that! FYI, I'm as Irish as the Dalai Lama, just like yourself, except I'm not grasping for some synthetic hyphenate prefix. No, it's not "my" Dublin parade (although from what I hear, far better craic than that Neo-Jansenist Death March we see here.) And, no, I'm not going anywhere. Are you really surprised that many Americans find your arguments to be ludicrous (and entertaining) as do many Irish people? Please, give us some more... You're doing SO MUCH to advance your cause!

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manhattan | Sep 28, 2010, 03:44 PM EDT

Oh Woodkern, That so called bore from Chicago brought Irish dancing to where it should be enjoyed by everyone . As for greasing his chest hmmm little jealous are you? Yes, Mary McAleese could learn a lot from we Irish Americans who kept Irish culture alive. And yes, 33 yrs ago you could not find traditional music in Ireland. Just country and western{copied from us Americans.} I'm sure your Dublin Parade is without drunks, kids pucking on the streets and all that bad behavior our" suburban hordes"commit. I really am disgusted by the Irish who never have a nice thing to say about anything. Is it the DNA? I'm glad we Americans are better then that. Are you in Ireland or God forbid here? I hate this but there is a plane leaving everyday back to the old sod. Don't let the door hit you in ass as you leave. "AN OLD IRISH SAYING.!

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Woodkern | Sep 26, 2010, 04:38 PM EDT

Oh, tell us more, Manhattan! So, you visited Ireland thirty-three years ago, and the natives didn't re-enact the script from "The Quiet" man for you. Hence, you gratuitously concluded that they are devoid of the rich Irish culture that you yourself embody. As further proof of your stunning insight, you offer your own enthusiasm for an equally arrogant boor from Chicago with a badly faked Irish accent (You call it a "brogue", don't you?) who smears grease on his chest and dances on television. What a rich heritage! Yes, indeed, that ignorant Mary McAleese could learn a few things from you and those insightful suburban hordes who expound Irish culture with such grace and dignity. She just doesn't know what she's missing!... "Some sprayed beer and shouted obscenities at the mayor..."... http://articles.latimes.com/1991-03-17/news/mn-915_1_largest-st-patrick-s-day-parade

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BishopSean | Sep 26, 2010, 10:24 AM EDT

President McAleese no doubt is seeing herself as "standing on principle." In my view, she is trying to be a "nice guy in the wrong way." That's not how Jesus loves people. Blessings!

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GeorgeDillon | Sep 25, 2010, 03:29 AM EDT

manhattan--Good point about Riverdance. Before Americans Flatley and Butler made it cool again, the low self-esteem and self-hating irish of Ireland were ASHAMED of Irish dancing and sniggered at anyone who did it. The same attitude prevails today among the self-hating irish with regards to the ancient Irish language. Many Irish hate it, others are embarrassed to hear it spoken. Ditto for Irish music, the self-hating Irish even have a name for it, diddely-die. Run thru your radio channels next time you're in Ireland, and apart from the Irish language station, you won't hear one note of Irish music being played. And THESE are the same Irish who set themselves up here as guardians of Irish culture, and deign to tell us poor Irish-Americans thaat we don't understand and value our Irish heritage? Pog mo thoin, amadain na hEireann!

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manhattan | Sep 24, 2010, 11:34 PM EDT

One of you wrote that we Irish Americans STOLE Irelands St. Patrick's Day and Holloween from the Ireland. If for a minute I can stop laughing I want you to thank your lucky stars that the Irish that came here didn't forget you at home. In fact, even though they lived in poverty they sent back to a starving nation an astounding amount money from the little they made. They sent money, clothes and kept Ireland from losing another 3 million from dying. They kept the music, the stories and told us to always be proud of our heritage, but first and foremost give thanks to this great country for saving us and those back in Ireland. I went to Ireland in 1977 was shocked to find out that we in America respected our heritage more. It is us that kept the Irish music alive ,had our kids step dancing that is why it took two Americans to make Riverdance a hit. I refuse to think that all those Ireland are like these letter writers/At least I hope so.

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hancock | Sep 24, 2010, 01:40 PM EDT

Woodkern where are you from?

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manhattan | Sep 24, 2010, 12:10 PM EDT

George Dillon isn't a bully hyattsville, He is just smarter then you. As the great Jack Nicholson said 'YOU CANT STAND TO HEAR THE TRUTH.'

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manhattan | Sep 24, 2010, 11:59 AM EDT

Woodkern, no one is more disgusted with those idiots who have to get stoned and make asses of themselves more then most Irish Americans. It's a celebration of Irish American contributions to our city. Leave the politics out of it. But what the heck does that have to do with Gays not being allowed in the March? You know my Irish American fire fighter nephew who thank God survived on 9/11 was treated worse by the drunks in Dublin when the realized he was American. It works way kid.

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