Mary McAleese does the right thing by turning down NYC St. Patrick's Day parade invite

murders, rapist and pedophiles oh my! sounds like the catholic church. how ironic.

AOH is the offical sponser of the parade, they'll hold with the Church on the view point. Good luck changing their minds.

Mary McAleese declined to participate in NY's St. Patrick's Day parade--who cares? That doesn't mean we can't still celebrate our heritage. Who cares if there are gays marching in the American St. Patrick's Day parade? Who cares if there are middle Eastern or other immigrants marching in the Irish St. Patrick's Day parade? (Isn't that kind of the point of the American parade? We came here from another place, and we identify ourselves as Irish.) As long as they are there to celebrate Ireland and her heritage, really, who cares? Both Ireland and America are diverse, and it is a wonderful thing that so many different people want to come together to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I am saddened--no, disgusted--by the name-calling and false arguments I've seen here. Unless these people are murderers, or rapists, or pedophiles, or some other horrible thing, they should feel proud and be allowed to be both Irish and...whatever. Gay. Black. Female. Neurotic. Weird. Funny. Intelligent. Pick an adjective. I would also like to note that not all Americans are racist, backward conservatives.

I agree.

Dublinman: Why are you throwing the epithet "racist" around, when it is you who are the racist? You're not fooling anyone. Racists like you are creeps, Dublinman. Slink away to where the roaches hide.

Ulster1, you're absolutely right. In fact it wasn't until 1993 that homosexuality was officially legalised in Ireland! It's embarrassing and you're right that the Catholic church has had an awful effect on Irish society for all of the 20th century. We probably would disagree on just about everything on our island but at least we can laugh at these racist and backward conservative Americans! We've come a long way Ulster1!!

To Dublinman77: You state: "The only time homosexuality was banned in Ireland was when the English imposed a law against it several hundred years ago." Why didn't the Irish government repeal it before 1988? Maybe it's to do with the Church of Rome's Eternal Damnation doctrine? Isn't time you stopped blaming the English for the actions of the Irish? Stop blaming Mother England for everything--it's time Ireland grew-up.

Irish people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender can march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin. They can openly serve in the Irish military. People in Ireland have civil rights--in New York, Irish Americans, it seems from many of the comments here, are stuck in an 1849 mindset. What happened to the "Land of the Free", "Liberty for All"? Is it all just American propaganda? Remember, Pres. Bush explained to Americans after 9/11 that, "they hate us for our freedom"! What would that be exactly?

what's wrong with you, there are many Homosexuals marching or standing on the Cathedral steps, most of them are Priests. When we will we stop being blinded by religion preying on children?

I am curious...can someone help me...wardy 09 is calling a woman a bitch...and saying she is not Irish at heart...and works for the International Bankers... I would like to know who the International Bankers are...and if Mary McAlesse is not Irish...what is she... Can someone answer?

How's the racism coming along, Dublinman77? You and Woundedknee started that far-right party yet?

No, that's wrong--Dublinman77, Manhattan, GeorgeDillon and Woundedknee are the same poster.

Manhattan, GeorgeDillon and Woundedknee are the same poster.

manhattan: You got that right. Note how DublinMan calls other people racists and then says "Who, me?" when someone points out that the racist is him. But he's welcome to the boozed-up plastic Paddies of the Dublin Parade, stumbling around with a beer in one hand and a leprechaun suit that can barely swathe their fat asses. Kwa Heri, Dublinman, as the "New Irish" say. Brostaigh ort amach, as real Irish might say. Of course that doesn't include you, Plastic Man from Dublin.

Oh, I just want to say goodbye to Dublin Man, don't let the door hit you in the a-- as you leave America. If you aren't here and never have been we won't miss your company.