Organizers of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade has responded amid reports that An Garda Síochána had not received an invitation to march in this year's parade.
"The recent media reports regarding the An Garda Síochána not being invited to the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade are inaccurate," organizers said in a statement on Saturday, February 10.
"The NYC St Patrick's Day Parade does not invite any group to march in the parade.
"Groups seeking approval to participate in the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade must first fill out a form with their intent to affiliate. The process to affiliate/ seek approval is open early Fall with a deadline of December 15, 2023.
"The NYC St Patrick's Parade office received a letter requesting that the An Garda Síochána be included in the line of march in late January. This was well past the December 15 application deadline."
Sean Lane, Chairman of the NYC St. Patrick's Parade, added: "The Parade Committee are working to include uniformed Gardaí in a designated place in the line of march."
On Thursday, the Irish Examiner reported that it understood "Gardaí will not be marching in this year's St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York following an apparent disagreement at last year’s event."
When asked for comment on the matter, a spokesperson for AGS told IrishCentral on Friday: "It is entirely a matter for parade organizers who they invite to take part in their parades and when they close for applications to take part in their parades.
"An Garda Síochána is seeking to clarify this particular situation.
"There are regulations in place in relation to Gardaí bringing the Garda uniform outside of the State, which require individual Gardaí to apply for such permission.
"As there is currently no invitation to take part in this particular event, no such permissions are granted for this particular event.
"Gardaí wishing to take part in other such parades abroad can still apply for this permission to take their uniform outside of the State.
"When permission is granted, Gardaí travel to such events at their own expense."
The 2024 NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 16. Co Mayo native Maggie Timoney will lead the march as Grand Marshal.
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