Paddys day Parade participation?

[Goldie fish]

I got to thinking with the National Drinking festival around the corner, is it time DF participation in these parades came to an end?

The reports I have seen in the last few years have been similar. Local Councils organise themed parades, something of a carnival. Lots of people dressed as clowns, out for a bit of fun on a bank holiday in early spring/late winter.

And then, usually to the front, an organised, sometimes armed body of serious faces marchers, who look as if they'll trample anyone who gets in their way.(We all know it happens). Is it appropriate any more? Is this type of participation more appropriate in an Easter Parade?
In Limerick in particular, with the current Minister, the parades are beginning to resemble the old May Day parades in moscow, and the PDF get dragged in, with their equipment, on their day off, taking what was once a RDF only affair. The next problem we have is after the parade, often guys in uniform decide to hit the pubs, and get their faces in the local rags, obviously photographed later in the celebrations. Causing embarassment to all.

Maybe it's time we left paddys day for partying, and the Easter commemoration for military displays?

[WilcoOut]

and the PDF get dragged in, with their equipment, on their day off, taking what was once a RDF only affair

dragged in? it should be an honour to participate in the events

as usual, the RDF are willing to give up there time for something worth while, namely the festvities to comemorate our nation

Major cities like boston, NY, chicago, london, sydney etc all come to a stand still to commemorate the feast of our patron saint and u think havin a few blackheads march up and down o'connell street and a few drinks after causes embarresment?

u sir are an embarressment

[riflemangundy]

Out of sight out of mind..... They'l(the crowd of spectators) be like get rid of them!!!

[Docman]

In Limerick in particular, with the current Minister, the parades are beginning to resemble the old May Day parades in moscow, and the PDF get dragged in, with their equipment, on their day off, taking what was once a RDF only affair.

I think that has more to do with trying to cover up the fact that RDF numbers have disappeared over the last few years. Wouldn't look good if the few that are left in Limerick marched on their own.

[Dazzler]

dragged in? it should be an honour to participate in the events

as usual, the RDF are willing to give up there time for something worth while, namely the festvities to comemorate our nation

Major cities like boston, NY, chicago, london, sydney etc all come to a stand still to commemorate the feast of our patron saint and u think havin a few blackheads march up and down o'connell street and a few drinks after causes embarresment?

u sir are an embarressment

Noone has a problem with a few drinks afterwards, it's the drinking in Uniform, and drinking to extreme excess that people have a problem with.

[apod]

One easy solution to it.RDF unit commanders actually doing their jobs and insisting on the members of their units bringing a set of civies with them to change into after the parades.Problem solved.:wink:

[FMolloy]

dragged in? it should be an honour to participate in the events

Goldie has a point, how relevent is the DF to the current Macnas-style mardi gras efforts & how welcome is DF participation?

In my experience, the organisers of the Dublin parde were less & less keen on DF participation in the event as time went on. It even went as far as having their official announcer have a few digs at us from the podium.

As for drinking in uniform, there's always one or two spas who will get drunk and make fools of themselves & the DF. It's best to knock this practice on the head now.

[hedgehog]

I go with Goldie on this one

and I am sure most of the more sensible members on here

would also agree with him

[mod note: abusive content removed]

[trellheim]

I'd say we'll start to see a return to bygone days on this one

[Darksaga]

Hedge your gonna loose your licence soon!

[ollie]

Another aspect is the dodgy marching i ve seen in many parades, last year the rdf party in carlows parade looked like they were skipping along at times , diff people calling diff steps and the band behind playing something you cant march too. using recruits to make up numbers only makes it worse.

[Truck Driver]

Another aspect is the dodgy marching i ve seen in many parades, last year the rdf party in carlows parade looked like they were skipping along at times , diff people calling diff steps and the band behind playing something you cant march too. using recruits to make up numbers only makes it worse.

AKA Riverdance !!!

[turbocalves]

Another aspect is the dodgy marching i ve seen in many parades, last year the rdf party in carlows parade looked like they were skipping along at times , diff people calling diff steps and the band behind playing something you cant march too. using recruits to make up numbers only makes it worse.

This is precisely why i refuse to march in public....

[WilcoOut]

inefficiencies with marching should not be an excuse to withdraw from the paddys day parade.

the DF should be in the parade as they are an organisation who provide the protection for the irish citizens, have deceased members who should be commemorated on our national day and should show their pride at wearing the uniform. anyone who thinks the DF marching in the parade is a waste has no pride.

The DF is far more relevant to St. Patricks day than any mardi gras sh!te

NY will be jammed with the fighting 69th, national gaurd, police you name it. and you boys wont do it in dublin

im shocked

[luchi]

I'd say we'll start to see a return to bygone days on this one

In Dublin did the FCA/RDF ever march on St Patricks Day?

I seem to remember the old Easter parade being the military and municipal services parade.