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Limerick National Holiday Committee Prepares for St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Split in Cork | Limerick Archives

Limerick National Holiday Committee Prepares for St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Split in Cork

Limerick – On Sunday evening, the National Holiday Committee convened at the Town Hall to finalize preparations for the upcoming celebration of the National Festival on Thursday. Presided over by Reverend T. Lee of St. John’s Abbey, President of the Limerick Branch of the Gaelic League, the meeting saw a significant turnout, with Messrs. O’Donovan and Stephens serving as secretaries.

Reports were received from various ward committees, confirming promises from local businesses in different wards to suspend trade on St. Patrick’s Day. Publicans also pledged to comply with the request. The committee then conducted a draw to determine positions in the grand procession that will traverse the city on a festive day, and arrangements were made for the placement of city bands.

The proposed route for the procession was established as follows: The gathering of local bodies will occur in the vicinity of Back Place. The procession, scheduled to depart promptly at 1:30 p.m., will proceed through Patrick Street, Sarsfield Street, the Strand, past the Treaty Stone, over Thomond Bridge, and continue through Nicholas Street, Mary Street, John Street, Cathedral Place, Gerald Griffin Street, Colbert Street, Cooney Street, Council Street, and back to the Mall, where a large public meeting will be held.

To address concerns about certain publicans who violated their promises last year by opening their back doors for trade, a vigilance committee was appointed to monitor any objectionable activities during the approaching Festival. It was also decided that the Reverend Director of the Arch-Confraternity would address this matter during the weekly meetings of the organization on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Regarding the proposal to hold the first Munster Cup (Rugby) match on St. Patrick’s Day at the Markets Field, the committee resolved to send a delegation to the Markets Field Syndicate, urging them to postpone the match to a later date to avoid conflicting with Gaelic League arrangements. A display of local manufacturers will be a notable feature of the procession.

In Cork, a significant development has occurred in relation to the St. Patrick’s Day demonstration. During Thursday night’s delegates’ meeting at the Trades Hall, representatives from the Temperance and Gaelic League presented a resolution calling for the closure of publicans’ premises on the National festival. However, the President of the Trades Council rejected the resolution, prompting a large number of delegates to leave the hall and hold a protest meeting. At this gathering, it was decided to call on the trades to reconsider their decision.

In a subsequent special meeting on Sunday, the trades unanimously refused to revisit the subject, despite a strong appeal from the Gaelic League. As a result, the Gaelic Leaguers have announced their intention not to participate in the procession organized by the trades for St. Patrick’s Day, resulting in a split within the Cork National Festival arrangements.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 15 March 1904

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