Paisley Says No To Grand Marshal Spot

By Tony Quinn

Despite lobbying and pressure from various quarters in New York, the somewhat convoluted and naïve notion that Dr. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness might lead the Saint Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Ave next year, or indeed any year, has been laid to rest as Dr. Paisley has given an emphatic 'NO' to the suggestion.

Those who said it could happen need to seriously examine not only the political pulse of Dr. Paisley but also the vital signs of Mr. McGuinness and recent history regarding the chasm between Roman Catholicism and the Free Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Paisley and Mr. McGuinness were in New York this week as part of a historic first joint visit to the U.S. that will also include a meeting with President George W. Bush at the White House on Friday.

Leaving a meeting with Mayor Michael Bloomberg at New York City Hall on Monday morning past, the First Minister for Northern Ireland was asked by a reporter if he would be interested in leading the world's largest parade and he answered with a resounding rejection of the idea, adding that if it had been a 12th of July 'Demonstration' he might be interested.

The suggestion of joint Grand Marshals for next year's parade is moot as well-known, and highly respected, ESPN Sport commentator Tommy Smyth, originally from County Louth, has been appointed by the Parade Committee to be the Grand Marshal for the 247th annual celebration of Ireland's Patron Saint.

Assimilated, yet still a proud Irishman and émigré from the 'Wee County', Tommy will lead the assembled throngs from all the 32 counties of Ireland north on 5th Avenue on March 17th.

A clear favorite with the Parade Committee, New York's own Tommy Smyth is described by the organizers as: "A fixture of the Irish American community in New York for the past forty four years... and no one is more qualified and well liked than Tommy to receive the most prestigious honor the Irish American community can bestow on anyone in the United States. He is probably the most remarkable and recognized Irish American living in the United States and will bring great honor and prestige to the Parade in his role as the 2008 Grand Marshal."

Despite the continuing near absence of violence in Northern Ireland and the setting up of a power sharing administration at Stormont last May, the suggestion of Dr. Paisley leading the parade with Mr. McGuinness is a clear non-starter for the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Dr. Paisley's son, Ian Jr., standing alongside his father outside City Hall on Monday echoed the sentiments of Ian Sr. in suggesting a 12th of July parade in New York.

The 12th of July parades in Northern Ireland are held by unionists to mark the victory of William III over James II at the Boyne river near Drogheda in 1690 and have frequently lead to confrontation - though much less so in recent years.

Answering the same question as to his participation as joint Grand Marshal, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness responded by saying, "The decision as to who leads the parade should be left to those who organize the parade."

John Dunleavy the Chairman of the St. Patrick's Day Parade when told of Dr. Paisley's rejection of the notion said. "Both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have marched in the parade in the past and Ian Paisley is welcome to march as well."

But as to who leads the parade, Dunleavy added. "We are very selective as to who we appoint. The appointment of Grand Marshal is subject to certain criteria including the wearing of the traditional tricolor sash. I can't see Ian Paisley wearing a tricolor sash."