By Bernie Ní Fhlatharta

Galway City Council should come up with a plan that would restore St Patrick’s Day as a family day instead of what it has become according to one city councillor – a massive drink and disorder binge.

Councillor Colette Connolly this week bemoaned the fact that elderly people especially, were afraid to come out to see the St Patrick’s Day Parade because of unruly behaviour.

She is now calling on the Council to draw up a strategy that would make the public holiday a safe day for everyone instead of what it had become.

“The city has become an absolutely open pub on St Patrick’s Day and in recent years there have been so many public order incidences that many are now afraid to come into the city at all that day for their own safety.

“It’s such a pity that people, especially the elderly who would like to see the parade for themselves, are too nervous to attend.

“The Council should be proactive and ensure that measures are introduced to make the day one that everyone can enjoy. I don’t subscribe to banishing everything, but I do think there should be far more control on the number of people who drink on the street that day,” she said.

Cllr Connolly said that she will be asking for a written report outlining details of what strategy, if any, the Council has for St Patrick’s Day.

She wants to know how many community wardens and traffic wardens will be on duty that day; what extra waste disposal units will be put in place and if additional toilet facilities are being provided for Spanish Arch and Grattan Road, which attracts a lot of young people on the day.

“It’s disgusting to see people urinating into the river and along the Spanish Arch, but that day, I believe, Portaloos should be put in place.

“We should liaise with the Gardaí to find out how many extra Gardaí will be on duty that day. We should be extra vigilant and proactive and properly plan for the day.

“We are awash with drink on the day and unfortunately this brings with it these problems. Of course we have bye-laws in place to prevent people drinking in public outside of licenced premises but they are not enforced,” she added.