Boston City Council President and Southie native Bill Linehan announced Wednesday that he will be spending his St. Patrick’s Day Parade across the pond in Limerick, Ireland.
“The City of Limerick is a very special place. It is a true honor to be personally invited to participate, as a civic leader, in these events,” said Linehan in a press release.
Mayor Kathleen Leddin of Limerick invited Linehan to join her in sitting VIP during the city’s International Band Parade held on March 16 and then to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade the following day according to the Boston Globe. Last year, Linehan hosted dignitaries from Limerick during his St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Following a controversial debate over who should host South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day breakfast this past September, Linehan fell to political pressure to allow the current state Senator from the first Suffolk District Linda Dorcena Forry. A Haitian-American from Dorchester, Forry, defies the norms of playing host the role of which is typically upheld by officials who hail from South Boston.
Since the 1940’s the host has traditionally been a politician from South Boston dubbing it the name “Southie Seat.” Linehan argued that he should remain being host because it has always been held by a politician from South Boston, even if that person was not state Senator, notes the Boston Globe.
Forry argued that there were miscommunications surrounding the event, saying that the event “is hosted by the sitting state Senator of the first Suffolk District.”
But after some backlash, Linehan changed his point of view later saying that he will work with Forry in presenting the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast.
Forry will not participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade that will follow the breakfast because it continues to exclude the LBGTQ community from participating. She will continue to boycott it until it is available to everyone to participate in.
Last year, Linehan participated in the parade saying the opposite about the parade.
“It is important to note that individuals, gay or straight, have not been banned from participating in the parade. I have personally marched with people of different sexual orientations in the event and will continue to encourage all to participate,” Linehan wrote in a post for MySouthEnd.
This year, despite the controversy, Linehan will be enjoying his St. Patrick’s Day far away from Boston, amongst the leprechauns.
(Photo courtesy of SouthBostonToday)
