There will be no St Patrick’s Day parade in Cookstown in 2023, with the group who organise the annual event encouraging people to attend a separate parade in Toome, Co Antrim on Friday
The annual parade in the Co Tyrone town returned in 2022 after being cancelled in successive years due to Covid restrictions.
The Cookstown Ancient Order of Hibernians have traditionally run the festivities in Cookstown with the support of the local council, but have confirmed the event will not be going ahead this coming Friday.
READ MORE: Details of St Patrick’s Day events in Co Tyrone
Mid Ulster District Council has also confirmed it will not be running any events on the day in the absence of the AOH parade.
A free family fun day organised by the council will take place in Dungannon on St Patrick’s Day, while a concert was held in the Burnavon Theatre in Cookstown last weekend to celebrate the holiday.
An AOH spokesperson said it has organised a parade in Toome for St Patrick’s Day, while other AOH parades will take place in Mid Ulster, including in Maghera and Draperstown according to the Parades Commission.
The spokesperson for the organisation added that its main parade will be rotated between different areas every year, and encouraged its members to attend the parade in Toome.
A spokesperson for Mid Ulster District Council said St Patrick’s Day events in the council have always been ‘community-led’.
“Traditionally in Mid Ulster, St Patrick’s Day events have always been community–led with the Council facilitating some of these public celebrations at our arts centres, including the annual St Patrick’s Day Concert at the Burnavon, Cookstown and the St Patrick’s Day Free Family Fun Day at Hill of The O’Neill and Ranfurly House, Dungannon.”
Meanwhile other parts of Co Tyrone will see festivities for St Patrick's Day, including a day of live music and street entertainment in Omagh, as well as the annual parade in Strabane.
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