Irish police say NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade will facilitate its members' applications

"An Garda Síochána has received confirmation from parade organisers that members of An Garda Síochána applying to take part in this year’s New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be facilitated," a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told IrishCentral today, Thursday, February 15.

The spokesperson added: "There are regulations in place in relation to Gardaí bringing the Garda uniform outside of the State, which require individual Gardaí to apply for such permission.

"Gardaí wishing to take part in this particular event must apply for this permission to take their uniform outside of the State.

"When permission is granted, Gardaí travel to such events at their own expense and in their own time."

Last week, An Garda Síochána said it was seeking clarification amid reports that the organizing committee of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade had not issued the organization an invitation to march this year following an alleged "disagreement" last year.

The Irish Examiner had reported that it understood "Gardaí will not be marching in this year's St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York following an apparent disagreement at last year’s event."

According to The Irish Examiner, Gardaí were informed via an email on Thursday, February 8 which said: “It has emerged that the organising committee of the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City has not issued an invitation to members of An Garda Síochána to participate in this year's parade.

"The wishes of the Organising Committee must be respected.

"Consequently, no Garda member will be granted permission to bring items of official uniform out of the State for the purposes of marching in the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City."

In response, organizers of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade issued a statement on Saturday, February 10 saying: "The recent media reports regarding the An Garda Síochána not being invited to the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade are inaccurate.

"The NYC St Patrick's Day Parade does not invite any group to march in the parade.

"Groups seeking approval to participate in the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade must first fill out a form with their intent to affiliate. The process to affiliate/ seek approval is open early Fall with a deadline of December 15, 2023.

"The NYC St Patrick's Parade office received a letter requesting that the An Garda Síochána be included in the line of march in late January. This was well past the December 15 application deadline."

Sean Lane, Chairman of the NYC St. Patrick's Parade, added: "The Parade Committee are working to include uniformed Gardaí in a designated place in the line of march."

The 2024 NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 16. Co Mayo native Maggie Timoney will lead the march as Grand Marshal.