Speculation mounts over Kilkenny parades as officials cancel Dublin and Cork St Patrick’s Day events

The Cabinet sub-committee dealing with the coronavirus has decided to cancel the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin just minutes after the organisers of the parade in Cork decided to call off theirs.

With the two largest parades in the country now cancelled, focus turns to local organising committees in Kilkenny, who have yet to make a call on whether their parades will go ahead. At this point the parades in the city and in Urlingford are still scheduled to go ahead.

Prior to the cabinet meeting Minister Simon Harris defended his department’s delay in cancelling public events saying they have been following the advice of health officials, and if instructed to cancel any events or gatherings, then they will do so in the interest of public health.

There are now 21 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland following the diagnosis of two more cases yesterday evening.

The HSE is working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.