Clare councillors express solidarity with Garvaghy Road residents - Clare Echo

CLARE councillors have expressed solidarity with residents of Garvaghy Road in Portadown following the decision to halt a planned Orange Order parade through the predominantly nationalist community.

*Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (left), seconded the motion from Cllr James Ryan (right) and told the meeting of his recent visit to Garvaghy Road || Inset: Orange Order members

The issue was raised by Cllr James Ryan (SF) at the October meeting of Clare County Council, where he called on the council to support residents’ wish to live in peace, free from sectarian discrimination and harassment.

Cllr Ryan welcomed the decision by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant to stop the parade from proceeding, saying the issue was about peace and coexistence rather than political allegiances.

“This should not be about winners and losers,” he said, adding that communities needed to be sensitive to the past and work together to allow everyone to prosper.

Cllr Ryan said more than 1,500 people had signed a letter supporting the Garvaghy Road residents.

Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF), who seconded the motion, recounted visiting the area the previous Saturday.

He said a woman at a community centre became emotional when she learned he had travelled from Clare to show his support.

“People are coming from other corners of the country to come and support us,” she told him.

Cllr Guilfoyle said the woman still remembered what had happened 28 years ago and that the visit from the Banner county meant a great deal to her.

Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) said he had believed the issue had been left in the past and warned against “bringing the next generation into conflict”.

Councillors Pat Hayes (FF), Gabriel Keating (FG) and Tony Mulcahy (FG) also supported the motion.

Concluding the discussion, Cllr Ryan described the reopening of the dispute as the “biggest mystery”, adding that it was important for Clare County Council to express its solidarity with the residents.

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