'Paddy's Day Festival needed in Ballycastle'

She said the town was “dead” this year and said efforts should be made to mark March 17.

Cllr Black told a meeting of Moyle Council: “St Patrick’s Day was absolutely dead. The only sign I saw was horse ploughing.

“Portstewart had a fantastic festival. I came back here about 5 o’clock and this town was like a ghost town. I would like to see some sort of festival,” said the councillor.

She made the comments as a report prepared by Moyle Arts Development Officer Elaine Gaston regarding Moyle’s Arts Programme’s annual plan for 2010/11 was discussed.

Council officer Esther Mulholland said it may be difficult to organise new events as the budget for a 20 hour week part-time arts worker is only 3,000 per year.

Council Chairperson, Cllr Cara McShane (Sinn Fein), said she totally supported the comments made by Cllr Black.

She said she climbed Slemish Mountain on St Patrick’s Day and added: “Nothing happens in this town”.

She said it would be good to see floats “or something in The Diamond”.

Cllr Paudie McShane (Sinn Fein) said Mass was celebrated in Irish on St Patrick’s Day in the area.

He said several pubs in Ballycastle were packed on St Patrick’s Day and he said many people in both bars and at home were watching the All-Ireland GAA Club Final this year which involved a County Antrim team, St Gall’s.

He went on to say that the Moyle area can claim a direct link to St Patrick.

He added that Slemish is often mentioned as the place where the saint herded animals as a slave boy but in fact it included lands running from Slemish to the coast in and around the Garron Tower area.

Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist councillor Willie Graham asked if any money would be available to help promote the Twelfth of July which will be held in Bushmills this year.

Cllr Cara McShane reminded him the budget is only 3,000.

Cllr Graham told his fellow councillors: “If anybody wants a good festival come to Bushmills on the Twelfth morning and we will guarantee you a good time”.

Meanwhile, Cllr Oliver McMullan (Sinn Fein), said the Glens Feis is “one of the biggest events of the year” and it doesn’t feature in the Arts programme.

Esther Mulholland said offers of help were made towards the event in the past but they were not taken up.