Ireland has done the unthinkable. It has canceled some of the
national celebrations honoring the country's patron saint this month because of
fears of foot-and-mouth disease. This highly contagious disease is plaguing
animals in Great Britain, and there's at least one confirmed case in Northern
Ireland. It has the potential of decimating the meat supply.
Typically, some 1.3 million people celebrate for four days from
March 16 to 19 and take to the streets of Dublin to
honor St. Patrick with a festival of music, street theater, and parades. This
year, the parade has been canceled, although some of the other events will
probably continue.
"This will have tremendous knock-on effects, but it's the
disappointment most of all," said Maria Moynihan, chief executive of
Dublin's St. Patrick's Festival Board.
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