Monday, March 17, 2008


Okinawa City goes green for St. Patrick’s Day fest


By David Allen, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, March 17, 2008

OKINAWA CITY — Friday’s rain was forgotten Saturday, as the sun shone down on participants wearing green in the city’s second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Although the turnout was not as high as expected, everyone seemed to take seriously the old saying that, “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.” Green-tinted beer — or green tea and green colored soft drinks for active-duty military personnel — washed down generous helpings of Irish beef stew, fish and chips, Okinawa yakitori and other local cuisine.

The entire length of Park Avenue, a popular strip of bars, restaurants and clothing stores, was closed for the event.

Martin McIntyre, owner of a popular Irish pub on the strip, led the parade, which featured a bagpiper, and the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band. It also featured a children’s dance troupe and a local marching band.

The parade was followed by live Irish and Okinawa music on an outdoor stage.

The five-hour stage show also featured a clown show and demonstrations of karate and kendo.

About 200 people attended the event, fewer than organizers expected. Some in the crowd attributed it to the current off-base alcohol ban for active-duty military personnel. The restriction was ordered in the wake of several recent off-base incidents, including two alleged rapes.

The ban, however, did not seem to limit the enthusiasm of some young Marines attending the event.

“We’ll just do our drinking when we get back to base,” said a Marine lance corporal.

“I’ll drink some green beer for him,” said a civilian friend.

There was a notable lack of young servicemembers in Paddy Mac’s Irish Pub, a situation unheard of during previous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

“The alcohol ban is hurting all of the businesses out here,” McIntyre said. “We’re all just praying it doesn’t last long.”

Ellie