Lord Mayor of Belfast Tom Ekin today expressed a wish for inclusive St Patrick's Day celebrations in the city centre next year backed by the council.
Following a meeting with the St Patrick's Day Carnival Committee, the cross-community Alliance Party mayor said an early resolution to the issue of celebrating St Patrick's Day would be a fitting legacy to his year in office.
As he embarked on his final week as lord mayor, Mr Ekin said: "This year's council events were successful, particularly those funded by community grants as they involved people from all backgrounds across the city.
"We want to build on that progress and look at options for supporting a city centre event. Belfast is different from other cities across the world and, for next year, we must go all-out to find an event which satisfies as many as possible.
"It is my vision that St Patrick's Day should be a day of celebration for the city and not a day of division. A family-friendly, inclusive event would have significant community, social and economic benefits for the city," he said.
Belfast City Council sponsored more than 50 small community events across the city and a major concert in the Waterfront Hall.
However it again refused funding for an open air concert outside Belfast City Hall organised by volunteers of the St Patrick's Day Carnival Committee.
Unionists, in particular, have said the presence of Irish tricolours and people wearing Glasgow Celtic tops during the carnival deter many in their community from taking part.
Mr Ekin hoped meetings between the carnival committee and council representatives could find any early resolution of issues around the financing and shape of St Patrick's Day celebrations in the city.