I seldom agree with my esteemed colleague Kevin Myers on any subject - except the necessity of changing the date of our national feast day from March 17th to the middle of the summer.
St Patrick's Day tends to be miserable with the chances of sleet, snow and hail only marginally below being drenched with heavy rain or being blown away by a gale.
St Patrick's Day is very much in the public mind at this time of year in the midlands, where I notice it is celebrated with greater intensity than in Dublin city.
Virtually every small town and even some parishes have a parade of some kind following the religious ceremonies, which are normally very well attended.
This year the midlands will have a "first" in its celebrations, with the people of Lanesboro/Ballyleague taking to the Shannon to mark the day.
The annual parade will not be on the streets but will be a floating event to mark the millennium; people will be looking at genuine "floats".
The idea of putting the event on to the river came, according to Karen Nolan, marketing manager of Lough Ree Development Co-operative, as a result of a community development workshop hosted by FAS.
"The idea has been on the back burner for some time but this year, the new millennium, seemed to be an appropriate time to go for it," she said.
The idea of Ireland's first floating St Patrick's Day parade was put to the National Millennium Committee and it agreed to provide some funding for the event.
"We decided to pick a theme of `Ireland Through the Millennia' and celebrate the history of the area from the Stone Age until now on the river.
"We will have boats with Celts, the Golden Age, Vikings, the 19th century and the future displayed in various ways. These will remind the public of the importance of the river in our past and now," she said.
Ms Nolan said the highlight would be a mock battle between the Vikings and Irish monks staged by pupils from Lanesboro Community College and arranged by local schoolteacher Michael Lyons.
"The Vikings will arrive in Lanesboro in a replica Viking boat which was normally operated out of Athlone by Michael McDonnell, who takes school groups in the vessel to Clonmacnoise," she said.
The event will focus on water activities with raft races, a rubber-duck race and afternoon cruises available on the mv Goldsmith.
"We have employed artists to assist with ideas and practical tips for anyone who wants to float along with the parade. The parade is open to all but we will charge £50 to business floats," she said.
But even for the people of Lanesboro, this parade is not weatherproof.
The parade route may have to be shortened if the weather is very wet.
"We will be anxiously watching the weather because if the river gets too high some of the boats will not be able to get under the bridge and we will have to re-route it," she said.
"We will, of course, stay on the water but it will mean that instead of the parade passing under the spectators, it will have to be held on the south side of the bridge." The Lough Ree Development Co-operative will continue to accept floating entries for the event and can contacted at 04327070 or fax 043-27042.