St Patrick’s Day parade going ahead despite 'issues' with North West Carnival Initiative

Derry City and Strabane District Council has confirmed Derry’s St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival parade is going ahead in spite of “issues” relating to the North West Carnival Initiative (NWCI), the parade’s main organising body.

The Derry News understands a number of creatives previously involved with NWCI have left the group in recent weeks and retain intellectual property rights to items which they previously designed.

It is also understood, because no contracts were exchanged with NWCI, permission to use these items in this year's St Patrick's Day Spring Carnival parade has been withdrawn, and Derry City and Strabane District Council has been fully apprised about the situation.

Mental health charity calls Health Department to  address mental health data failures

New Script for Mental Health calls for department to rectify 'systemic failures in transparency, accountability and outcomes measurement'

Double RTS NI nomination for Derry student Terence Harvey-Kelly

The Magee campus filmmaker secures a prestigious double-shortlisting as the 2026 RTS NI Student Awards return to Belfast next month

In a statement to The Derry News, a Council spokesperson said: “The St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival is continuing as planned.

“While we are aware that some artists are possibly no longer operating with the North West Carnival Initiative (NWCI) and have some issues around their Intellectual Property, this will not impact on Council’s delivery of St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

We continue to work closely with all relevant partners to ensure it is a success and look forward to welcoming everyone for a fantastic experience.”