Louth County Council officers and elected representatives launched a strong defence of the annual St Patrick’s Day journey to New York at their April assembly.
he Louth delegation included An Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr. Conor Keelan as first citizen of Louth, Cllr. Kevin Meenan, Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, Cllr. Michelle Corridor, Mayor of Drogheda, and Cllr. Paula Butterly, Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District.
Louth County Council officers Joe McGuinness and Thomas McEvoy additionally travelled to the Massive Apple.
Councillor Maeve Yore queried if the ultimate price of the journey was out there, and in addition prompt that in 2024, members of the County Louth Society of New York, who host the native delegation, might maybe come to Eire as an alternative.
Director of Companies, Thomas McEvoy revealed that the ultimate price of the journey was not out there but, whereas Chief Govt Joan Martin stated the council has a long-standing custom of visiting New York and the advantages are immeasurable. She stated it was troublesome to understand the worth of the journey or seeing the Louth chains of workplace worn by the county chairperson, Mayor or Drogheda and chairs of the Ardee and Dundalk Municipal Districts within the parade with out experiencing it in particular person.
Councillor Kevin Meenan, who’s at present chair of Dundalk Municipal District, agreed with the Chief Govt. He identified that in 2004 when he was final chair of Dundalk City Council, he turned down the chance, however that this time round he was glad he travelled as he realized extra on the journey than he thought doable. He stated it is a chance to promote Louth from a enterprise and tourism perspective.
Councillor Marianne Butler added that it additionally means a terrific to deal to Louth expats in New York to see Louth representatives within the parade, describing it as a “big connection”.
She then prompt that members of the Louth Society be invited over right here to rejoice St Brigid’s Day, stating that it was the truth is Councillor Tomás Sharkey’s concept.
The dialogue veered right into a north-south Louth quarrel when Mayor of Drogheda Michelle Corridor prompt it was a terrific alternative for her to signify the south of the county, as many of the different elected officers and council employees had been from the north of the county.
Chief Govt Joan Martin took exception to these feedback stating that council officers at all times signify each a part of the county equally.
Drogheda Councillor Pio Smith joked that in 2022 there have been no north Louth councillors on the journey, so he needed to “stick up” for Dundalk.
Councillor Kevin Callan agreed that it’s a vastly essential journey and felt it will be “extremely irregular” if Louth did not present up. He added that subsequent 12 months it will likely be even greater for Louth and Mayo, following Joe Biden’s profitable go to. He stated inviting the Louth Society to Louth for St Patrick’s Day would not make sense, however {that a} reciprocal go to on St Brigid’s Day was a terrific concept.
