Australia added to council's
St. Paddy's itinerary
By - Paul Murphy.
MEATH people who settled in Australia many years ago will
meet up with the Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council,
Colr. Nick Killian, when he visits Sydney on behalf of
the council for the St. Patrick`s Day celebrations in the
city.
The chairman, accompanied by Meath County Manager Tom
Dowling, will leave on 8th. March for a 12-day visit Down
Under, which will also take in Singapore, and Melbourne.
Other members of the county council and other Meath local
authorities will represent the county in New York and
London. Previously, Meath delegations travelled to New
York and the English capital.
Colr. Killian said yesterday (Tuesday) that he and the
county manager will stop off in Singapore to make a visit
to Juron City Council where they will see at first hand
how its members and officials have dealt with the
problems presented by large increases in population.
They will then travel on to Melbourne where they will be
guests at an Irish Tourism function, accompanied by the
Irish ambassador. It is hoped to meet up with Meath
people at Celtic Park in the city and they will also try
to trace the origins of the Eiffe family from Ratoath who
were prominent in the city at one time. On the following
day, they will attend an Industrial Development Authority
(IDA) briefing.
The delegation will spend St. Patrick`s Day in Sydney.
Colr. Killian said: "We will attend the St. Patrick`s Day
parade there and meet up at a function hosted by
Ireland`s honorary consul with Meath people who settled
in Australia many years ago".
Other council members representing Meath abroad on St.
Patrick`s Day will include: New York - Colr. Jenny Darcy,
Colr. Eoin Holmes, Colr. Peter Higgins, Colr. Noel
Leonard (all Meath County Council); Colr. Oliver Sweeney
(Kells Town Council), Colr. Trevor Golden (Trim Town
Council), Colr. Christy Reilly, Mayor (Navan Town
Council); London - Colr. James Mangan, Colr. Jim
Holloway, Colr. Tom Kelly, Colr. Patsy O`Neill (all Meath
County Council), Colr. Robbie Griffith (Trim Town
Council) and Colr. Gerry Reilly (Trim Town Council).
© The Meath Chronicle, 23rd. February 2008.
