Flight of the Earls Launched in Europe
A large crowd attended the European launch of the Flight of the Earls commemoration in the European Parliament on Tuesday 11th April.
Mayor of the County of Donegal, Enda Bonner and Cllr Patrick McGowan were joined by Seán Ó Neachtain MEP, to officially launch the 400th commemoration in Europe.
The event included an exhibition on the Flight of the Earls and information packs were distributed to all who attended. The aim of the event was to highlight Donegal as a place to visit and do business.
Speaking at the launch in the European Parliament Mayor of the County of Donegal Enda Bonner said;
“The County Council is hosting many events during the course of this year concerning a very important time in our history. We are therefore delighted that the UEN group in the European Parliament and the UEN-EA Group in the Committee of the Regions have come together in recognition of the anniversary which not only concerns us in Donegal but many Regions of Europe.”
Donegal County Council, Member of the Committee of the Regions, Patrick McGowan spoke of how the link between Ireland and Belgium continues in strength,
“As a member of the Committee of the Regions, and Donegal County Council, this 400 year commemoration of the flight of the Earls gives us an opportunity to contact the different regions of the EU where the Earls ventured through before finally settling in Rome. We work to build links with different regions with the aim of making Europe a better place. It is an honour for me to represent Donegal County in the Committee of the Regions and a pleasure to join with our colleagues in the European Parliament to mark this historical event.”
Concluding the night’s speeches Seán Ó Neachtain MEP for the North and West Constituency said;
“Today we salute the courage and the vision of those men and women who made that fateful journey. Their dreams and the hopes of the Irish people at that time has now been realised in an Ireland at peace within a united Europe.”
Mr. Michael Heaney, Director of Services, DCC thanked those who initiated the event.
“We are very grateful to Seán Ó Neachtain MEP and Cllr Patrick McGowan for having initiated this event. The Flight of the Earls has a very important international dimension and a very important Irish Diaspora dimension and this event is a key element in pursuing the development of the Flight of the Earls”
Plans are now being put in place to bring the exhibition to other venues around Europe and Ireland to highlight Donegal.