Ambassadors' visit showcases Offaly's community spirit
The best of Offaly's community, enterprise, heritage and European connections was showcased to the Belgian Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency, Nicolas Nihon, and his counterpart to Belgium, His Excellency, Kevin Conmy, during a recent visit to the county.
Offaly is paired with Belgium as part of a national initiative aimed at engaging communities across Ireland during the country’s Presidency of the European Union.
Examples of vibrant communities, entrepreneurial spirit, world-renowned scientific heritage and ongoing development supported through European investment formed part of the programme.
The programme began with a formal civic welcome at Áras an Chontae Tullamore, which included addresses from the Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Declan Harvey, Chief Executive, Eoghan Ryan, and both Ambassadors.
Welcoming the Ambassadors to the county, the Cathaoirleach spoke about Offaly’s important role at the heart of Ireland and its strong tradition of civic participation, innovation, culture and community development.
“The theme of Ireland’s Presidency is ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’, or ‘Strength with Unity.’ It is a simple but powerful message. It reminds us that we achieve more when we work together.
"Here in Offaly, we are proud of our people, our communities and our rich heritage, and we are delighted to welcome our distinguished guests to experience these strengths at first hand," the Cathaoirleach said.
The Chief Executive highlighted the value of European co-operation and investment in supporting Offaly’s continued economic, social and environmental development.
“For a local authority, European co-operation does not exist only in Brussels. It can be seen in our towns, our public spaces, our businesses, our community facilities and our work in areas such as climate action, economic development and social inclusion. European co-operation and investment are valuable parts of helping communities, businesses and young people succeed," Mr Ryan said.
Following the civic welcome, the Ambassadors travelled to Tullamore Library for a briefing and Q&A session with secondary school students, young people and representatives of Comhairle na nÓg. A total of 26 students attended the event, representing seven schools from around the county.
During the session, the Ambassadors discussed the role of the EU and the importance of international co-operation. Students were given an opportunity to put their questions directly to the Ambassadors and to learn more about diplomatic and European affairs.
Ambassador Nicolas Nihon said the Offaly visit was an excellent opportunity to "highlight the strong bonds between Belgium and Ireland".
“We are two like-minded countries of similar size and influence within the EU. We share much in common, including open economies, strong maritime trading connections through our ports, significant pharmaceutical sectors and a strong focus on offshore wind energy. These are two countries ready to play their part in the next phase of European integration," the Belgian Ambassador said.
Ambassador Kevin Conmy, said it was a "real honour" to visit the county.
“The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU is a great opportunity for Ireland to give back to the Europe, but also to remind ourselves of the positive benefits that membership brings.
"We have received a warm welcome everywhere we visited and hope that our engagements today have helped to strengthen the understanding and support for our EU," he said.
The afternoon programme included a visit to Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery, where the Ambassadors met representatives of local enterprise and business, including members of IBEC.
The engagement provided an opportunity to discuss Offaly’s business environment, its central location and the role of local employers in supporting economic activity and employment across the county.
The Ambassadors later visited Birr Castle Gardens and Science Centre, where the programme highlighted the county’s internationally significant scientific heritage and projects supported through the EU Just Transition Fund.
The visit included the science gallery, where the Ambassadors viewed the original nebula drawing associated with the 3rd Earl of Rosse, William Parsons. The drawing inspired the design of the current EU Presidency logo, bringing an image rooted in Birr’s pioneering history of astronomy to a European audience.
The programme also included a visit to the Leviathan Telescope used when drawing the nebula and an overview of its importance in the history of astronomy. Once the largest telescope in the world, the Leviathan enabled observations that contributed to a greater understanding of nebulae and the structure of the universe.
The Birr Castle programme demonstrated how Offaly’s scientific discoveries continue to resonate internationally. It also highlighted the role of heritage, tourism, education and EU-supported investment in the county’s transition towards a more sustainable future.
The programme concluded with an informal meeting at Birr Municipal District Office involving the Ambassadors, local elected members and representatives of the Leinster Regiment Association who continue to mark the special relationship between Birr, the Leinster Regiment and the town of Ledegem in Belgium since the First World War.