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Buncrana hosts Canada-Ireland trade commissioner
14.01.09
BUNCRANA is preparing
for a special two-day event to remember the
Laurentic disaster and to strengthen the historic
links between Canada and the North West.
The third remembrance ceremony to honour those who
lost their lives in the Laurentic disaster 91 years
ago, will be held in St. Mura's Cemetery, Fahan, on
Saturday, January 24 at 2pm. Inishowen will join
with Canada in a cross-community wreath-laying
ceremony to remember the 344 people who perished
when their ship was scuttled by a mine at the mouth
of Lough Swilly on January 25, 1917. |
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The event has been
organised by the Ulster Newfoundland Initiative in
memory of the 16 young men from the Canadian
province who perished when the ship went down. At
last year's ceremony, Ulster Newfoundland Initiative
chairperson Don McNeill said he hoped it would be
the first step towards forging stronger links
between the North West and Newfoundland. |
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That hope has now borne
fruit with the first ever Business Beyond Borders
trade showcase to be held in the Inishowen Gateway
Hotel the day before the wreath-laying ceremony. The
showcase will bring together businesses and agencies
from the North West and will put them in touch with
trade representatives from Canada. Guest speakers
will include the senior trade commissioner to the
Canadian Embassy, Richard Phillippe as well as the
Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Patrick Binns, who
will also lay a wreath the following day in Fahan.
Other agencies present will be the Inishowen
Development Partnership and Ireland North West.
Buncrana-based Mr. McNeill explained the idea behind
the showcase.
"The theme is remembrance, reconciliation and
prosperity and the aim of the event is to promote
social, economic and cultural links between the
North West and Newfoundland and to put local
businesses in touch with people who can tell them
what it is like doing business in Canada," he said.
"Another speaker will be Seamus Butler of Butler
Manufacturing in Longford who is currently having
water treatment products manufactured in
Newfoundland. He will be able to tell participants
what that process is like."
The Business Beyond Borders event will take place in
the Inishowen Gateway Hotel from 11am to 2pm on
Friday, January 23. Admission including lunch is
€50. For more information, contact Anne McLaughlin
on 07493 62348 or email her at
ibs2000@hotmail.com . Meanwhile, a reception
following the wreath-laying ceremony in Fahan on
Saturday, January 24, will be held in the Laurentic
bar and restaurant in Linsfort. Admission is free
and everyone is welcome to come along. |
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