The Irish Community was out in strength on Sunday the 10th of February, when Bertie Ahern visited the Irish World Heritage Centre with the Irish Ambassador to the UK, David Cooney. Following his brief meeting with Gordon Brown at Manchester Airport, and his disappointment at Old Trafford for the Manchester Derby (Manchester United: 1 - Manchester City: 2); The Taoiseach and the Ambassador made their way to the Irish World Heritage Centre where they were met by many Irish people active in the community in Manchester and throughout the Northwest.
The County Associations of Manchester were well represented, as were many organisations that are funded by Dion through the Irish Abroad Unit. The Taoiseach’s fondness for Manchester and for the Centre was apparent in his address as he thanked all those in attendance for the hard work they had put into providing activities particularly those of the St Patrick’s week Festival, the youth development work and plans for its continuity for future generations.
The Taoiseach was also joined by a number of local councillors during the visit. He said that the Manchester Irish were a good example of how the Irish abroad had fared and that their talents and acumen had filtered through into the life blood of their adopted home. He praised and thanked the Irish Diaspora Foundation Trustees for their work on the new Irish World Heritage Centre development and its importance in telling the great story of Irish emigration. He has watched the progress with interest and said that the Irish Government were pleased to support it and would be granting £3,000,000 towards it.
He thanked the Irish people of Manchester for pulling together to make the new Centre happen as it will contain the history and records of their great input to the city and their strengths in carrying the flag through the difficult days. He viewed the impressive plans for the new development and was keen to hear about all of the new facilities that will be available to the Irish and also the broader community.
“We are delighted to welcome the Taoiseach back to the Irish World Heritage Centre, and we really appreciate his ongoing support for the new development” said Michael Forde, Chairman of the Irish World Heritage Centre.
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