European Commission buildings in Brussels
It’s a long way from Brussels to Donegal, but that’s where two senior Irish officials from the EU are headed this week to visit their old schools.
Hugh Quigley, former pupil of Scoil Muire Convent of Mercy in Buncrana, and Catherine McLoone who went to Coláiste Cholmcille in Ballyshannon are just two of almost 100 Irish EU officials returning to their alma maters.
It’s part of an EU-wide ‘Back to School’ initiative aimed at showing the human side of the EU and tackling the misconception that Brussels is full of ‘faceless bureaucrats’.
‘I’m delighted to get back to Buncrana,’ said Mr Quigley. ‘I’ll be talking about my job heading a team which looks after food safety at the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission.’
Ms McLoone, who deals with citizens’ queries at the European Parliament in Brussels, is also glad to be heading home. ‘Returning to your roots is a great way to connect with young people and find out what they want and expect from Europe,’ she said.
Plenty of other Irish bigwigs in Brussels will be also be paying visits home, including Catherine Day, Secretary-General of the European Commission.
Irish press officer for the Commission Ruth Deasy said she is pleased so many Irish people working for the EU have taken up the invitation to go back to their old schools.
‘I know many of them are really keen to talk about their experience at the coal face in Brussels. And lots of them have really interesting jobs…it just goes to show Irish people do well wherever you put them,’ she said.
Donegal to Canada old emigration links
A family on the quay in Moville before emigrating to Canada
A high level Canadian delegation will visit Donegal next week to launch a book about Irish emigration from the north-west of Ireland to Canada, and to unveil a monument in Inishowen. They will also meet representatives of Donegal Co. Council.
Across the Atlantic- Emigrating from Moville and Derry is a small, illustrated publication consisting of a number of short articles relating to the history of emigration from Derry and Donegal, written by some well-known local historians and academics.
The articles demonstrate the surviving connections and links between the people of New Brunswick in Canada and the North West of Ireland.
The publication was put together by the archivists from Donegal County Council and Derry City Council’s Heritage and Museum Service, who have also contributed articles on the sources available for tracing one’s ancestors, particularly in relation to emigration.
Toronto was just one of the many locations where the Irish emigrated in their droves during the 19th century and early 20th century
The book launch by Donegal Mayor Brendan Byrne is in the Caiseal Mara Hotel at 11.30am on
Wednesday.
In Greencastle Maritime Museum the artist Locky Morris encountered an example of a ‘fid’, the small handheld tool turned from a piece of wood, used by fishermen for splicing ropes and nets and by sailmakers for opening holes in the sails without tearing the material.
Locky Morris’s striking new sculpture both recollects that form of a ‘fid’ and the beacon flames lit on the hills by Lough Foyle for emigrants.
The monument, which is being erected on Moville’s historic old stone pier at 11am, represents Moville’s maritime history and the legacy which emigration has left on this town and community.
The delegation will be led by the New Brunswick Minister for Supply and Services, Hon. Dr. Ed Doherty.
The delegation will also meet with other business, community and local
authority figures from Inishowen and Derry.