Cannon urges communities to say the ‘Big Hello’ to local diaspora as part of National Community Weekend

An East Galway TD has welcomed the forthcoming May Bank Holiday Weekend’s National Community Celebration.

Minister for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon, has said that in addition to connecting with people on a local level, communities should also consider reaching out to former neighbours and their descendants who live abroad.

Minister Cannon said: “I’m delighted that my colleague Minister Ring has brought forward this initiative and I also welcome the funding allocated to each of the local authorities to give it additional impetus.

“I have no doubt that communities in my own area of East Galway and across Ireland will come up with very worthy ways to mark the weekend and which will highlight both the concern for neighbours and the vibrancy that exists in Irish localities.

“I would encourage that, as part of local events, people consider extending this ‘Hello’ to members of the local diaspora, either those that left their communities to work abroad or the descendants of former neighbours who left Ireland and have now passed on.

“It can be done through a phone call, a social media message or even a letter timed to arrive just before that weekend.

“The Irish community is, ultimately, not confined to a parish or to any particular townland, but encapsulates a global spread of some 70 million people.”

Minister Cannon added: “This, I believe, would be the perfect finishing touch to National Community Weekend, and given the number of our diaspora, would add extra emphasis to ‘The Big Hello’.”

ENDS