Carlow Councillors slam Paddy's Day trip to Trump's USA

MAYOR of Carlow Municipal District cllr Paul Doogue, along with cllr Daniel Pender and cllr John Pender will travel to New York in March to celebrate St Patrick’s day.

The travelling party was approved at the January meeting of Carlow Co Council but several councillors expressed reservations about endorsing a trip to the USA under president Donald Trump.

Cllr Adrienne Wallace slammed the trip, saying that the kidnapping of Venezuelan president Maduro, the proposals to invade Greenland and Iran, and the shooting of René Good by an ICE officer indicate that America is “slowly becoming a bit of a fascist state”.

“Now more than ever, I actually think we need to stay in contact with the Irish diaspora. But what I suggest is to invite some key figures over here to celebrate in Carlow ... where it might be a bit safer,” she continued.

Cllr Charlie Murphy said: "Maybe our presence not being there might be more beneficial to the people of America than being there.” 

In support of the group trip, cllr Will Patton asked the councillors to “talk to the senators and the various members of congress about the undocumented Irish” and “appeal to president Trump at this stage ... to reward the people who gave birth to your country.”