MEP brings EU transport and tourism delegation to Carlow town

A HIGH-LEVEL transport and tourism delegation from the European Parliament recently made a three-day visit to Carlow and the southeast to identify key challenges and opportunities for sustainable transport and tourism in the region. The group of MEPs was brought here by Carlow MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

The MEPs visited the Visual Arts Centre, Teach Dolmain restaurant, Carpenter’s lounge and a number of other transport and tourism-related Carlow attractions.

The group met government ministers, TDs and sectoral stakeholders in Carlow, including minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, deputy Catherine Callaghan, mayor of Carlow town Paul Doogue, cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Ken Murnane, president of Carlow chamber Norah Ryan, chamber CEO Nicola Doran and Professor Veronica Campbell, president of the South-East Technological University.

Ms Ní Mhurchú said the visit as a key opportunity to showcase Carlow and to make a pitch for increased levels of funding for transport and tourism projects in the county and the wider southeast region. Describing the visit as a success, she said that Carlow has real potential and she hoped to continue bringing EU officials and politicians to Carlow to showcase the county at EU level in order to drive investment, funding and tourism in Carlow.

Ms Ní Mhurchú said she was extremely proud to showcase Carlow to such a high-level EU delegation and hoped that it would be the start of new relationships between Carlow and similar regions across the European Union.

During their three-day visit to Ireland, the group of MEPs also held meetings with Wind Energy Ireland, Hydrogen Ireland, Ryanair, Aer Lingus and received briefings on the development of sustainable aviation fuel from Dr Stephen Dooley of Trinity College, Dublin.