Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last weekend, I attended the official opening of a heritage centre in the village of Kiltyclogher in north Leitrim, close to the home of the Irish patriot Seán Mac Diarmada. The centre was initiated by the local community council and funded by Leitrim County Council and the peace and reconciliation fund. Its opening was hosted by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys. We were delighted to welcome her to County Leitrim.

Will the Leader establish the Government's marketing plans to attract visitors to places like Kiltyclogher that are economically disadvantaged? The heritage centre, which is a wonderful asset to the village and the county in general, is housed in a former courthouse that is linked to the restored cottage where Seán Mac Diarmada was born and reared. Government money will be invested this year and next to provide better access to the village for visitors.

I am anxious to explore the Government's marketing plans because the perception is that all the 1916 commemorations will happen in Dublin and nowhere else. I would like to see more visitors to the Seán Mac Diarmada homestead and the village of Kiltyclogher which would be of enormous economic benefit to the area.

It is important for the Government to outline its plans. The same could be true of other locations associated with the signatories who did not all come from Dublin. We have a dual interest in the 1916 Rising in that not only is County Leitrim proud to have been the home of Seán Mac Diarmada but also that the parents of Thomas McDonagh were from Carrigallen in County Leitrim. There are two reasons for us to be anxious to ensure that Leitrim would be put on the map in the context of the 1916 commemorations so that people can have the opportunity to visit. However, it will be down to the Government to promote this. I would be very keen to explore it. The Government plans for the 1916 commemorations seem to be very fuzzy.