Seanad debates

Monday, 12 July 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

9:30 am

Photo of Aisling DolanAisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a member of the decade of centenaries, I was proud yesterday to be part of an event at Castlerea. It was the unveiling of the Proclamation stone and was a wonderful outdoor event at the courthouse in Castlerea. I spoke to the fact that yesterday was 100 years since we signed a truce to end the War of Independence and Ireland started to forge its own path. It was a special occasion and involved everybody and everything. There was a vintage care rally with cars from that period, including Kitty Kiernan's car. She was Michael Collins's partner. Ford Model Ts and other 1920s cars were there and it brought one back in time. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, presided at the event and had a tour around Roscommon in some of those vintage vehicles.

Given the day that is in it, I am thinking of the businesses that have invested in outdoors dining. I acknowledge the many businesses that have made a huge outlay and investment. There are funds there to support them through Fáilte Ireland and that is open until September. It is important that we support as much as we can shopping local in our towns and villages. Recently, ShopBallinasloe.iewon an award for being one of the most innovative groups. They opened a platform and over 50 businesses in Ballinasloe signed up for the online platform during lockdown. Businesses are slowly opening up properly but I encourage people to support shopping local.

I welcome what Senator McGreehan said on the Olympic Games and I congratulate two women from Roscommon, Aoife O'Rourke and Richael Timothy, who are going forward for the Olympics and Paralympics. I wish them the best. There are flags flying all around Roscommon and Galway for them.

Félicititions pour la fête nationale. C’est super d’entendre un peu de Français dans le Seanad.

For our lovely Italians, it was a wonderful celebration yesterday. I am sure they are celebrating a lot.

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