Mayo Fine Gael TD, Alan Dillon, has called upon Minister Catherine Martin and her Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to assign funds to memorialize the 225th year since General Humbert and his French army landed in Killala, Ballina, and Castlebar in August 1978.
Deputy Dillon said: "Upon engaging with Minister Catherine Martin’s Department, officials are currently reviewing potential ways they could assist and appropriately back plans to observe the anniversary in Mayo, considering the Department's dedication to commemorative activities and the available budgetary resources.
"Minister Martin informed me that she is currently considering a proposal from Mayo County Council about the Mayo commemoration, and investigating how her Department could provide support to these plans.
"There is an ongoing effort to establish a series of events throughout the summer in North Mayo and Castlebar to honour the commemoration. I have recently had discussions with the French Honorary Consult for Connacht, Catherine Gagneaux. The work undertaken by Catherine, the Ballina 2023 committee, and Mayo County Council is incredibly significant.
"I am now urging the Department of Tourism to grant funding to Mayo County Council as the leading authority, similar to the amount of €75,000 provided to Wexford County Council, to support this crucial work on a planned series of events that the people of Mayo would surely support and endorse enthusiastically."
