An invitation will be extended to Queen Elizabeth to visit the Mayo Peace Park, if a proposed state visit to Ireland materialises in the next few years.
A motion to offer an invitation to the British monarch to the Mayo Peace Park was passed by 17 votes to seven with two abstentions when it was put to the members of the council this week. The vote came after a heated debate in the council chamber where the merits of offering an invitation and the reasons for not offering an invitation were expressed.
The motion, which was proposed by Fine Gael councillor Eugene McCormack, received support from 14 of his party colleagues along with support from Independent councillors Frank Durcan, Michael Holmes, and Richard Finn. However, Cllr McCormick’s motion did not get the full backing of his party colleagues who were present, with Westport based Cllr Peter Flynn voting against and Cllr Patsy O’Brien and Cllr Seamus Weir abstaining from the vote.
The motion was also opposed by Sinn Féin councillors Rose Conway Walsh and Gerry Murray, Fianna Fáil councillors Al McDonnell and Damien Ryan, and Independent councillors Gerry Ginty and Michael Kilcoyne.
