‘Every council should boycott America and its current fascist administration’ – argues Louth councillor

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

A Louth councillor has called for the annual St. Patrick’s Day trip to New York to be called off in protest against the “fascist” Trump administration.

Every year a delegation from the local authority, including elected representatives and officials, march in the world famous St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York.

The trip also involves a series of meetings with the Irish-American agencies, including the IDA, as part of efforts to promote Louth’s economy and tourism industry.

But Independent councillor, Maeve Yore, who has long been an opponent of the annual US visit asked the January meeting of Louth County Council: “Is the annual junket to New York going ahead?”

She added: "In my opinion every local authority in Ireland should boycott America and its current fascist administration who invades and interrogates other democratic nations, and are turning on their own people.”

Thomas McEvoy, Director of Service, Louth County Council, said the annual visit to New York was at the invitation of the County Louth Society of New York.

"It is not a political event, we don’t meet with dignitaries.”

He added that along with linking in with the Louth diaspora, the council also use the trip to “promote the economic agenda”, but he stressed “it isn’t political.”