Sligo and Lithuania mark EU Council presidency pairing with WB Yeats exhibition at County Hall

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Sligo’s pairing with Lithuania for the duration of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union was marked this week with the launch of a special exhibition celebrating WB Yeats and his relationship with Europe at County Hall.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by Ireland’s Ambassador to Lithuania, Her Excellency Séadhna MacHugh and Lithuanian Ambassador to Ireland His Excellency Jonas Grinevičius, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Dara Mulvey as well as local dignitaries and officials.

The occasion was marked by a flag raising ceremony which the saw the Irish, Lithuanian and EU flags raised outside County Hall, while there was also an exchange of flags.

After the flag raising ceremony the dignitaries and invited guests made their way to the Council Chamber where Cllr Mulvey referred to the pairing of Sligo and Lithuania as “An opportunity to deepen ties,” adding the WB Yeats exhibition is an “Important cultural resource” noting, “It recognises shared friendships that unite our countries.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Her Excellency Séadhna MacHugh, Ireland Ambassador to Lithuania who spoke of her “Great pleasure and privilege to address you as a daughter of Sligo who grew up close to here.”

The idea to pair each member state with a county I think is a stroke of genius. In Ireland there are around 70,000 Lithuanians, thank you for your friendship and hospitality

Originally from Rathcormac, Ms MacHugh spoke of how WB Yeats has “Put Sligo on the map,” adding that she quoted the poet’s work during an interview when she was at the start of her career as a diplomat saying: “I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams”

Mr Grinevičius, who previously visited Sligo as part of a delegation of ambassadors from countries bordering Ukraine and Russia in October spoke glowing about the county saying, “It is a great pleasure to be here. It is my second time in this room, in this great city. When I came here in October I was aware one of the greatest poets Ireland ever had, Yeats, Sligo was his favourite place, but I didn’t know why.”

Having spent a day at Carrowmore Megalithic Tombs, on board the Galeon Andalucia and exploring the streets of Sligo town, Mr Grinevičius said, “There is something here in the landscape, I call it Sligo green and Sligo blue.”

The Lithuanian, Irish and EU flags were raised outside County Hall

He added, “The people of Sligo are very special people, they remind me of my compatriots.”

He also noted the significance of the date as July 6 marked the day in 1253 that Lithuania’s first and only king was crowned, adding, “I don’t believe in coincidences, it is a very significant day for us.”

Mr Grinevičius continued, “The idea to pair each member state with a county I think is a stroke of genius. In Ireland there are around 70,000 Lithuanians, thank you for your friendship and hospitality. I look at it as a great opportunity to expand our co-operation.”

The exhibition celebrating WB Yeats and his relationship with Europe will be in County Hall until July 13. Thereafter, it will be on display at Sligo Local Studies, Bridge Street from July 13-August 5; City Hall, Quay Street from August 5-15; Ballymote Community Library, Teeling St, Ballymote from September 15-25 and Tubbercurry Community Library, Humbert Street from November 25-January 12, 2007.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.