Cross-border initiative hailed by Mayor

The Mayor of Roscommon, Charlie Hopkins MCC, received a delegation of teachers from Newry in the chamber of Roscommon County Council last Friday morning. The teachers were also welcomed to the offices of Roscommon County Council by Director of Services for Corporate Services, Fiona Ni Chúinn, and by Environment Director, Tommy Ryan.   The event represented one of the concluding receptions of a series of event held for the teachers in Roscommon town last week. Cllr. Orla Leyden, Cllr. Domnick Connolly, and Cllr. Paddy Kilduff attended the reception. Michael Finneran TD also represented County Roscommon on the occasion.   In an address that welcomed the teachers to Roscommon, Mayor Hopkins warmly praised the teachers from Newry and teachers from Roscommon for participating in a cross-border initiative that he described as ‘possible because of the Good Friday agreement.’   ‘This co-operation between the teachers from Northern Ireland and from here in Roscommon is very welcome. It is a great initiative and it is something that we all support as we hope for a bright future north and south of the border,’ said the Mayor.   Tommy Ryan echoed his comments and noted that teachers could learn from the initiative.   ‘Things are done differently in the two jurisdictions and both teachers from here and from the North can learn from this,’ he said. Addressing the teachers from the North, Mr. Ryan expressed hope that the northern delegation had ‘come to understand another perspective’ in the course of the series of events in Roscommon.   Fíona Ní Chúinn introduced the guests to ‘The Heart of Ireland’ – a 15-minute VCR presentation advertising Roscommon – before the leader of the delegation, Ms. Mary Mullins, accepted a presentation on behalf of the Mayor of Newry, Cllr. Michael Carr. The gift was presented by Mayor Hopkins.