Munster Express Online

Waterford Co Council won’t have an official delegation in New York for tomorrow’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations because of financial cutbacks.

County Mayor Nora Flynn (FG), who will be overseeing the parade in Dungarvan instead, says she would have been proud to lead a party to the Big Apple but every euro is important at this stage, she stressed.

Ballyduff Lower councillor John O’Leary (FF) expressed disappointment at the decision, contending that Waterford should be selling itself overseas.

But Sinn Féin’s Brendan Mansfield, a consistent opponent of the annual New York trip – which usually costs around €15,000 – referred to the exodus of Government ministers, and even the Attorney General, to America.

The purported purpose of these March jaunts was to create employment in this country but he never saw one job as a result of such trips. If they wanted to meet the IDA or Fáilte Ireland they should meet them in Dungarvan.

However, Lismore councill or Declan Doocey (FG) is travelling to New York at his own expense to represent the Déise.