Vol. 487 No. 4
6 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, there are to commemorate, as part of the l798 bicentennial, the Humbert landing at Killunmin Strand, Killala, County Mayo and the subsequent battle that ensued known as the Races at Castlebar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3932/98]
My committee is very conscious of the significance of the role Mayo played in the 1798 Rebellion and is currently in discussion with organisations and local groups, the Defence Forces and the French Military Attaché to Ireland, with a view to co-ordinating an event to mark the bicentenary of the Humbert landing. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this event in the near future.
I read the programme of events published recently by the Government. Events are being held all over the world from Tasmania to the United States and many of those are very worthy. The Humbert landing at Killunmin was a very significant event. When I was Minister for Tourism and Trade a number of years ago I asked the organisations in Mayo to submit proposals to assist in the national concelebration of that bicentennial landing. Will the Minister indicate if the discussions with the French military authorities are to deal with some of the French training ships appearing again off the coast of Killala as they did 200 years ago?
I hope they will be more successful on the next occasion they come. We are having discussions with the French Military Attaché to see whether it is possible to put some event together which would commemorate the landing. We do not have a specific event in mind, but we hope to work out something. As the Deputy probably knows, we have given some funds to the Merriman Winter School which was held recently in Westport as Gaeilge. That school and the Humbert Summer School which is to take place in Ballina have majored on the 1798 Rebellion. If there are other events throughout County Mayo the committee, which is an interdepartmental one, would be pleased to consider them. Despite what the people of Wexford have to say, we are particularly aware that Mayo played a sterling role on that great occasion.
I thank the Minister for his reply and ask him to attend to the formalities as quickly as possible. The local authority and the various organisations would be willing to assist in any way possible the Government's committee in organising those commemorations and celebrations. The Minister might publish a list as soon as possible.
I will bring that to the attention of the committee.
That concludes questions to the Taoiseach. We now come to deal with questions nominated for priority to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I call Question No. 12.
