Civic receptions to be held

Councillors have given the go-ahead for two civic receptions to be held.

Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley proposed the events at the July meeting.

One will be held following the installation of Reverend David Nixon as President of the Methodist Church in Ireland last month.

The Cathaoirleach noted Rev Nixon is a Blacklion native and this a long standing precedent whereby people elevated to roles within organisations like the church are given a civic reception.

That was proposed and seconded by Cllrs Sean Smith (FF) and Peter McVitty (FG).

Rev Nixon is one of five children of Harry and Ethel. His father, a farmer, died in 1987, while his mother lives in a nursing home in Florencecourt, Co Fermanagh.

He has ministered in Dungannon, Belfast, Birmingham and Zambia before coming to Dún Laoghaire.

A second is to be held to mark the centenary of An Garda Siochána. Events are being held across the country this year to commemorate the organisation’s foundation in 1922.

That was proposed and seconded by Cllrs Shane P O’Reilly (Ind) and Winston Bennett (FG).