By Dan Walsh
Wexford County Council welcomed Le Cotentin delegation and the newly appointed French Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Céline Place, in a visit that underscores the growing bonds of friendship and cooperation between Wexford and Le Cotentin in Normandy.
The Delegation and Ambassador met with a number of key stakeholders including elected members of Wexford County Council, Director of Services Elizabeth Hore, Wexford Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Paula Roche, Vice President of the Irish Hotels Federation Colm Neville and County Chairperson of Wexford GAA, Micheál Martin, and the county’s thriving maritime sector representatives in a series of discussions aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, educational, science and cultural ties between both regions.
An Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr. Pip Breen said; “We are delighted to welcome the delegation and H.E. Céline Place, and we look forward to exploring new avenues of collaboration that will bring mutual prosperity and cultural exchanges in the future”.
Director of Services, Elizabeth Hore gave a presentation on the tourism and economic landscape in Wexford and provided an overview of the many initiatives that Wexford County Council are engaged in to support and develop economic activity in the county. Le Cotentin delegation also gave a presentation on their region.
Ambassador Place expressed her admiration for the broad range of economic development initiatives, the business and tourism support which were on offer in County Wexford and emphasised the potential for trade and investment between France and Ireland.
The Ambassador met with French teachers working in several schools across County Wexford, during a gathering at the Presentation secondary school and attended a ceremony to officially appoint Melanie O’Reilly as the new Honorary Consul of France in Wexford, responsible for the counties of Wexford, Waterford, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny.
The delegation and Ambassador Place attended Wexford Arts Centre in the evening for the Premiere screening of ‘Destination Francophonie’ aTV5Monde documentary, filmed in May 2024 in the South-East of Ireland and Cotentin in collaboration with the French Embassy, Tourism Ireland, Stena Line and Wexford Presentation students to learn about the Norman way, ahead of the Millennium des Normans in 2027.
The visit reinforces the relations between Cotentin and Wexford. Wexford County Council looks forward to continued engagement and co-operation with Cotentin, building on the foundations laid during the delegations visit.
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