It's a small world!
Wednesday March 03 2010
A NUMBER of international ambassadors were welcomed to Bray last week as part of the 'Windows on the World,' project being run by the Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the St. Patrick's Day festival committee.
During the week Ambassadors from Denmark, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium and India visited the town to meet the schools that will be decorating one of the shop windows on the town's Main Street in the colours of the respective country ahead of the St Patrick's Day Parade.
The local schools had put on a great display for their distinguished guests with lots of colour, music and costumes in the classrooms of some of the seventeen primary schools that are taking part in the event.
Welcoming the Ambassadors, Cllr. David Grant, Leas Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council, recalled the many connections that Ireland has to these countries and the historic events that are shared in our histories.
Cllr. Grant spoke about the Sea Stallion of Glendalough - the replica Viking boat that came to Ireland three years ago from Denmark, the positive influence Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association had on Czech struggles for autonomy at that time, the important role that the Irish College in Louvain has played in education in both Belgium and in educating many Irish people abroad.
The visit by the delegation from India was also an opportunity to discuss economic matters of mutual interest. Despite the economic downturn, growth in India has continued at a respectable pace and Cllr. Grant urged the Indian Embassy to strongly consider promoting Bray as a place to invest for Indian companies.
'This week has been a very positive week with much international activity around the town,' he said. 'I look forward to seeing the windows of the local shops decorated and displaying the culture and heritage of the counties that they join up to be part of the project.'
