Cllr. Charlie Farrelly is after getting a brainwave. It’s not his first and the community around him and its associated charities are usually the beneficiaries of his light-bulb moments.
“I was just wondering if it would be a good idea if our Taoiseach Micheal Martin would ask this amazing woman, Vicky Phelan to present the traditional ‘Bowl of Shamrock’ to the new President Joe Biden on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Cllr. Farrelly.
50 Minute Drive
“If she would feel up to making the short 50 minute drive from her base in Maryland to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC on St. Patrick’s Day it would let Taoiseach Martin off the hook and all the controversy his proposed trip would create.
“I believe it would put an end to all the controversy about whether he should or should not travel during these current Covid-19 restrictions.
A Wonderful Gesture
“I also believe it would be a wonderful gesture from the Irish Government towards a woman who has been badly let down by the state over the last number of years.
“It would be great to find out your views about this suggestion,” said Cllr. Farrelly with more than a hint of invitation.
A Risky Mission
However, given the situation in the world today and considering that Ms. Phelan’s health and safety is of paramount importance it is most unlikely that she would undertake such a risky mission.
Cllr. Farrelly’s idea has a lot of merit and it could be carried through with the help of the kind of modern technology which has kept families in touch in the course of this almost 12 month long crisis.
Zooming with Vicky, Joe and Micheál
We could send the traditional Waterford Glass bowl of shamrock to Washington. Then, on the great day, set up a three-way Zoom call involving Vicky Phelan in Maryland with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at home in Cork and President Biden equally at home in Washington.
Worth a Hearing
That’s just a tweaking of Cllr. Farrelly’s good-natured ideas and suggestions that Vick Phelan’s campaigning spirit be deservedly honoured; Taoiseach Micheál Martin would take the opportunity to set a firm no-travel example for his long suffering people and President Biden’s great achievements and Irish roots would be most suitably embraced in one swoop of imagination.
On a day when Ireland celebrates the feast of another woman of outstanding courage and stature (St. Brigid) Cllr. Farrelly’s advice is surely worth a hearing in the corridors of power in these uncertain times.
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