|
|
Laurentic wreath-laying at
Cockhill
12.01.10
by Linda McGrory
SAILORS who died in the 1917 Laurentic disaster and
were buried in Cockhill Cemetery are to remembered
with a wreath-laying ceremony later this month. The
ceremony will take place on Friday, January 22, as
part of the annual Laurentic commemorations
organised by the Ulster Newfoundland Inititiative in
association with a number of cross-border agencies
and groups in Donegal and Derry. This year’s
celebrations will include the annual wreath-laying
ceremony at Fahan Parish Church graveyard, the
burial place of 71 of the 431 sailors who perished
when the Laurentic was scuttled at the mouth of
Lough Swilly. Ulster Newfoundland Initiative
chairman, Don McNeill, said a decision was also
taken this year to hold a second wreath-laying
ceremony to remember the sailors buried in Cockhill. |
|
"This year also, the
Roll of Honour will include the 21 Newfoundlanders
and 33 Irish who were lost with the sinking of the
Laurentic," said Mr McNeill. Meanwhile, Buncrana
Town Council, Donegal County Council, Derry City
Council, Ilex Urban Regeneration, Inishowen
Development Partnership, Donegal Enterprise Board
and Invest NI are among the sponsors of the
Laurentic Business Beyond Borders Seminar which
takes place as part of the event on January 22. |
 |
|
The seminar will be
held in The Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, and
among the guest speakers will be Canadian Ambassador
to Ireland, Patrick Binns; Canadian Embassy Senior
Trade Commissioner, Suzanne Cormie; Ireland-Canada
Business Association executive director, Malachy
Smith; Singularity ceo, Padraig Canavan and Ernact
general manager, Colm McColgan. Don McNeill welcomed
the cross-border sponsorship of the seminar. “This
generous funding will allow us to continue to
explore and strengthen business links between the
North West of Ireland and Newfoundland, as well as
broader Canada," he said. The key focus of this
year’s conference will be Project Kelvin, the €32m
Transatlantic fibre-optic telecoms cable linking
North America with the North West of Ireland. "We
aim to explore all the ways in which this connection
will revolutionise business opportunities and
cultural connections across the Atlantic," added Mr
McNeill. He said the Canadian Embassy was also
interested in talking to and meeting companies with
an interest in green and renewable energies as well
as the oceanic marine sectors. The Business Beyond
Borders Seminar is the Ulster Newfoundland
Initiative's annual fundraiser. Cost is €50 per
person including lunch. Corporate stands can be
booked for €200. Mr McNeill said space was limited
and he advised anyone interested to book as soon as
possible. For more details or to book a stand, email
Don or Lisa at
ulstcan@hotmail.com . |
|
