Hasta la vista Cork: Arnie’s parade invite

THE lord mayor of Cork has the Terminator in his sights.

Fine Gael Cllr Brian Bermingham wrote to the governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday inviting him to attend Cork’s St Patrick’s Day parade next March.

And he’s hoping his invitation will be one he’ll just “hasta” accept.

Mr Bermingham has invoked the spirit of Arnie’s wife’s uncle, President John F Kennedy, in a bid to lure him Leeside.

Kennedy received the freedom of Cork in 1963. There is a bust of Kennedy on display in the lord mayor’s chamber. It was presented to former lord mayor Micheál Martin in 1993 by former US ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to mark the 30th anniversary of JFK’s freedom of the city ceremony.

Also on display is a stunning black and white photograph of the young president addressing councillors during that ceremony.

But Mr Bermingham said the theme of Cork’s 2009 St Patrick’s Day parade should add weight to the invitation.

He said next year is the 40th anniversary of the American moon landings — first suggested by Kennedy when he came to office.

Cork’s award-winning Blackrock Castle Observatory is heavily involved in the organisation of the parade, which will be space themed.

Ireland’s adopted astronaut, Dan Tani, has been chosen as the grand marshall.

Mr Bermingham said he is hoping that all these elements will combine to encourage Mr Schwarzenegger to attend.

And if that wasn’t enough, Cork is twinned with one of California’s biggest cities, San Francisco.

Mr Bermingham said city officials have already been in touch with San Francisco’s twinning committee to discuss the invitation.

The letter is the first formal step towards inviting Schwarzenegger to Cork.