Mayor says ‘city’s martyrs would have been proud’

AS Cork’s Lord Mayor Michael O’Connell sees it, the city’s celebrated marytrs, Tomás McCurtain and Terence McSweeney, would have been proud.

“This is an historic day,” he said, speaking shortly before the Queen arrived in Cork. “We have got to look to the future and create the best future for Cork, and it is my belief that Terence McSweeney and Tomás McCurtain would be saying the same thing. This is a great opportunity to put Cork city on the tourist map.”

He was speaking at a press conference held at Cork School of Music during which city manager Tim Lucey, Food and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and Equality Minister Kathleen Lynch all emphasised the importance of the visit to the city.