Special show of solidarity with Paris in Cork event

French civic leaders and senior Muslim clerics in Cork will unite with French citizens living in the region for a special show of solidarity tonight in the wake of the Paris attacks.

As Paris marked the one week anniversary of the horrific attacks last night, the French honorary consul to Cork, Patricia Mallon, issued an open invitation to members of the public to attend tonight’s event in City Hall at 6pm.

The hour-long event is designed to show solidarity from the people of Cork, a city which has deep historic connections to France, with the people of France and Paris, and in particular, with Cork’s large French population, estimated at some 8,000.

European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy, who has been liaising with Ms Mallon in the organisation of the event, said he hoped people would attend to send a strong symbolic message to the people of France.

“All communities found the events in Paris last week absolutely abhorrent,” he said the European Affairs Minister. “There will always be a minority of people in the world capable of doing terrible and dangerous things. But we can show that we here in Ireland and in Cork totally reject terrorism and these behind these barbaric acts.

“A good way to do that would be to attend an event like that taking place tonight.

“I would encourage people to attend if they can. I think they will find the event uplifting.”

Books of condolences will be opened at two locations in Cork after last weekend’s atrocity — one in Alliance Francaise, and the other in City Hall.

The books will remain open for another week and will be presented to the French ambassador later.