Ambassador's tribute to Irish in Argentina

The Argentine ambassador to Ireland, Senora Maria Esther Bondanza, has spoken this week of the courage of the Irish who left this country, and settled in Argentina. "It is very special to be in this land from where so many people of great courage left for new and unknown lands," she said, as she addressed the members of the Longford Westmeath Argentina Society at their annual "asado" (barbecue) at the Rustic Inn in Abbeyshrule on Friday. Noting that there are some 500,000 Argentine people who are of Irish descent, Senora Bondanza said that the first Irish had emigrated to Argentina in colonial times, and had made an immense contribution to the development of that country. She reminded those present of the role that Peter Sheridan, and William Mooney had played, identifying sheep farming as an area of great opportunity for their countrymen. She also rememebered the legendary Fr Fahy, who had even, she pointed out, organised marriages for the Irish in Argentina. Ambassador Bondanza said that of all her responsibilities as ambassador to Ireland, attending the Longford Westmeath Argentina Society's annual asado was the one she enjoys most. "I hope that this beautiful connnection between Ireland and Argentina continues growing and alive and in this regard, I appreciate the great job this Association is doing," she said. The chairperson of the Association, Mary Egan, originally from Ballymore, but now living in Ferbane, spoke of the fact that Argentina has just recently been celebrating the bicentenary of its independence, and she recalled the names of some of those from this country who played a role in Argentina's history, before going to extend thanks to those who attended; and to the musicians, and the Estonian couple who gave a splendid display of tango dancing.