‘Disappointing’ response leads to cancellation of Gallipoli ‘jolly’
A major WWI commemoration will not have council representation from the island of Ireland due to a “disappointing” response from southern councillors.
The Gallipoli event organised for October (13-18) has now also been “postponed” amid fears of a “jolly” trip by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC).
Councils across Northern Ireland and the Republic had been invited to send councillors to mark the 110th anniversary of the 10th Irish Division’s involvement at Gallipoli, where the division suffered 3,500 casualties.
However, in a letter to NMDDC seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the memorial organisers Dalaradia Cultural & Historical Society (DCHS) outlined its reasons for calling off the memorial this year.
It read: "We regret that although the response from councils in Northern Ireland has been most positive, the response from councils in the Republic of Ireland has been disappointing, and we therefore have not the numbers to make the visit viable.
“We have therefore reluctantly decided to postpone the tour until next spring and we will be in contact with a revised invitation in due course.”
Former Downpatrick SDLP councillor, Gareth Sharvin who recently stepped down from chambers, had raised concerns (August) that the council visit to Gallipoli could see elected members criticised in the same way the deputy First Minister was slated over her recent Wimbledon trip.
Emma Little-Pengelly (DUP) and Education Authority (EA) chief executive Richard Pengelly attended the recent tennis tournament in Wimbledon as guests in the Royal Box. A Freedom of Information request has shown more than £980 was spent on the trip.
Some Stormont parties criticised the spending with Alliance’s deputy leader Eoin Tennyson describing it as a “jolly to Wimbledon on the taxpayers’ dime”. But, The Executive Office (TEO) said it was in line with civil service policy and “no additional expenditure” was incurred on behalf of the deputy First Minister’s husband.
The media fallout from the Wimbledon trip took place as NMDDC looked at cost cutting the initial estimate of £1,650 per councillor to £525 to make the Gallipoli event in October.
Though, at the same time Northern Ireland councils were discussing the visit to Turkey, some councillors from the Republic of Ireland were yet to consider the invite.
The LDRS contacted Louth County Council.
A spokesperson confirmed they had received the invitation.
He said: “The event (Gallipoli) was cancelled prior to the matter being brought forward for formal consideration by Louth County Council.
“The initial correspondence was received by Louth County Council on 23 June. The deadline for response was 31 July.
“Matters of this nature would typically be considered by the Corporate Policy Group before being presented to full council for formal consideration.
“As the matter was not addressed in July, and no council meetings were held in August, it could have been tabled for the September agenda. However, as previously noted, Dalaradia Cultural & Historical Society issued correspondence, dated 4 August, confirming that the event had been cancelled.”