President’svisit helpedtodispel anegativeview of bordertown

‘ The biggest thing I can recollect is the feel-good factor that was in the town,’ Pearse O’Hanrahan has said.

Then chairman of Dundalk UDC he remarked at the time to stand in front of the huge crowd alongside President Clinton was one of the highlights of his life.

Now, looking back on the events of Tuesday, 12 December 2000, he believed the visit helped to dispel a negative perception of Dundalk.

‘People were shrugging off the feeling we were second-class citizens. There was a very proud feeling afterwards. Pride in the town had been resurrected.

‘It augured well for the future at the time and there was a pretty good follow-on from it.’

Mr O’Hanrahan continued that there was worldwide recognition for Dundalk, a town denigrated for years, which even the BBC referred to as El Paso.

‘ That (denigration) was all brushed to one side. We were now a town in our own right.’

The former councillor added that Dundalk did well by the country with its hosting of the presidential visit.

‘Even the Secret Service were wholesome in their praise, and they made some difficult requests, but the camaraderie was always there.’

He said there so much work to be done to make everything happen.

‘ There was a team from the Department of the Taoiseach there to oversee it, but they didn’t have to do anything.

‘ There was so much professionalism in the local team that the national security people from the States were really taken with it.

‘ There was no fighting. We asked what had to be done and were very positive.’

Mr O’Hanrahan also spoke of the good PR that was generated alongside a great sense of self-belief.

‘ When I say Dundalk, I don’t just mean the urban area, but the whole county and right across to Newry. They all felt it as much as Dundalk.

‘I know from reports I received that Newry was delighted how the visit went.’

He remembered there was no dissent at the long delay to President Clinton’s arrival.

‘Everybody was there to enjoy themselves. The day went very well and left a lasting memory for all of the people.’

However, Mr O’Hanrahan believed that not enough capital was made from the event in that visitors to Dundalk were not aware it took place.

‘ There is a scéal to be told. The visit should be marked out in some particular way.

‘We had Clinton and now we have Joe Biden, let’s use it.’

He said there was goodwill to be generated which could draw people to the region.

‘ We want visitors. It’s (2020) been a terrible year. Let’s try to build something.’

Pearse O’Hanrahan and Bill Clinton on stage.