Canada Day in Monaghan back for second year

While Canadians are celebrating the 150th birthday of the country on July 1, residents in County Monaghan will raise the Maple Leaf flag in celebration of the 70th birthday year connecting Irish and Canadian communities.

In 1994, County Monaghan entered into a municipal twinning agreement with P.E.I. since within this small island of 140,000 inhabitants that the most concentrated population of Monaghan descendants exists today outside of Ireland.

They will also do some celebrating.

Now in its second year, Canada Day in Monaghan is organized as a celebration festival to recognize the historical and ever increasing links shared between the two countries.

The festival kicks off today at 8 p.m. at the Sliabh Beagh Hotel Knockatallon, with the launch of a commemorative CD and live performances celebrating the links between Canada and Ireland through song, poetry and storytelling.

On July 1, there is a live broadcast of the “Today FM Alison Curtis” show, 8-11 a.m., at the Westenra Hotel, Monaghan where Curtis will be interviewing locals and visitors, exploring their relationship with Canada. Guests will include the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin Vickers, the mayor of County Monaghan, the county council’s CEO Eamonn O’Sullivan, committee chairman Sean Conlon; Belfast Giants captain Adam Keefe and Bláithín O’Donnell, Air Canada.

Other Canada Day activities include an address by Vickers, the Canadian national anthem performed by the Oriel Singers, a Canada Day in Monaghan lecture, ice hockey skills, demonstrations lead by Keefe, genealogy workshops, guided tours of Monaghan Town and area, Canadian music, poets and songwriters group exhibitons and a chance to sample Canadian food, including Nanaimo bars, pancakes with maple syrup, maple cookies, poutine and a barbecue.

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/ canadadaymonaghan.