Trabzon boy delighted to be back in Drogheda City
THE Turkish Ambassador to Ireland His Excellency Mr. Levent Murat Burhan said Drogheda was the ‘first city’ he wanted to visit when he came to Ireland.
‘I feel very attached to this city,’ he told a civic reception at the Highlanes on Saturday, hosted by Mayor Frank Godfrey.
‘Drogheda has a special place in our hearts and I promise to try and promote relationships between Drogheda and my country,’ he stated.
He also revealed he’s a native of Trabzon, a sister club of Drogheda United.
Mayor Godfrey spoke about the links between Drogheda and Turkey as did Robert Murray from Drogheda Chamber and Brian Hanratty from the City Status group.
He then went on a walkabout of the town and visited Millmount.
He was welcomed at the Millmount complex by the Chairperson of the Old Drogheda Society Alan Garry, Vice- Chairperson Donnachadh Mac Raghnaill, Secretary Kevin Brogan, Museum Curator Joanne Thompson and the other members of the committee.
The visit included an exchange of gifts between Mr. Garry and Mr. Burhan, a presentation by Historian Brendan Matthews on the history of Drogheda and the historical relationship between Turkey and Drogheda, in particular about the Turkish Ships which arrived at Drogheda port in 1847 during the famine. The visit finished with a guided tour of the museum and tower at Millmount.