By Cianna McNally

A delegation from Co Monaghan recently travelled to Prince Edward Island in Canada to mark the twentieth anniversary of the twinning between the island and Co Monaghan.

The delegation which consisted of Monaghan county councillors Sean Conlon and Hugh McElvaney, former county councillor Willie McKenna, former County Secretary Tony Murphy and Carrickmacross man PJ Russell stayed in Canada for one week. Mr McKenna and Mr Murphy were instrumental in setting up the initial link between Prince Edward Island and Monaghan in 1990. Twenty five percent of the population on the island are Irish and forty percent have ties with Co Monaghan. Many places on Prince Edward Island have Monaghan influences as there is a place called Emyvale and a Monaghan Road. What’s more, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Pat Binns who was Premier of Prince Edward Island up until three years ago has Monaghan connections as his grandfather hailed from Castleshane.

The Monaghan representatives had a busy schedule organised for them on Prince Edward Island which included Mr McKenna addressing the Hillborough Rotary Club in Charlottetown and a visit by councillors Conlon and McElvaney to Stonepark School to give a presentation to the students. The Monaghan men also got the opportunity to visit the Irish Settlers Memorial which was unveiled four years ago and bears a stone from every county in Ireland with the county’s name on it to represent the Irish emigrants who travelled to Prince Edward Island.

Potato growing is the biggest industry on the island and a man by the name of John McKenna who has ancestors from Tydavnet is one of the biggest potato exporters on the island exporting to 25 countries around the world. He is also the current chieftain of the Clann McKenna. To tie in with the twinning, a tour operator on the island is currently organising a party of fifty residents to travel over and visit Co Monaghan next year.

Speaking to monaghanlife.ie Willie McKenna praised the success of the visit to Prince Edward Island. “It was a most successful tour that has boosted tourism in both Prince Edward Island and Co Monaghan. There is a strong ethnic connection between the two that will never die.” The visit was a first for Cllr Conlon who echoed Mr McKenna’s sentiments and listed the visit to the school as one of his personal highlights. “I was struck by the immense pride the ‘Irish Islanders’ have of their ancestral links and their enthusiasm in preserving it and enhancing the awareness among their younger generations through events such as the ones we were part of during the busy schedule.” On behalf of Monaghan County Council, councillors McElvaney and Conlon distributed a large quantity of books, dvd’s and assorted historical and cultural literature that Cllr Conlon added were gratefully received.