'Opportunity to share experiences' Longford rolls out red carpet for Turkish Ambassador

Longford County Council recently welcomed the Turkish Ambassador to Ireland, Ms Esra Cankorur, and Commercial Counsellor, Mr Haluk Koç, to Áras an Chontae, as part of an exchange of views on bilateral cooperation.

The visit took place recently in the year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Ireland.

The Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, extended a warm welcome to the delegation and outlined the county’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, including plans for the THRIVE Connolly Barracks Reimagined project.

He spoke about the challenges facing the county following the closure of ESB and Bord na Móna operations and the cessation of peat burning, and highlighted Longford’s focus on Just Transition initiatives.

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Mr Mahon also pointed to emerging opportunities in tourism and regional collaboration, alongside Longford’s strong agricultural base in dairy and beef, and the county’s growing pharmaceutical sector.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, “Longford has faced real change in recent years, particularly following the end of peat-related activity. Our focus is on building a diverse and sustainable local economy."

Mr Mahon added, “We see strong potential in tourism, enterprise and regional cooperation, and we welcome opportunities to share experiences and learn from international partners.”

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, also welcomed the delegation and spoke about Longford’s strong community spirit and the importance of rural connections.

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He outlined key developments for the county, including the N4 project and Center Parcs, and reaffirmed that Longford remains open for business.

Cllr Murtagh said, “Longford is a small county with a strong sense of community and ambition. We are proud of the progress being made through major projects such as the N4 and Center Parcs Longford Forest, and we are keen to build links that support jobs, investment and rural life.”

Ambassador Esra Cankorur, on her first visit to Longford and as Türkiye’s first female ambassador to Ireland, thanked the Council for the warm welcome.

Ambassador Cankorur underlined the importance of engaging with rural Ireland to build connections in trade and economic development and noted the growth of the Turkish community in Ireland.

She also reflected on shared values of friendliness, hospitality, dialogue and kindness.

Discussions during the visit included local governance structures, regeneration projects in County Longford and the importance of diversification for future growth.

The delegation also visited Goodness Grains and met with Fiona Fenelon, President of Longford Chamber of Commerce; Stephanie Igoe, President of Network Ireland Roscommon–Longford Branch; and Cathaoirleach of Longford Municipal District, Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme