Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan TD presents awards to 2016 and 2017 Scholars
At a event hosted by Canadian Ambassador Kevin Vickers, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, presented scrolls to 2016 and 2017 recipients of awards under the James M. Flaherty and Dobbin Atlantic Scholarship Programmes. (note: since the publishing of this article, Minister Flanagan has been assigned the brief of Minister for Justice – we wish him the very best for this new posting).
Many of the 50 recipients of Flaherty and Dobbin Atlantic Scholars are of course in Canada, and acknowledging all who could not be present, Minister Flanagan congratulated all awardees, from across Canada and Ireland, noting that “their important work will make a big contribution to international links in areas of both Irish and Canadian interest“.
Minister Flanagan spoke of the extraordinary connections between Ireland and Canada, links which are are rich, diverse and go back centuries. Such connections must be nurtured, and the Minister noted the very successful visit to Montreal earlier this month by Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Enda Kenny, who was pleased to have the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Trudeau to discuss closer working relations over the coming years.
Minister Flanagan noted how many groups “have played a vital role in furthering our friendship with Canada at all levels.. the Ireland Canada University Foundation is one of these crucially important groups… these scholars and their work will have a lasting legacy in contributing to the complex patchwork of friendship between our two nations.”
Minister Flanagan presenting Belfast Harpist, Dr. Una Monaghan, with her award. This award supported Una’s role as visiting artist and researcher at the Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas (IPLAI) at McGill University
Prof. John Kelly, ICUF Trustee and Chairman of Element Fleet Technology Corporation, Ambassador Kevin Vickers, Selby Mong, GM, Country Lead & CTO Element Fleet Technology Corporation