We didnt want to sign up to the Belfast/St Andrews Agreement but we had to or plan B would have been introduced. Such a load of crap. They have not acted at all like people who were being forced to do something which they didn't want to do. They are positively going out of their way to lick ass, kow-tow and sell out. But what do you expect when the same man Robinson ''Insisted that Ulster goods be labelled Irish' Belfast Telegraph
Peter Robinson joins call for All-Ireland Fleadh in Derry
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have backed Londonderry as the venue for the All-Ireland Fleadh in 2013.
The Assembly leaders have written to the organisers suggesting that as Derry will hold the UK City of Culture title that year, it would be an appropriate opportunity to bring the event north of the border for the first time.
The organisers of the Fleadh, a festival which attracts up to 250,000 visitors and 10,000 musicians from all over the world, confirmed that they will be in Derry within the next few weeks for meetings which could see the event being held in the city.
Fleadh director general Senator Labhras O Murchu said they had received a letter from Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness asking for the event be held in Derry in 2013, and pointing out that since the Good Friday Agreement things had changed tremendously.
Senator O Murchu said: “We are looking at the possibility of holding the Fleadh in Derry in 2013 and we will come to the city next month to assist with the application and meet with councillors and other parties to discuss the finer points such as accommodation that would be available during the Fleadh. “There certainly is no reason why the Fleadh could not be staged north of the border and it very nearly was when Warrenpoint put in an application which narrowly missed out, and that was during the height of the Troubles.”
On a local level, councillor Mark H Durkan said staging the Fleadh in Derry would be a real coup for the city.
He added: “The All-Ireland Fleadh is a major cultural and social event on this island.
“It attracts musicians and lovers of music not just from all across Ireland but from across the world.
“Having the Fleadh here would be an excellent opportunity to showcase our truly unique Irish culture to visitors from all around the world.
“The impact of such a high-calibre event on the local economy would be very positive and much-needed. Also, it would give Derry's own traditional music scene a tremendous boost.
“I have often said that staging events is essential to grow tourist numbers to Derry — and events don't come much bigger than the Fleadh.”