Malta's Ambassador To Ireland Visits Laois

Laois County Council have welcomed H.E. Fiona-Jayne Formosa, Malta’s ambassador to Ireland.

Laois County Council was delighted to welcome H.E. Fiona-Jayne Formosa, Malta’s ambassador to Ireland and H.E. Caroline Whelan, Ireland’s Ambassador to Malta to Portlaoise Library to celebrate the enduring friendship between Ireland and Malta as part of events to commemorate Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The celebratory event was attended by Cllr Barry Walsh representing Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council and Chief Executive of Laois County Council Michael Rainey. Also among those in attendance were members of the Maltese community in Laois, Maltese students currently studying in Ireland and Willie Aird TD. The assembled audience also heard from Nell Fingleton and Mark Friel, natives of County Laois and have made their home in Malta, who spoke of the similarities between Ireland and Malta and why they chose to relocate there.

On the day, Cllr Barry Walsh welcomed Ambassadors Fiona-Jayne Formosa and Caroline Whelan. He said:

“Today we celebrate the enduring friendship between Ireland and Malta, two proud European nations with much in common.  

Ireland and Malta share several notable similarities. As island nations situated on the periphery of Europe, we both have rich histories, strong cultural identities, and long traditions of emigration that have created extensive international communities.

Here in Laois, we place enormous value on heritage, culture and community. It is therefore particularly fitting that on display at today's event, two remarkable cultural traditions are on display: Mountmellick Lace and Maltese Lace. 

This craftmanship, creativity, dedication, skill and tradition represent generations of people who have preserved these crafts, and in doing so, ensured that their cultural significance would not be lost. 

Today reminds us that culture has a unique ability to connect us - strengthening the bonds between our communities”.

Elements of both Laois and Maltese culture were on display at the event including samples of both Mountmellick Lace and Maltese Lace, Maltese food, as well as images and videos of Malta.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Caroline Whelan said:

“It is a great pleasure to join you here today to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Taking on the presidency is both a privilege and a responsibility. This is Ireland’s eighth time to do so. Our presidency will allow us to make an important contribution in leading the work of the EU at a time when unity is evermore important in the face of rising global challenges. At the heart of the EU lies a commitment to cooperation and understanding among people. Every county in Ireland has been paired with an EU member state which sees Ambassadors like me coming home to pair up with the Ambassadors resident here. I hope this partnership will lead to lasting relationships and opportunities for collaboration long after the presidency has concluded”.

Ambassador Fiona-Jayne Formosa also addressed the attendees. She said:

“I am delighted to be here with you in Portlaoise today celebrating this pairing between Malta and County Laois. Malta and County Laois seem quite an unlikely match due to primarily our geographical differences but beyond geography, one may also find similarities. Malta and Laois have a unique and checkered history, dating back to prehistoric times and both have an open and welcoming society with a keen sense of identity. It comes as no surprise that a number of Maltese have chosen this county to make their home away from their Mediterranean home. I believe that today’s celebration is a true testament of the Irish Presidency’s official slogan – ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’, there is no strength without unity – I’m sure that today will be another step towards strengthening people to people contact and taking this forward in other areas – business, culture and tourism.”

Harpists from Music Generation Laois provided musical accompaniment throughout the morning, while the event concluded with a performance by Camross National School Choir, also part of Music Generation Laois. The choir performed three songs for the audience, including Lovely Laois.

Ambassadors Formosa and Whelan also recited one of Seamus Heaney’s most celebrated poems Beacons at Bealtaine to celebrate Ireland and Malta’s enduring connection. It was written and first presented on 1 May 2004 when Seamus Heaney was commissioned by the Irish Government to compose a poem for the EU Enlargement (Day of Welcomes) ceremony in Dublin's Phoenix Park, marking the accession of 10 new member states, including Malta, to the European Union.

The event also saw members of the Maltese community in Laois - Marvic Thompson, Romina Roe and Suzanne Tuomui - speak to Laois County Librarian Bernie Foran about why they relocated to Laois from Malta and the similarities between the two places.

After the event, Dr. Jean Claude Cachia, Maltese academic and Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta's Institute for European Studies delivered a workshop with the students in attendance which explored the connections between Ireland and Malta, as two small island nations with a strong European identity.

Laois County Council would like to thank both Ambassador Whelan and Ambassador Formosa for visiting Laois and for the important work they do in strengthening the ties between Ireland and Malta.