Laois TD, Sean Fleming, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs visited Canada last week to meet with members of the Irish community.
Minister Fleming met with the Ottawa Rose, for the Rose of Tralee 2023 festival, Aoife McDonald.
Aoife’s father, Patrick McDonald, moved from Portarlington to Ottawa in the late 1980’s and became involved in the Irish community there.
Aoife McDonald is very proud of her family connections in Laois and will be one to watch at the festival, along with Laois Rose, Sinead Dowd.
The Minister also met with several members of the Irish community in Toronto, two of whom were new arrivals from Laois.
The visit concluded with the Miramichi Irish Festival where Deputy Fleming was the first Irish Government Minister to attend the event.
Miramichi – one of the largest cities in New Brunswick – is home to ancestors from all 32 counties of Ireland, all of whom took part in a big parade on the day.
Minister Fleming also conducted an interview with Chin Radio, a multicultural broadcasting station in Canada, who played Lovely Laois by Trudi Lalor at the end of their show.
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