Fingal County Council celebrates Ireland’s EU Presidency with flag raising ceremony

An official EU flag-raising ceremony took place at County Hall, Swords today to mark the beginning of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The ceremony was led by the Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Tony Murphy, Ambassador of Greece to Ireland, H.E Georgios Stilianopoulos, along with local councillors.

For the next six months, Ireland will guide negotiations, broker agreement between Member States, and help deliver EU laws and policies that affect the daily lives of more than 450 million people. This is the eighth time Ireland has held the rotating Presidency.

Raising the flag , Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Tony Murphy said; “Today is a proud moment, symbolising partnership, peace and shared purpose. We are Ireland’s youngest local authority, with one of the most diverse populations in the country. That diversity and youthful energy make Fingal a forward-looking place, full of ideas, ambition and opportunity - values that reflect the very best of Europe.”

As part of Ireland's Presidency, each local authority across the country has been paired with an EU Member State to promote cultural exchange, community engagement and stronger European connections at local level. Under the initiative, Fingal has been partnered with Greece, with Ambassador Georgios Stilianopoulos taking part in a series of community engagements across the county, including visits to schools, libraries and local organisations.

H.E. Georgios Stilianopoulos, Greece’s Ambassador to Ireland said: “This ceremony reflects the opportunities that the EU Presidency offers to communities across Ireland and will help strengthen our European relationship. I look forward to participating in the wide range of events in Fingal and strengthening ties between our two nations.”

The Presidency provides an important opportunity for communities across the country to engage with EU issues and with our European relationships. The full programme and calendar of events for the Presidency are available on the Presidency website.