2 September 1998

BLAIR AND AHERN AT CONG HIDEAWAY

By TOM SHIEL

The visit of British Prime Minister, Tony Blair to Ashford Castle, Cong last week for the two hour tete a tete with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern about security in the wake of the Omagh bomb coincided with the best weather of the summer.

Mr. Blair, indeed, was so enraptured by the view out onto Lough Corrib that he couldn't help declaring, as the press conference concluded, "Now I can see why they say Mayo is magic.".

It was probably the best line of the summit as far as the local media was concerned- probably too good to be impromptu.

I wonder could Bertie's Mayo born policy adviser Jackie Gallagher (see story right) have been putting a word in the ear of Tony's Press Officer, Alistair Campbell beforehand?

AMUSED

Anyway, I'm sure Mr. Blair would have been amused had he known of the little row which flared up locally following his departure.

Mid-West Radio News thought that west of Ireland tourism interests should seize the moment, as it were, and capitalise immediately on the "magic" remark.

The radio station contacted Mayo Naturally and the Ireland West Head Office in Galway but found that nobody was available for comment.

Mayo Naturally told Mid-West the relevant personnel were on leave. Ireland -West was then contacted for an explanation of how it intended to take advantage of the Prime Minister's comments but again nobody was available for comment.

Contact Mayo Naturally, suggested Ireland West. Mid-West said it had already done so. Ireland West then suggested the reporter contact the Tourism Office in Westport. When said office was contacted a spokesperson said it was a matter for Head Office.

Talk about a run-around.

PERTINENT

Mid-West asked what would seem to be a pertinent questions- just because a few senior staff are on holidays does it mean that the whole tourism drive has to be put on hold? And if the world media were looking for comment last Wednesday would they have got the same run-around the local radio station did?

Both Michael Ring TD and John Walkin of Ballina, a former Chairman of Ireland West, were on the evening news bulletin criticised the tardiness of tourism authorities in not reacting quickly enough to a "golden opportunity.

Poor Tony. He'll probably never realise the controversy his well-meaning comment caused.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - September 1998