Prince Charles to be invited to the South East Region

Town and City Councils may be set to be abolished after next months local elections, but it has not stopped one town in the South East region making a major decision before it is abolished.

The nine elected members of Carrick-on-Suir Town Council at its April meeting voted successfully to invite Prince Charles to the South Tipperary Town where he would visit the town’s Tudor Ormond Castle.

The move comes after recent reports that the first in line to the throne would be invited to make an official visit to Ireland. The invitation to visit the South Tipperary town will now be forwarded to London through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Independent member of Carrick-on-Suir Town Council, Pierce O’Loughlin tabled the successful motion. The same Councillor tabled a similar but unsuccessful motion to invite the Prince’s mother Queen Elizabeth II to the town when it became known that she was to make a first official visit to Ireland in 2011 and would be visiting the nearby Rock of Cashel.

Councillor O’Loughlin told members that he was told by a senior minister that the Prince would be visiting Ireland and added that “I think we need to get in there first with the invitation” and added that “if he comes (to the town) we will be on the world stage”.

Should Prince Charles take up the invitation to visit Carrick-on-Suir, it would not be his first visit to the region.

In March 2004, Princes Charles and his now wife Camilla visited and stayed at Lismore Castle while attending the 60^th birthday of Lord Hartington, Peregrine Andrew Morny Cavendish the son of the then Duke of Devonshire and current Duke of Devonshire, succeeding his father to the Dukedom six weeks later following his death at the age of 84.  Both Prince Charles and his first wife, Diana Princess of Wales are related to the Duke of Lismore and if he does visit, there could be calls that he stays at Lismore Castle for the course of his visit.

Diocesan Priest has agreed to stand aside

A Waterford and Lismore Diocesan Priest has agreed to a request to stand aside while an alleged child protection matter which is understood to be historical is examined.

Parishioners in which the Priest were working with the past number of years were told at masses over the past weekend that the Priest had agreed to stand aside while the allegation is examined.

A statement was issued on Monday of this week by Fr Liam Power, the Communications Officer in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore.

The statement released by Fr Power reads:   

“The Diocese has received information regarding an alleged historical child protection matter involving a priest of the diocese. In accordance with church protocol he has been requested to stand aside, while this matter is enquired into. He has acceded to the request.

“This does not imply that what is being dealt with is either true or false, and the presumption of innocence applies. The leave from ministry is a precautionary measure. The statutory authorities have been notified of the information”.