Ambassador pledges support for Valentia UNESCO bid
The Irish Ambassador to Canada, John Concannon has offered his strong support to Valentia's bid for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Ambassador Concannon was a guest speaker at this years Valentia lecture.
He described Valentia as a powerful metaphor for human connection and proof that the periphery can change the centre in a society.
Valentia, and its story of the worlds first transatlantic cable, is currently seeking to be included as a UNESCO World Heritage site along with its counterpart at Hearts Content in Newfoundland.
Ambassador Concannon said that the transatlantic cable had been a triumph of engineering but also proof of our human desire to connect. He said that it had changed the world of diplomacy and business and that Ireland's connection to Canada had only deepened since then.
The Taoiseach is to lead a trade mission to Canada later this year.
Ambassador Concannon said that technology should support not replace meaningful conversations and relationships, that inspire innovation which serves the greater good.
He said both Ireland and Canada are showing boldness, and a dynamic relationship that imagines a future linking minds and generations, and that he hoped this signal from Valentia would never fade.
The event was also attended by James Maloney, MP at the House of Commons in Canada and David Kyffin representing the Canadian Embassy in Dublin.}
