Trim councillors to fund their own St Patrick's Day trips

Trim town councillors who are attending St Patrick's Day celebrations abroad are to fund their trips from their own pocket, following the council's decision to axe funding for foreign travel in their 2010 budget. Cllr Gerard Reilly is to represent the town at the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in New York, while Cllr Vincent McHugh is planning to attend the London Parade. Cathaoirleach Ray Butler has decided not to travel due to his commitments with the local festivities, as chairperson of the Celtic Festival Committee. Trim Town Council recently received correspondence from the Meath Association in London, inviting the council to send a representative to the parade, which takes place on Sunday, 14th March. The Kentstown and Seneschalstown Band is attending and it is hoped they will lead the parade. The association said it understood there were financial constraints but hoped the council would be able to send representatives. Cllr Butler said he would love to go but would be tied up with the Celtic Festival. He said that Trim Town Council has unique ties with the Meath Association in London and their representatives had come to parades in Trim, and councillors had attended the London Parade. "The Meath Association gave hope to people in London and shelter and helped get them on their feet," he said. Cllr Vincent McHugh said he was hoping to go to London and Cllr Gerard Reilly said he is going to attend the parade in New York. Both are travelling "under their own steam" after the council decided to set aside their budget for foreign travel to go towards a feasibility study for a new enterprise centre in the town. Cllr Reilly also encouraged the new councillors to consider going to London for the parade and said it was a great experience. Meanwhile, Cllr Butler congratulated his fellow councillors for being in the national headlines as being the council to claim the lowest expenses in the country. He said he was very proud to see that Trim Town Council was the lowest council in Ireland when it came to claiming expenses, at just €89 per head.