Ledwidge ceremony in Belgium next week
Mairead McGuinness MEP will travel to the Artillery Wood Cemetery in Belgium for a Centennial commemoration of the death of Slane born poet and soldier, Francis Ledwidge, on Monday next.
A strong Irish contingent will travel to this event. Â As part of the commemoration Ms McGuinness will host 47 visitors, largely from Counties Meath and Louth, in the European Parliament the following day, 1st August. The trip to Ypres is being organised by the Francis Ledwidge committee in Slane.
The first Vice-President of the European Parliament will represent the Parliament at two forthcoming events in a service to mark the centenary of the Third Battle of Ypres on Monday afternoon. Â It will take place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commission cemetery in the world where 11,961 Commonwealth servicemen are buried, of whom 8,300 remain unidentified. Â This event is being organised by the UK Government and will involve members of the British and Belgian Royal Families and Government representatives from Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Malta, New Zealand and South Africa.