Irish Head of Government Micheál Martin has made his first official visit to the city today, reaffirming the historic ties of heritage, culture and trade that link Ireland to our region.
His visit coincides with the 38th British-Irish Council summit in Blackpool this week and he will meet with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Bev Craig.
The Taoiseach will also attend a reception with Irish community organisations and other groups from across Greater Manchester.
Mayor Andy Burnham said: “It is a great privilege to be able to welcome the Taoiseach to Greater Manchester today, as we celebrate the enduring and historic friendship between the North West and Ireland.
“Earlier this year I led the first joint mayoral mission to Dublin, alongside my friend and colleague Steve Rotheram.
“I am now pleased to extend the same warm welcome to Micheál Martin on his visit to our city region, and to reaffirm our strong commitment to deepening trade and cooperation with our closest neighbours across the Irish Sea.”
Ireland is a key trading partner for Greater Manchester with the value of exports from the North West to Ireland being £2billion in 2019.
The country is also a popular tourist destination for residents, whilst Irish visitors to Greater Manchester outnumbered any other in 2019.
Mr Martin said: “I am delighted to visit Manchester today, a place with such a deep and longstanding connection to Ireland, and somewhere we share so many political, trading and cultural links with.
“We are committed to strengthening these connections and forging new ones.”
Main photo: World Economic Forum / Boris Baldinger
