Argentine naval vessel the Libertad invited to visit Mayo

AN invitation is to be extended to the Argentine Navy training vessel to ARA Libertad to visit Killala Bay next summer.

Mayo County Council is to issue the invitation to Rear Admiral Julio Guardia to add the Mayo visit to the ship's itinerary for August 2022.

There was unanimous support for the visit at a meeting of Mayo County Council, which was mooted by Councillor Neil Cruise, who said it would strengthen the established links between the county and both the Argentinian people and their Navy.

The Argentinian Navy was founded by Foxford native Admiral William Brown.

The Libertad, one of the largest sailing ships in the world, visited Mayo back in 1998, when it sailed into Killala Bay.

Councillor Al McDonnell said there was a tremendous affinity between the people of Argentina and Mayo and anything to promote that relationship should be done.