Ambassador encourages society to keep up link with Argentina at Longford-Westmeath Argentine Asado

Also present at the event were Deputies Peter Burke, Robert Troy and Joe Flaherty as well as Senator Micheal Carrigy, while Philomena Murnaghan, from Omagh and Paula Slattery from Dublin, both of whom previously held the role of Irish ambassador in Argentina, travelled from their homes to Longford.

A crowd of close to 160 attended the event, at which Argentine-style food was served and an exhibition of tango dance provided, followed by music from Johnny Carroll.

Ambassador Cachaza remarked that the Irish community is still very much alive and active in Argentina and she urged the society to continue to celebrate the tight bond between the two countries.

The ambassador paid tribute to the chairperson of the asado, Una Byrne, who had welcomed her and her husband to Ireland earlier this year, and she noted that among the attendance in Abbeyshrule was John Gallagher from the Admiral Brown Society in Foxford.

Visiting from Argentina and in attendance at the event was Silvia Fleming, a member of The Hurling Club in Buenos Aires, which last year celebrated the first centenary of its foundation.
Ms Fleming presented society representative Mary Egan with a copy of The Hurling Club's centenary publication and also a book written by club member Juan José Delaney, whose roots go back to Walderstown, Athlone.

She went on to tell the gathering that many members of the club trace their roots back to Westmeath or Longford.