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17 Feb 2026
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17 Feb 2026
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Her Excellency Ana Laura Cachaza
Her Excellency Ana Laura Cachaza, Ambassador of Argentina, will visit Ballymahon Community Library on Tuesday, February 24, to mark the conclusion of the Longford-Westmeath Argentina Emigration Oral History Project.
The project, a collaboration between Longford and Westmeath County Councils and the Longford-Westmeath Argentina Society, has captured the stories of families across both counties whose histories stretch across the Atlantic to Argentina.
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The project was led by the Heritage Office and Archives Service in Longford County Council alongside the Heritage Office in Westmeath County Council, Adrian Roche of The History Trail, a specialist in oral history, who recorded the conversations.
Ambassador Cachaza will present each participant with a copy of their interview during the evening event. Both county councils will retain copies for future research, creating a permanent record of this often-overlooked strand of Irish emigration.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, "Ambassador Cachaza's presence honours the threads that bind Longford to Argentina across generations. Whilst she has visited our county before, this marks her first formal invitation from the Council—a recognition of how deeply these South American roots run through Longford soil. These recorded voices ensure that what might have faded into family folklore now becomes documented history."
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Chief Executive of Longford County Council Paddy Mahon said, "Argentina holds a distinctive place in Longford's emigration story, yet it lacks the prominence given to destinations like America or Britain. This project corrects that imbalance. For researchers decades from now, these recordings will prove invaluable. For families today, they offer something equally precious: validation that their stories matter."
The event begins at 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 24 at Ballymahon Community Library. All are welcome to attend.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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