Possible twinning agreement between Drogheda and Kuşadası
A visit by the Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Hakan Olcay, to Drogheda yesterday has been hailed as a great success that could lead to a twinning arrangement between Drogheda and the Turkish town of Kusadasi which is home to some 5,000 Irish people.
The purpose of the visit was to keep alive a long tradition of interactions between Drogheda and Turkey and to discuss possible cultural and economic relations in the future.
Ambassador Olcay told Drogheda Life that Turkey and Drogheda share special bonds dating back to the Ottoman times when humanitarian aid sent during the Great Famine in 1847 and that he is happy to see that these bonds remain to this day.
The Ambassador visited Millmount Fort and met the directors of the museum where he was given a tour. The Ambassador then visited Boann Distillery which is famous for making the best ‘single grain whiskey’ in the world and over 100 other drinks including Irish liqueurs and gin and is planning to export to Turkey this year.
Next on the agenda was a visit to Fiddle Case Pier where Turkish ships landed in June 1847 with a cargo of humanitarian aid for Drogheda victims of the famine.
The nearby ELI English language school employs four Turkish staff and, among its 400 students in Drogheda, 50 are from Turkey several of whom took the opportunity to speak with the ambassador and discuss their experiences of living in Drogheda..
Ambassador Olcay was warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Michelle Hall and they discussed a wide range of topics including a possible twinning agreement between Drogheda and KuÅŸadası where 5,000 Irish people reside, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the refugee situation in Ireland as well as Türkiye.
They also discussed the possibilities around enhancing trade and investment ties between Turkey and Drogheda. The Ambassador and The Lord Mayor later took a walk around Drogheda and visited some historical sights such as St. Peter’s Church and The Tholsel, along with some local businesses.
The Ambassador’s trip ended with a visit to the grounds of Drogheda United FC who are sponsored by Turkish Airlines and who are also associated with Trabzonspor, the winners of last year’s Turkish Super League. Drogheda United has of course used the star and Crescent symbol for many years.
