Waterford councillor criticises planned mayoral visit to America
Former mayor of Waterford City and County Jason Murphy met Boston mayor Michelle Wu in 2025.
Sinn Féin Councillor John Hearne criticised plans for members of Waterford City and County Council, including Mayor Seamus Ryan, to visit Boston on a diplomatic basis in March.
Cllr. Hearne made the comments in the context of the US-backed regime change in Venezuela and increased threats of American intervention in Greenland.
Mistakenly referring to the planned destination for the trip as Chicago, Cllr. Hearne said: “We pass many motions in support of Palestine and we all feel strongly about that.
“The way Trump is going at the moment…threatening every place he can…I have no problem with a visit to other cultural areas, but I think we could get caught out.”
Cllr. Hearne suggested relocating the visit to Canada.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Jason Murphy was the first Waterford mayor to visit Boston in 2025.
“I really hope it will continue, we made a lot of positive connections with the Irish diaspora,” said Cllr. Murphy.
Cllr. Murphy accused Sinn Féin of being “hypocritical”, referencing the party’s lobbying and fundraising activity in the United States.
Director of Services for Planning, Ivan Grimes, told Cllr. Hearne that flights to Boston had already been booked and that there were no intentions to U-turn on plans.
