New York mayor faces Sligo protests

The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, is to visit Ballymote, Co Sligo, on Tuesday to unveil a monument to a regiment distinguished in the American civil war.

The Fighting 69th Regiment was led by Brig Gen Michael Corcoran, who was a native of Carrowkeel near Ballymote. It was the Confederate general Robert E Lee who gave the regiment its colourful name, The Fighting 69th.

Also on Tuesday, a vigil is to be held in Ballymote by a Sligo anti-war group and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. They are protesting at the mayor's visit.

Joe Flanagan, a spokesman for the protesters, said yesterday that the great majority of people in Sligo and Ireland had made it clear they "very much oppose Israel's war against the Lebanese and Palestinian people".

He said this was in contrast to Mr Bloomberg's endorsement of the Bush administration's support of the Israeli regime.

Mr Flanagan said the group was appealing to everyone, including local elected representatives, who felt strongly about the number of civilian deaths in Lebanon not to attend the unveiling "or any function where Mayor Bloomberg is the guest of honour".

"They have a choice. They can support Bloomberg, Israel and the Bush administration or they can stand with ordinary people in demanding peace and justice in the Middle East."

Mr Bloomberg was due to unveil the monument last month but had to reschedule his visit because of power cuts in New York.

Local Fine Gael TD John Perry, who issued the invitation to Mr Bloomberg, said the visit was a great honour for the county. He said those planning to protest had no mandate from the people of Sligo. "This is about honouring a 19th-century hero in the 21st century and celebrating the bonds between Ireland and the United States."

He said steel from the Twin Towers had been encased in a glass case beside the monument in honour of the 2,891 victims of September 11th.

Fine Gael councillor Paul Conmy said those planning to protest were "whingers" who do not speak for anybody.