GAA President misses John Boyle O'Reilly Festival Dowth launch on 'security grounds'

PAUL MURPHY

GAA President Jarlath Burns had to drop out of the official opening of a festival in the Boyne Valley last night following threats that the event would be picketed.

Mr Burns had been invited to be the guest of honour to perform the official opening of the four-day John Boyle O’Reilly festival at Dowth near Slane when the organisers learned that a pro-Palestinian group from Drogheda had expressed an intention to place a picket on the event at Dowth cemetery where the opening was due to take place. Crowds had gathered for the opening event which was delayed but the organisers announced that Mr Burns would not be able to attend because of unforeseen circumstances including security concerns. Mr Burns had earlier attended the funeral in Donegal of former county footballer James McHugh and his wife Noreen and was on his way to Co Meath and asked former Meath football manager Sean Boylan to stand in for him. Mr Boylan said that Mr Burns had been due to lay a wreath at the Boyle O’Reilly memorial and was “really upset” that he was unable to be there. “The advice that he was given had to be taken”, he said. Mr Boylan described Mr Burns as “a good man, a noble man”.

The John Boyle O'Reilly is a a key cultural event in the four-day John Boyle O’Reilly Festival which runs from 13th to 16th August will be the 'Exiled Voices' art exhibition featuring arts from Louth and Meath.

The major event in the Boyne Valley calendar will celebrate the life, poetry and legacy of the Meath-born poet, patriot and journalist.