
Welsh delegation cement ‘bonds of friendship' with Greystones community
Councillor Tom Fortune, a founding architect of the partnership, signed the original twinning documents over a decade ago and continues to play a leading role in nurturing the relationship.
Some 13 years later, Cllr Fortune alongside Cllr Stephen Stokes, welcomed the Holyhead delegation with a warm reception. The visit was described as a milestone moment in reaffirming the enduring friendship between the two towns.
'It was a privilege to engage with our friends from Holyhead,' Cllr Fortune said. 'This twinning relationship is close to the heart of many people in both communities. I would like to congratulate all of those who have made this twinning partnership a great success. We've built real bonds of friendship, and the potential for future collaboration continues to grow.'
Kathleen Kelleher, a former mayor of Greystones and respected figure in local civic life, also attended the event.
A long-time supporter of Greystones' international partnerships, Kathleen noted the value of grassroots diplomacy and community exchange in promoting peace, understanding, and opportunity.
Cllr Stokes said he believes that there is also a positive Celtic connection between the two towns.
'Greystones and Holyhead are more than just neighbours across the sea, we are partners for prosperity and friendship. From our cultural traditions to our modern challenges, we have much in common. This visit was about looking to the future and finding new ways to collaborate in meaningful ways for the benefit of both communities,' he said.
The twinning partnership has supported arts and cultural events, youth activities, tourism promotion, and sporting connections over the years. This recent delegation marks the latest chapter in the relationship.
Future plans include a return visit by Greystones representatives to the Holyhead Festival in July 2025. Further exchanges between schools and community groups are also anticipated.
Cllr Fortune concluded: 'The story of Greystones and Holyhead is one of friendship across borders. We're proud of what we've built, and we're even more excited for what lies ahead.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
6 days ago
- Irish Times
Ireland can lead Europe in the next generation of inclusive capitalism
Ireland's economic narrative in recent decades has been one of remarkable growth, a Celtic Tiger reborn as a dynamic, modern technological hub and a magnet for foreign direct investment . Yet, beneath the surface of robust gross domestic product figures and booming multinational activity lies a troubling paradox: a nation with immense wealth creation that simultaneously exhibits one of Europe's most inequitable and unproductive savings cultures. A meagre 1 per cent of Irish household financial assets is invested in shares or funds, a stark contrast to other developed economies, while a staggering 55 per cent remains tied to property. The vast majority of individual savings, meanwhile, sit idle in low-yield deposit accounts, systematically eroded by inflation and offering no pathway to participate in the nation's productive capital or share in its economic success. This imbalance is not merely an economic inefficiency; it represents a dangerous concentration of wealth, primarily in a single, often volatile asset class. This reliance on property has not only exacerbated Ireland's chronic housing crisis but also precluded the vast majority of its citizens from owning a direct stake in the very economy they help create. It contributes directly to rising social and economic inequality, fostering a two-tiered system where those with inherited or accumulated property accumulate wealth effortlessly, while others, particularly younger generations, fall further behind, unable to access the compounding power of capital. Such a model is inherently fragile, prone to speculative bubbles and fundamentally fails to deliver the full promise of broad-based prosperity. To address this systemic flaw and unlock Ireland's full potential, the Government should consider a direct, scalable and genuinely transformative solution: a universal digital investment account for every newborn, with initial €1,000 funding provided by government. This initial capital would be strategically invested in a diversified, broad-based Irish equity exchange-traded fund. With robust, legally mandated protections designed to keep the money invested until adulthood, this would immediately give every child a tangible stake in the economy. Crucially, it would also cultivate financial literacy from an early age, fostering a generational shift in how citizens view saving and investing and allowing the mass market to benefit from the productive compounding of savings, thereby fostering genuine intergenerational fairness and economic mobility. The concept draws its inspiration from successful global movements aimed at democratising capital, notably the Invest In America initiative, now known as Trump Accounts, which meant child savings account provisions were integrated into US president Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' signed into law on July 4th. Every child born in the US between this year and 2028 will receive such an account with a $1,000 government-funded balance. The Juggle: the issues facing women with young children when balancing childcare and their careers Listen | 44:30 Such precedents demonstrate the political viability and social appeal of empowering citizens through universal capital ownership. These are not merely handouts; they are strategic investments in human capital and national resilience. The Irish Government is already engaged in two related reform efforts. It has begun the process of overhauling the existing punitive tax framework for retail investing, a long-overdue reform for which a definitive timeline is yet to be established. Alongside this, the 'Acorn Account' initiative, a newborn savings account, is also being pursued. However, the current iteration of the Acorn Account, with its overly conservative, bond-heavy portfolio, severely limits growth potential and fails to harness the exponential compounding effect that equities provide over multidecade horizons. While steps in the right direction, they risk falling short if not synergistically integrated. The tax regime continues to actively discourage long-term market participation and disproportionately disadvantage smaller, less sophisticated retail investors. A simplified, equitable tax regime must go hand-in-hand with a growth-oriented universal savings vehicle, one that unlocks the full potential of national capital. Compounding at a conservative average annual rate of 7 per cent, such a fund could grows to approximately €5,400 by age 25. By retirement, without any further contributions from the individual, that initial €1,000 could realistically exceed €81,000. Imagine the difference this sum could make for a young adult, potentially funding higher education, providing a deposit for a home or seeding a new business venture. The potential for private sector involvement through matched contributions – perhaps from employers, family members or even philanthropic organisations – could significantly amplify this effect, creating a powerful virtuous cycle of saving, investment and national prosperity. Beyond the undeniable individual benefits, widespread equity ownership can fundamentally deepen Ireland's domestic capital markets, providing much-needed patient capital to indigenous Irish businesses and fostering local innovation. It would significantly reduce the economy's precarious dependence on volatile property markets. More fundamentally, it would foster a robust culture of long-term investment and financial resilience, empowering citizens to become active owners in their economy, not just consumers, employees or tenants. The cost is remarkably modest: estimated at €55 million to €65 million annually, representing less than 0.1 per cent of the national budget. This is a trivial price for dismantling long-standing wealth disparities and building a more robust, equitable and ultimately more resilient economy for future generations. The moment is ripe for Ireland to seize this opportunity. As a nimble, open economy within the European Union, Ireland possesses the agility and global reputation to pioneer this next generation of inclusive capitalism. By fundamentally resetting its investment culture, diversifying household savings away from property and giving every child a real, tangible stake in the State's prosperity, Ireland cannot only secure its own economic future but also provide a practical blueprint for other European nations grappling with similar challenges of wealth inequality and the urgent need for broader capital formation. It is a bold, yet entirely achievable, vision for a fairer and more dynamic Ireland. Cathal Carroll is a partner at venture capital firm VEF. He is writing in a personal capacity.


Irish Independent
02-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Big payday for investors Dan Kiely and AIB as Johnson Hana sold in $50m deal
The Dublin-based practice, founded by brothers Dan and Alex Fox, has been acquired by Eudia, an AI platform for Fortune 500 legal teams. The California-headquartered company has received significant backing, having raised $105m (€89m) from the likes of General Catalyst in February. The Fox brothers have informed Johnson Hana staff in an email about the acquisition by Eudia. In the email, seen by the Irish Independent, the brothers said that Eudia's leadership team had been rigorously assessing alternative legal-service providers across the world searching for the right one to partner with, and had decided to do so with Johnson Hana. It included details of how the new group is raising more money to pursue an acquisition strategy, and that it is near to closing its first deal in North America. Johnson Hana has been well backed since it was founded in 2017, with the likes of Voxpro founders Dan and Linda Kiely, and specialist investment fund BVP, investing €3.5m in the business in 2020. Enterprise Ireland, the state agency, was also an early backer. In 2022, Johnson Hana attracted attention from investors again, in a €10.5m funding round led by AIB. The bank is set to be one of the largest beneficiaries from the deal. Other backers set for a pay day include Brendan Coakley, the one-time chairman of Allegro, and former DCC managing director Kevin Murray. Johnson Hana, which declined to comment, was set up by the Fox brothers with the aim of disrupting the legal-services market place. Using its technology, the business planned to take over what it regarded as the tedious, labour-intensive work that was clogging up other corporate legal departments Over the years, Johnson Hana has attracted several big name clients, including Airbnb, LinkedIn, Tesco and Tinder. State agencies including RTÉ and Coillte have also used its services. The company employs about 50 staff in its Dublin headquarters, with 250 consultants also working on projects for clients at any one time. Last July, Dan Fox told the Sunday Independent that Johnson Hana had been approached by investors who were interested in achieving further consolidation in the sector.


Irish Examiner
30-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Port of Cork set to open €100m deepwater berth dedicated to offshore energy development
The Port of Cork is poised to become the first port in the Republic to deliver dedicated quay facilities for the offshore renewable energy sector through a new €100m development. The 200-metre long CORE1 (Cork Offshore Renewable Energy 1) deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy East will be ready for use by October, port officials have said. It will have the length, depth, and load-bearing capacities required by companies that will build the large-scale offshore wind farms proposed for the Irish and Celtic seas. However, the Port of Cork Company has said it will need additional land and funding to provide the full range of dedicated quayside facilities that the sector requires if it is to help Ireland achieve its ambitious targets to create at least 37GW of offshore renewable energy generation capacity by 2050 — about six times our current peak electricity demand. The port company set out its progress on offshore renewable energy infrastructure for EU Commissioner Michael McGrath and his officials during a visit to the CORE1 project, which is being co-financed by the EU to the tune of some €38m. 'It would not have happened without a grant from the EU,' the port's commercial officer Conor Mowlds said. 'But there are challenges facing the port now after handing over 30-acres for offshore renewable energy (ORE). "However, Cork has the potential to become the centre of gravity to support Ireland's ORE sector — similar to what happened to Aberdeen during the North Sea oil boom.' Mr McGrath said that, given the scale of EU funding involved, he wanted to see the project first-hand and be briefed on where it fits within the Port of Cork's overall capital development ambitions. 'They have very ambitious plans for the years ahead, which will have to be brought forward in a phased manner and will require extensive consultation with the local community, statutory processes will have to be followed, and then funding packages put together," he said.