I am pictured with Michael Flynn of St.Raphael’s College, Loughrea, who competed in the Grand Final of the Europe Direct Soapbox Competition at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin yesterday.
The Soapbox provides citizens from every European country an opportunity to have their say in European Union affairs. The theme for this year’s competition was Climate Change is Not My Problem.
Eight libraries around Ireland host Europe Direct Information Centres, including Ballinasloe. The centres offer citizens a direct link to the activities of the European Commission.
I gave an address at the event on the importance of libraries to our communities and the way in which they have become hubs for a whole range of services.
It was a great achievement for Michael to compete in the final. We are joined in the picture by his mother, Anne.