This article is from page 9 of the 2012-11-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
FURTHER discussions are expected in the coming weeks over plans to erect a memorial in Ennis to Irish people who fought in wars in South East Asia.
Councillors and officials from Ennis Town Council held preliminary discussions with representatives from business groups and American war veterans in recent weeks.
It follows a contentious proposal tabled at the July meeting of Ennis Town Council calling on the authority to commemorate Irish men who fought in the Vietnam War.
The motion, tabled by Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn, provoked strong opposition.
Cllr Flynn said the council should consider marking the contribution of soldiers of Irish descent who served in the United States armed forces during the Vietnam War.
Cllr Flynn said, at the time, that such a memorial would send out a positive signal to ex-soldiers about Clare as a tourism destination.
According to Cllr Flynn, the Vietnam veteran tourism market num- bers close to 1.9 million people.
It is estimated that 2,500 Irish people served with the US armed forces in Vietnam.
However, some councillors were wary of the proposal.
Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) said that Vietnam is a “sensitive issue”, while Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) has expressed concern about the actions of some American soldiers during the war.
However, it is understood that following recent meetings, councillors are close to agreeing on a memorial for Ennis.
It is thought that any memorial would honour Irish people who fought for the Allied Forces in conflicts in South East Asia from the 1950s to ‘70s.
Meetings have also taken place with representatives of a group of Vietnam veterans who have been travelling to Clare in recent years to attend the Ennis Trad Festival.
The talks are still at a preliminary stage and no decision has yet been taken.
Friars Walk in Ennis has been mooted as one possible location for any memorial.