25 March 2004 Edition

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Cullinane criticises Charles Windsor visit

David Cullinane (left) is pictured canvassing in Killarney last weekend

David Cullinane (left) is pictured canvassing in Killarney last weekend

David Cullinane, Sinn Féin EU candidate for the South constituency, criticised last weekend's visit by Charles Windsor, heir to the British throne, to a party in Lismore as grossly offensive. The Waterford-based party representative said that the visit to the Duke of Devonshire, who still claims to own vast swathes of East Cork and West Waterford, was an insult to the people there and a display of the British royal family's arrogance.

"The Duke of Devonshire still lays claim to important tracts of land and shore line on the basis that his family was granted it by Prince Charlesí predecessors," said Cullinane. "In particular, the Duke is laying claim to the river bank of the Blackwater, one of the richest rivers in Ireland, and a huge section of Youghal Harbour. His claim has prevented Youghal Town Council from going ahead with plans to develop the harbour. He has prosecuted local fisherman.

"The Duke behaves like an imperious English landlord of old. The visit of Prince Charles to celebrate the birthday of the Duke's son in Lismore only adds insult to the behaviour of the Duke. It is also a considerable drain on resources which could be usefully used elsewhere.

"If these throwbacks in history want to party in Ireland, let them first renounce all claims to Ireland, granted to them by former Kings and Queens of England."


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