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Dr Ian Paisley MP MLA was the Special Guest of Honour at the Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade’s Annual Gala Banquet on Friday 9th October in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry.
Dr Ian Paisley and Baroness Eileen Paisley received the warmest of welcomes from the 220 guests on what was the Former First Minister’s first official engagement with the Greater Newry business community.
Dr Paisley delivered a compelling, thought provoking and highly entertaining keynote speech to the captivated audience. The key theme of Dr Paisley’s speech was to remain upbeat about the economy and of Northern Ireland’s future. Dr Paisley commended Newry City, its citizens and business leaders on having a strong survival instinct that has endured and succeeded no matter how adverse the circumstances that its had come through. The audience consisted of a whose who of Newry’s high profile business leaders including Dr Gerard O’Hare, Parker Green International, Feargal McCormack, FPM and Brian McConville, MJM Group as well as leading public sector officials such as Liam Nellis, Chief Executive, InterTradeIreland and Paddy McIntyre, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
President Mary Doran of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade stated, ‘We, in the Newry Business Community were delighted that Dr Paisley accepted our invitation to attend this annual event. The Greater Newry Area is a very progressive region and our business leaders pride themselves of on a ‘can do’ attitude; this event has been a testament to the positive delivery of the Peace process, it can be seen as a beacon of a new, positive and all-embracing Northern Ireland. Whilst we reflect on what has been a difficult year for business in general, we in the Newry Chamber of Commerce look forward to brighter times ahead’.
The principle sponsor of the event was the Bank of Ireland and event sponsor was the Canal Court Hotel.
Mayor John Feehan, Newry & Mourne District Council officially welcomed Dr Paisley and Baroness Paisley to the region.
A charity prize raffle was held on evening with proceeds donated to Cardiac Risk in the Young in memory of Oisin McGuiness.
Check out more photos from the night in our Photos Section
