UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits City Hall

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy, and the Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O’Sullivan, were delighted to welcome Taoiseach Micheál Martin and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to City Hall earlier this month for a special civic and cultural reception as part of the second annual UK-Ireland Summit. 

The event was hosted in the historic Concert Hall, with guests including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee; and Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan.

The UK Government delegation comprised Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds; and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle. 

The Lord Mayor spoke of the shared history of both countries and of the importance of continued engagement and cooperation to strengthen the bonds of trade and friendship.

“Our shared history has shown us what can be achieved through partnership,” the Lord Mayor said.

“And partnership is powerful.

“We think tonight of the generations who left Cork’s city quays and crossed the Irish Sea to build a better life.

“We think too of the contribution they made to Britian.

“Their courage built the bonds we inherit.

“As close neighbours and friends, we must work together to strengthen those links before passing them on.”

The second annual UK-Ireland Summit also featured a series of engagements reflecting the theme of ‘Shared Prosperity, Shared Seas, Shared Ties’, including the civic and cultural reception in City Hall, a research-focused visit to the Tyndall, a business roundtable, and a discussion with young people from across Ireland and the UK.  

Ireland is the UK’s 6th largest trading partner, Irish companies employ in the region of 150,000 people in the UK contributing to and helping drive prosperity in both countries.

The UK is Ireland’s 2nd largest trading partner and over the past decade, annual bilateral trade has increased by 107% to €129bn.