Irish Delegation Meets City Commissioners

Five Irish visitors came to Cedar Key March 1 to learn how we are adjusting to development while preserving the fishing village atmosphere that sets us apart from much of Florida. The visit was sponsored by the European Union because the visitor's home in Donegal County is a fishing-farming area on the northwest coast with a population density not unlike Levy County. Furthermore, aquaculture, in the form of salmon farms and mussel processing combine with charter boat operators to be important to the local economy. Unlike Levy County, the county is quite mountainous. Their county has an unemployment rate of 15.9 percent. They represent the Donegal County Development Company. The visitors were given a tour of the clamming leases by Mike Hodges, and later met with the City Commission at the City Library.

John McLaughlin, Molly Reynolds, Angela Crerend, Brian McGilloway,& Kevin McKee with Mayor Oliver foreground.

When asked by a Cedar Key Commissioner, "What impressed you most about Cedar Key?", one visitor answered the friendliness and that we have a culture to be protected. The delegation will make a report to the Minister of Rural Affairs upon its return to Donegal.