“Muireann is a voice for young people in every Irish fishing community” – MEP MacManus welcomes Donegal Fisherwoman to Strasbourg
 
When young Donegal Fisherwoman Muireann Kavanagh left her home on the island of Arranmore this week it was the beginning of a very long journey to the European Parliament. 
 
A trip taking over 24 hours saw Muireann and her parents taking the ferry from Arranmore to Burtonport, then to Letterkenny by car and to Dublin by bus, before flying to Frankfurt on a plane to finally arrive in Strasbourg by train where she was warmly welcomed by her host for the visit, MEP Chris MacManus. 
 
“I believe it is a journey of approximately 50 hours when the return trip is considered” said MacManus, “but in truth it’s a journey that started months ago and it’s a story that has been years in the making.”
 
The Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands Northwest was struck by the young woman’s passion and determination, “Muireann is a young fisherwoman from the island of Arranmore in county Donegal and has been rightly vocal on the need to ensure a future for young people in coastal and fishing communities.”
 
“On the back of the Pollock fishing ban, Muireann made headlines when her handwritten letter to the fisheries minister was widely circulated on social media. Following that I went to visit Muireann at her school Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore to hear her story firsthand. I highlighted Muireann’s story in a European Parliament speech but I felt in was essential that she could come here to tell her story in person.”
 
The Midlands Northwest MEP subsequently invited the young islander to the European Parliament so she could tell her story directly to the relevant legislators. This week the teenager arrived in Strasbourg, ready to make waves.
 
Suitably dressed in her striking yellow fishing overalls, Muireann got straight to work. The work in question was securing a future in fishing for herself and many other young people living in coastal and island communities. 
 
The young fisherwoman was joined by her parents Donna and Neil, as well as MEP MacManus as she met a number of high-ranking MEPs including João Pimenta MEP, Coordinator for the Left Group for the Fisheries Committee, Pierre Karleskind MEP, Chairperson of European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee and Younous Omarjee the chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development. 
 
Speaking from the parliament, Muireann said “I am delighted to be here in Strasbourg and I’m very grateful that MEP MacManus organised this opportunity to speak directly to the decision makers in the European parliament. For me it is vitally important to explain to the European officials just how hopeless I feel my future is as a young fisherwoman. My family have fished for pollock in a sustainable way for generations and it makes me sad and angry that I cannot do the same. I feel that fishing communities in Ireland are not getting fairness and I have made that very clear in every meeting here in the parliament.”
 
MEP MacManus concluded, “This is Muireann’s story, this is Muireann’s week. I was more than happy to facilitate her and her family so her story can be heard loud and clear in the corridors of power. She deserves to be heard. Young Irish fisherwoman and men deserve fairness and they deserve a future. As MEPs we must fight to provide a future for young people like Muireann Kavanagh.” ENDS 

Below: Muireann Kavanagh pictured with her father Neil at the European Parliament in Strasbourg