Marine Times

Muireann Brings Her Fight to Europe

Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus is to host 14 year old fisherwoman Muireann Kavanagh and her family in the European Parliament, Strasbourg on Wednesday 24th April.

Muireann Kavanagh gives MEP Chris MacManus the fishing line which the EU has stopped her from using

Muireann Kavanagh is a young fisherwoman from the island of Arranmore, County Donegal and has been vocal on the need to ensure a future for young people in coastal and fishing communities. She is leading a fight for fair play for fishing communities, to ensure that they are not abandoned by EU policy making.

Her own experience of being denied fishing rights in her local community has inspired her passionate fight, which will now be brought to the very heart of the European Parliament.

The teenager made headlines when her handwritten letter to the Fisheries Minister was widely circulated on social media (and published in the April issue of the Marine Times), and her story was highlighted in a European Parliament speech by Chris MacManus MEP.

The Midlands Northwest MEP is committed to delivering the change that Muireann and the wider fishing community desperately need to see delivered.

Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North West, Chris MacManus, has said tomorrow is an important opportunity to ensure that Irish fishing communities’ voices are heard at the heart of Europe.

MacManus and Kavanagh will take part in a series of engagements with a number of high-ranking MEPs who work on Regional Development and Fisheries, where she will make her case directly to senior EU figures.

MEP MacManus said: “Our fishing communities deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. Instead, many feel badly let down and left behind by policies from Europe and from Dublin that fail to take into account the reality they face.

“Muireann Kavanagh is a young fisherwoman from the island of Arranmore, County Donegal and has been a passionate advocate for the need to ensure a future for young people in coastal and fishing communities.

“Her own experience of being denied fishing rights in her local community has inspired her fight to secure fair play for fishing communities. I am delighted to host Muireann and her family this week to ensure that her her campaign will now be brought to the very heart of the European Parliament. Muireann and I will take part in a number of engagements tomorrow and on Thursday with senior EU figures, where she will make her case directly to MEPs responsible for Regional Development and Fisheries.

“I am committed to ensuring that fishing communities’ voices are heard loud and clear in Europe. Sinn Féin are determined to be a strong voice for fishing communities and deliver the change they need.”