Last week, AILG President Cllr. Mary Hanna Hourigan travelled to Brussels to mark the commencement of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.
The visit included attendance at the official handover ceremony, marking the beginning of Ireland’s six-month Presidency and highlighting the country’s important leadership role within the European Union during this period.
Cllr. Hourigan, accompanied by Head of Operations, Elaine Lynch, also met with representatives of the European Committee of the Regions and the Irish Regions European Office (IREO), acknowledging the strong partnership between local and regional government in Ireland and the European institutions. Sincere appreciation is extended to the Elected Members and Executive staff of the Committee of the Regions and IREO for their warm welcome and hospitality throughout the visit.
The programme concluded with a reception hosted by IREO celebrating Ireland’s regions and recognising the essential contribution of local and regional authorities in delivering European priorities. The event showcased the innovation, enterprise and excellence that exists across Ireland’s regions and reinforced the importance of collaboration in promoting sustainable regional development and strong local democracy.
The visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen relationships between AILG, the European Committee of the Regions and IREO as Ireland begins its Presidency, ensuring that the voice of local government continues to play a central role in shaping European policy and supporting communities across the country.
