Paddy's Day junket not appropriate says Burke

Westmeath County Council's cathaoirleach Peter Burke won't be clocking up any air miles this Paddy's weekend

The Fine Gael man has declined an invitation to go to the St Patrick's Day festivities in New York and will be spending March 17 a lot closer to home.

"I will be attending as many local parades as possible. I will also be attending the International Celebration Day event organised by Mullingar Community College and Educate Together, which the Latvian ambassador will attend."

While the likes of New York and London may have been the destinations of choice for cathaoirleachs in years gone by, Cllr Burke says that "in times of economic difficulties your priorities have to be at home".

"There is always a travel budget allocated for the cathaoirleach and I hope the council will agree to putting it into alternative projects that will benefit the community," he said.