Donegal’s Muireann Kavanagh (14) highlights fishing concerns to MEPs in 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. 

L-R João Pimenta MEP (Coordinator for the Left Group for the Fisheries Committee), Muireann Kavanagh, Neil Kavanagh (Muireann's father) and Chris MacManus MEP at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

The 14 year old fisherwoman has been leading a passionate campaign to ensure fishing communities are not left behind, following her own experience of the Pollock fishing ban. MEP MacManus previously highlighted Muireann’s situation in a European Parliament speech but felt it was essential that she should visit along with her family to tell her story in person. 

Muireann 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. 

L-R Pierre Karleskind MEP (Chair of European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee), Chris MacManus MEP, Muireann Kavanagh and Neil Kavanagh (Muireann's father) at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

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. 

“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,”  Muireann said speaking from the 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 has 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.”

 L-R Neil Kavanagh (Muireann's father), Muireann Kavanagh, Younous Omarjee (chair of the Parliament's Committee on Regional Development), Chris MacManus MEP and Donna Kavanagh (Muireann's mother) at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

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 MEP MacManus went to visit Muireann at her school Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore to hear her story firsthand. 

“This is Muireann’s story, this is Muireann’s week,” MEP MacManus said. “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 fisherwomen and men deserve fairness and they deserve a future. As MEPs we must fight to provide a future for young people like Muireann Kavanagh.”