New Calls For Special Civic Reception To Celebrate Gallagher Brothers' Irish Roots

The Irish roots of Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher may finally be celebrated -- with a civic reception.

Failing to honour the bestselling brothers has been "a long standing injustice," according to Mayo councillor Michelle Mulherin (FG).

The two rock icons have never been honoured in their mother's home country.

Now Cllr Mulherin intends to put that right -- by tabling a motion for this month's meeting of Mayo Co Council.

She will call on the local authority to honour he two Manchester-born stars of Oasis.

"The story of Liam and Noel Gallagher is that of so many of the Irish diaspora, it's the Irish dream fulfilled," Cllr Mulherin said.

"They stayed close to their mother's homeplace and to Irish culture. Mayo is not just in their blood, it's etched in their hearts.

"When they came to visit the home-place as children, they came to a place with no running water, which wasn't uncommon in that era," she said.

"They always talk fondly about their memories of going fishing and berry-picking, and going into the local shop for Silvermints or a Brunch. Those are memories so many Irish people identify with."

Noel and Liam are the sons of Peggy Sweeney of Charlestown, and they regularly visit the east Mayo town. The pair were close to their maternal grandmother Margaret, who died in 2000.

They have often referred in media interviews to their memories of visits to Charlestown in the 1970s and 1980s.

Both men visited Charlestown regularly while their grandmother was alive, making one celebrated trip in 1997 when Oasis were at the height of their fame.

Source: www.herald.ie