10/06/2026
The airport was delighted this afternoon to facilitate and welcome over 100 politicians, MEPs, business leaders, and policy experts from across Europe to the West of Ireland, arriving on a special charter flight from Brussels.
The Group of the European People’s Party (EPP) Summer University takes place from June 10–12, bringing senior European political figures to Galway. EU-US relations and transatlantic trade will form the core themes of the event, with discussions also focusing on Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The visit was coordinated by Maria Walsh, MEP, who, alongside Joe Gilmore Managing Director of Ireland West Airport, greeted the President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Group, Manfred Weber, at the aircraft steps and presented him with a gift on behalf of the airport in appreciation of their visit to the West of Ireland
The visit is the EU’s largest political group to the West of Ireland, placing Galway at the top of the European political agenda. This is one of the largest political gatherings of MEPs in the EU, and it is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our region on the European stage.
