The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, and her Northern colleague, Mr Michael McGimpsey, have opened a heritage centre commemorating the Flight of the Earls from Draperstown, Co Derry, almost 400 years ago.
Ms de Valera said different historical perspectives should not prevent people from working together to build a new and shared future on the island. "One of the overall objects of the Flight of the Earls initiative is to increase cross-Border tourist movement."
Mr McGimpsey praised those involved in the Flight of the Earls project, saying it helped explain how events of the past had shaped the destiny of succeeding generations.
