Five elected representatives and a council official travelled to Washington earlier this month for a 1916 commemoration ceremony.
At the time the trip was criticised by many given that the local authority has been lobbying for extra funding for areas such as housing and roads.
Five Tipperary County Councillors – Cathaoirleach Seamus Hanafin, Marie Murphy, Catherine Carey, Imelda Goldsboro and Kieran Bourke – made the trip to the United States along with a council official.
They were part of an Irish delegation to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising and included a “tree-planting” ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington.
While the councillors paid for their hotel and other expenses during the 3-night stay, the taxpayer footed the bill for flights.
There was strong criticism when news of the trip became public with many questioning the benefits at a time when Tipperary County Council was crying out for money.
However Sinn Féin representative Catherine Carey told Fran Curry on Tipp Today that it was definitely worthwhile saying a number of American visitors plan on coming to Tipperary due to her efforts.
The trip was co-ordinated by Fianna Fail Senator Mark Daly and the US National Park Service in recognition of the long relationship between the two countries.
Other county councils that took up the invitation to make the trip sent much smaller deputations than Tipperary County Council.
Councillor Carey admits that perhaps a smaller delegation could have gone from the Premier County.
