Carney visit to Mayo well received in Canada – Kilbane
Former Ireland footballer Kevin Kilbane was delighted with the coverage Mayo received on Mark Carney's visit to Aughagower
A former Ireland footballer living in Canada said the coverage of Mark Carney's visit to Mayo last month portrayed the county in a positive light and was well received among the Canadian population.
Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney made a historic visit to his ancestral village of Aughagower outside Westport in June and the visit was covered by the major Canadian television networks.
Former Irish footballer, Kevin Kilbane who is now living close to Toronto in Canada since 2020 told The Mayo News that he was delighted to see how Carney embraced his visit to Mayo and it was positively received in Canada.
“I was delighted with the coverage Mark Carney got on his visit to Mayo,” said Kilbane whose father is a native of Achill Island.
“Listening to his message and what he has to say fully aware of his own family history and how his ancestors came to these shores. He knows what it takes and how difficult it was for the people of Mayo over centuries. It was great to see the way he embraced the county.”
Since moving to Canada, Kilbane has worked as a football pundit on the television network, TSN and recently covered the FIFA World Cup which Canada co-hosted with Mexico and the USA. Kilbane said that he has been impressed by the way Carney has led the country since coming to power.
“I was delighted by how he spoke. I think he is a great leader and everything he has done since coming to power here in Canada. I would have a strong affiliation towards him and think he is a good man.”
Kilbane also quipped that as well as the two having a connection with Mayo, Carney is also a fan of Everton, the club Kilbane played for between 2003 and 2006.
The Preston native is looking forward to Sunday's All-Ireland final and is hoping to be in attendance in Croke Park to see Mayo win the Sam Maguire for the first time since 1951.
“I'm really looking forward to seeing how this young team progresses in the final. Obviously Kerry are favourites but Mayo absolutely have a chance. Mayo are underdogs and I will take being underdogs but Mayo absolutely do have a fighters chance of winning,” he said.