Councillors clash over hosting flagship Mayo Day event in Belmullet

The people of Erris are filling the coffers of Mayo and they shouldn't be shy asking for next year's Mayo Day celebrations to be centred in Belmullet to celebrate the town's 200th birthday. That was the passionate message delivered by councillors Gerry Coyle and Sean Carey during a heated debate at yesterday's (Monday's) Westport/Belmullet Municipal District meeting, which was held in Carratigue.

Cllr Carey initiated the conversation when he acknowledged the decision of the full sitting of Mayo County Council to support Belmullet's request to be central to the celebrations next May.

However, Cllr Peter Flynn stepped in. He said he had nothing against Belmullet or any other town, but the Chief Executive had asked councillors to look at the various events held to see if they could be improved in any way.

“We're looking at a very difficult budget in November and we have to be careful about making any promises about events at the moment. Mayo Day costs €70,000 or €80,000 every year and I'd like to pose the question, does Mayo Day give us best bang for our buck? Should we not look at spreading a lot of smaller events around the county rather than focusing on one particular area.”

This comment was met passionately by councillors Coyle, Carey and Paul McNamara. The latter said Mayo Day was hugely successful in its current guise and it should be enhanced and developed and Belmullet was very deserving of the main event.

“Mayo Day is like St Patrick's Day. People all over the world are now celebrating wearing the green and red and we should look at doing it even better.”

Cllr Flynn returned to the discussion and said he felt the financial support for Mayo Day should be spread around the county.

Cllr Coyle said this system was already in place.

“It's celebrated all over the county and all over the world. It's not confined to Belmullet or anywhere else but there has been a focal point many times. Ballinrobe and Ballina have hosted wonderful occasions and Belmullet will do likewise. Why shouldn't Belmullet be the focal point?

Extra few pound

“If there's an extra few pound to be spent in Erris we're well due it. Aren't we keeping the county going? Where would we all be without the rates from the gas. We're sending all the money out to ye and we're not getting an awful lot back. The one heated swimming pool we had in Erris had to close because of costs yet we're shooting gas out the road and as far as I know it's heating the new pool in Castlebar, so if you're complaining about spending a few pound in Belmullet ye need to look at yerselves.”

A heated discussion then ensued regarding the funding of the two areas included in the municipal district and Cllr McNamara increased the excitement when he asked if an airshow in Westport had been funded by Mayo Day celebrations?

This elicited a stern response from Cllr Christy Hyland who denied that the show had been funded by Mayo Day and he hit back by telling councillors Coyle, Carey and McNamara they should all contribute €20,000 each from their GMA funds to support Mayo Day in Belmullet in 2024.

Once again, that statement was met with great passion by the trio.

“We don't need any advice from you. Ye got a quarter of a million for the airshow,” said Cllr McNamara.

Cllr Carey said it was up to each councillor how they spend their funding while Cllr Coyle brought the discussion to a close.

“If I was looking for advice on how to spend our funding allocation I wouldn't be going to Christy.”