Ireland West Airport welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Mayo homecoming visit
Canadian Prime Minister’s ancestral journey highlights deep ties between Mayo and Canada
Ireland West Airport has welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the West of Ireland as part of a special ancestral visit to County Mayo.
Prime Minister Carney, accompanied by his wife Diana and a Canadian delegation, arrived through the airport on Sunday, June 14, and departed on Monday, June 15, following a visit that celebrated his family’s Mayo roots and the enduring connections between Ireland and Canada.
The visit formed part of the Prime Minister’s official trip to Ireland and included time spent in Mayo, where his grandparents, Robert Carney and Nora Moran, emigrated from the Aghagower area in the early 20th century before settling in Canada.
His arrival was warmly welcomed by local communities and marked a proud occasion for Co. Mayo.
Welcoming the visit, Arthur French, Chairman of Ireland West Airport, said it was a tremendous honour for the airport to play a role in such a meaningful journey.
“It was a tremendous honour for Ireland West Airport to welcome Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana to Mayo on what is a deeply meaningful ancestral visit,” he said.
“The ties between Mayo and Canada are long-standing and heartfelt, and today’s visit is a proud occasion for the airport, the county and the west of Ireland,” he added. “Ireland West Airport is proud to serve as a gateway for people returning home, reconnecting with family and discovering the heritage of this special region.”
The visit also shone a spotlight on the rich history of Irish emigration and the strong cultural and family links that continue to connect Mayo with communities across Canada.
Ireland West Airport said the occasion further highlighted its important role in connecting the West and Northwest of Ireland with international destinations, supporting tourism, business, diaspora engagement and regional development.
Following his Mayo visit, Prime Minister Carney departed from Ireland West Airport on Monday afternoon to travel to the G7 Summit in France.
The visit is expected to further strengthen awareness of Mayo’s global diaspora connections and reinforce the county’s longstanding relationship with Canada, where generations of Mayo families have built new lives while maintaining strong links to their ancestral home.