Mayo celebrations

Time for Mayo celebrations

People and Places

THE month of February heralds some of the annual Mayo association dinner celebrations around the country. On Friday night, February 1, the Mayo folks will gather in the City West Hotel for the big Mayo Person of the Year awards night. This is the first time that the dinner will be held in the City West and comes about in the aftermath of the closure of the Burlington Hotel in recent weeks.
The ‘Burlo’ had a special place in the hearts of both city and country people and it certainly did possess an easy-going and casual ambiance. Many marvellous nights were enjoyed by the Mayo contingents at the hotel over the decades.
Frank Harrington from Glann, Kilkelly is being honoured with the award on Friday night and many people are making the journey from the region to lend their support. The Currane Community Group will receive the Meitheal award. In excess of 1,000 are expected to attend the celebrations.
This year’s Dublin celebrations have been moved forward by a week because of the closure of the Burlington Hotel … and that means a direct clash with the Mayo Association dinner in Sligo which also goes ahead this Friday night. Padraig Peyton from Swinford tells me the guest speaker will be Mary Davis and they are also looking forward to another memorable night at this popular get-together. The Muintir Mhaigh Eo in Galway hold their annual dinner dance in the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill on Friday, February 15.