UPDATE: Details of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's historic Mayo visit
Great excitement in Aughagower, Westport and Ireland West Airport ahead of visit this weekend
THE Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to his ancestral home in Aughagower has been an open secret locally for weeks.
The excitement has been building and it has been the subject of conversation everywhere from the queue at the supermarket, pub or barber’s chair. It was therefore no surprise when it was officially announced this weekend.
Carney's connection to the area is personal and profound. Speaking last March at a St Patrick’s Day event, Prime Minister Carney spoke movingly about finding the baptismal record of his grandfather, Robert Carney’s from St Patrick’s church in Aghagower.
His grandfather came from the townland of Ayle and his grandmother, Nora Moran, came from the townland of Mace, just outside Aughagower.
At that time, the Carney and Moran family farms were almost within a stone’s throw of each other, either side of the Ayle crossroads.
His paternal grandparents emigrated to Canada in 1925 and got married a year later.
He has two first cousins once removed, Maureen O’Malley and Pat Carney, who still live locally.
“Everyone is so happy and delighted to have him coming. We're all on high dough now for the coming week.”
As local historian James Kelly points out, this is the closest family connection between any leader of a major world power and Ireland.
It is a closer family connection than former Presidents of the United States John F Kennedy, Joe Biden and Barack Obama have.
High dough
THE anticipation was palpable at the Aughagower Maker’s Market on Friday, where one of Mark Carney’s many local relations told The Mayo News that “everyone is so happy and delighted to have him coming. We're all on high dough now for the coming week.”
In total, the Prime Minister has 21 second cousins in Mayo. Among them is Ann Nolan, the well- known local baker, who is related to Carney through her mother and said she would love to meet him personally.
The Mayo News understands that a number of relations will have the opportunity to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister on Sunday in the Aughagower Community Centre.
Security preparations have not gone unnoticed either. Aughagower resident Marlene Foy revealed that locals have already been keeping a watchful and amused eye on the advance arrangements. "Every time we see a fancy car, we're like, that's the secret service — we're keeping an eye out," she laughed.
Aughagower Community Council told The Mayo News that “the people of Aughagower are delighted to welcome Prime Minister Mark Carney to his grandparents’ home village. We are very pleased that he is coming for a visit and especially glad to see him returning to his roots.
“It is a proud occasion for our community, and we extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to PM Carney and his entourage.”
Carney and Moran family trees
SIBLINGS Patrick Carney and Maureen O’Malley, first cousins once removed of the Canadian Prime Minister, were a great source of knowledge for a fascinating booklet entitled, ‘A Commemorative History of the Carney and Moran families,’ which was produced by the Westport Historical Society.
Maureen’s daughter, Rosaleen Heraty spoke warmly to The Mayo News of the boost the visit has given to the older generation of the family. "My mother is 81 and Pat is 96, and thankfully they're in fine fettle — but this has really given them a lift. Just for them even to reminisce on the family history has been really lovely over the past few weeks. They have a path worn between Westport and Aughagower, between meeting up and talking on the phone and clarifying bits and nuggets of information.”
For Carney's second cousin Rosaleen, the visit carries a profound personal dimension, bringing family members back together in a way they hadn't experienced in years.
“They'd see each other as regularly as they could, but this in particular has really brought them together — reminiscing and talking about the family history, and that has meant an awful lot to them," she said about her mother and uncle. “I suppose us, as their kids, we're all kind of back in contact again as well as a result of this. So ultimately that means a lot to us, and ultimately we're very proud of Mark Carney and what he's doing."
Copies of the booklet will be available, free of charge, on the day of the visit.
It is a treasure trove of historical documents, family photographs and family letters and was researched and edited by James Kelly, Mícheál Casey and Harry Hughes.
The Westport Historical Society booklet will be presented to the Carney family, along with genealogical research by the Irish Family History Centre at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum during the Mayo visit.
What's on the itinerary?
PRIME Minister Carney is expected to fly into Ireland West Airport on Sunday morning, departing again on Monday, in what promises to be a deeply personal as well as politically significant trip.
The Mayo airport, which will welcome the Prime Minister's plane, described the occasion as another landmark moment in its history.
“We are excited to be welcoming another state visit following the successful previous visits of significant dignitaries such as President Biden and the Pope,” a spokesperson said. “This is another momentous occasion for the airport.”
It is anticipated that early on Sunday, the Prime Minister will meet with the Irish President, Catherine Connolly in Westport House before travelling the short distance to Aughagower.
Fr Tod Nolan, Vicar General of the diocese, will celebrate Mass in St Patrick's Church in Aughagower at 11.30am. His sermon is expected to reflect on the journey taken by Carney's grandparents — leaving Ireland with little more than what they carried on their backs, but bringing their faith with them across the Atlantic. That faith, passed down through generations, will be very much at the heart of the occasion.
One well-placed local source told The Mayo News that the village of Aughagower will likely be “on lockdown” as there will be strict security measures in place.
A civic reception in honour of Mark Carney is also on the cards as Mayo County Council passed a motion in support of one last Monday.
At the time of writing, plans for the civic reception in Westport Town Hall were advancing with a likely start time of 5pm on Sunday.
Westport Chamber of Commerce has issued a call to all member businesses to join in the welcome by dressing their premises in Canada's colours of red and white for the duration of the visit.
Shifting political context
THE visit is not only a homecoming — it carries significant diplomatic weight. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is looking forward to discussing ways to strengthen bilateral relations, noting that CETA, the Canada-EU trade agreement, is close to full ratification by the Oireachtas.
“Canada is an important economic partner for Ireland, with strong trade in goods and services in both directions," the Taoiseach said. “This is an ideal time to explore further options for economic cooperation across a range of sectors.
The visit comes at a turbulent moment on the world stage. Carney, a former central banker, has been outspoken in his view that the current global order is undergoing a fundamental rupture rather than a mere transition — and has been actively pursuing new trade partnerships to reduce Canada's dependence on the United States. For him, Ireland represents not just ancestral roots, but a potential bridge to Europe and a partner in navigating an increasingly uncertain world.