Former Mayo TD, Michael Ring, has expressed his delight to be named as Mayo Person of the Year saying it was a great honour for him and his family.

The Westport native, who retired last November after a distinguished 45-year political career, was named as the recipient of the Mayo Person of the Year Awards organised by the Mayo Association in Dublin.

The award ceremony has been running for over six decades and Ring follows in the footsteps of many illustrious Mayo people including former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, Ireland West Airport founder Mgr James Horan, legendary journalist John Healy and Ring's former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

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Ring was presented with the prestigious accolade at a gala dinner in the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin on Saturday and was joined by members of his family and a large number of supporters who travelled from Mayo for the event.

Speaking to The Mayo News following the presentation, Ring said he was honoured to be chosen as the recipient of this year's award.

“I was delighted to be honoured by my own from the county of Mayo, the place I love and it is a great honour and a great finish to the end of my career.

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“I was not expecting it at all and it was a great honour. I was delighted to receive it. We had a fantastic night with a great crowd and it was really enjoyable. A lot of people came up from Co Mayo and Mayo people from all over the country and of course from Dublin. It was lovely and I was really honoured to get it. I was very pleased,” the former Minister for Community and Rural Development said.

Illustrious career

Ring was first elected to Westport Urban District Court in 1979 before being elected to Mayo County Council in 1991 and to Dáil Éireann in 1994 following a by-election. He held his Dáil seat at every election since then and became a member of the Cabinet in 2017 when Leo Varadkar appointed him Minister of Community and Rural Development.

His decision not to defend his seat and to step down from politics following the General Election at the end of November surprised many people but Ring says he still has no regrets.

“To tell you the truth I was so busy with the election and then we went into Christmas and the storm but I have really settled into [retirement]. There are times and parts of it I miss and lots of parts I don't miss but I knew that there comes a time and it was the right time for me. I am happy with my decision and enjoying life,” he added.

Not only did Ring become Mayo Man of the Year, he is also the subject of a new song written by Belmullet singer, Michael S Togher called 'Ringer is a Dinger'. “I am after playing it and we laughed. I have known Michael S for years and any time he'd meet me he'd say 'I am going to write a song about you Ringer' and he did. I really enjoyed it.”

Meitheal award

Meanwhile, the Mayo Meitheal of the Year 2025 has been awarded to the committee behind the SOLAS heritage and history centre in Eachléim on the Mullet Peninsula. The multi-million euro facility, which has been described as one of the outstanding tourist attractions in the West of Ireland, opened its doors last year.

This state-of-the-art facility has immersive exhibits spread across three galleries, each offering a unique perspective on the heritage of the Mullet Peninsula. This remote region holds a treasure trove of tales, from its early Christian settlers to its involvement in significant historical events like the Spanish Armada and the aforementioned World War II.

The local community conceived SOLAS through Comharchumann Forbatha Ionad Deirbhle (CIFD), which has been at the centre of developing opportunities for the Gaeltacht region on the Mullet Peninsula since 1995. CIFD actively enhances the use of the Irish language within the area by providing education and tourism initiatives through our native tongue.

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