Mayo roots to the fore for Canadian Prime Minister at St. Patrick's Day celebration

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told a packed St Patrick’s Day gathering in Ottawa about his family's emigration from County Mayo to Canada, describing his personal connection to the parish of Aughagower.

Mr Carney has three grandparents from the area and is a first cousin of Pat Carney, father of Tom Carney, who operates Carney’s Quarry in Aughagower. 

The Mayo News reported previously that there are plans afoot to issue a formal invitation through the Canadian Embassy in Ireland for the  Prime Minister to visit the village. 

Upon his election in 2025, Mayo County Council extended an invitation for the Canadian leader to visit the county, while local TD Alan Dillon also floated the notion of a homecoming of sorts.

Mayo Minister Dara Calleary was also quick to extend an invitation to Mayo stating that “I of course reminded the Prime Minister of the Taoiseach’s invitation to visit Ireland and told him I would be delighted to welcome him to Mayo should that visit happen."

The reception, hosted by Irish Ambassador to Canada John Concannon and his wife Mary at the Ambassador's residence in the Canadian capital, was attended by nearly 350 guests. 

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Representing Mayo at the event were Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary, a native of the county, and Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr. Seán Carey. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Culture Minister Marc Miller, and Chair of the Liberal Party and the Canadian-Ireland Friendship Group James Maloney were also among those present.

Addressing the gathering of ambassadors, politicians, business leaders, and members of the Irish community in Ottawa, Prime Minister Carney spoke about his family's emigration from Aughagower in County Mayo to Canada in 1925. He described the experience of locating his grandfather's baptismal record from St. Patrick's Church in Aughagower and revealed that, during his time as Governor of the Bank of England, he kept a map of County Mayo on the wall of his office.

Minister Calleary said the speech left a strong impression on those in attendance.

"It has been an absolute honour to meet with Prime Minister Carney at this evening's reception," he said. "His speech tonight reflects the kind of man he is — thoughtful, sincere, humble and full of gratitude."

Following the reception, Minister Calleary held a private meeting with Prime Minister Carney and Ambassador Concannon, during which he reiterated the Irish Government's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Canada. He confirmed that the Taoiseach will travel to Canada with a Ministerial delegation in the coming months. Minister Calleary also conveyed the Taoiseach's existing invitation for Prime Minister Carney to visit Ireland, and extended a personal invitation to Mayo should such a visit take place.

“We had some time afterwards to speak privately and, along with Ambassador Concannon, I took the opportunity to reiterate the governments strong desire to strengthen and expand our relationship with Canada. The Taoiseach will travel to Canada with a Ministerial delegation in the coming months and this will further set out our desire to continue and develop our close working relationship,” Minister Calleary said. 

Ambassador Concannon also used the occasion to brief guests on Canada Ireland 180, an initiative to commemorate the legacy of Ireland's Famine refugees in Canada. The programme is structured around three themes: remembering the Famine period and the resilience of those who endured it; reflecting on the contributions of Irish people to Canadian history, culture, and identity over the intervening 180 years; and reimagining the future relationship through new cultural, academic, and community partnerships.

In his address to the reception, Minister Calleary spoke of the enduring ties between Ireland and Canada, noting that Canada had provided refuge and opportunity to generations of Irish emigrants at their most vulnerable.

Minister Calleary continues his visit to Canada and is today travelling to Montreal and then on to Toronto where he will take part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday before returning home on Monday.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme