Mayo GAA team invited to attend civic reception in Westport
.jpg?trim=275,1155,1313,1621&crop=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
West Mayo councillors pass proposal that Mayo players and management receive a civic reception in Westport Town Hall
A WEST Mayo councillor has proposed that the victorious Mayo GAA team receive a civic reception in Westport to thank them for winning the Sam Maguire for the first time in 75 years.
Westport-based Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy made the proposal at this morning’s monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District where he also proposed that the civic reception take place in the Westport Town Hall.
Andy Moran's men defeated Kerry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final on Sunday to spark wild celebrations throughout the county. Five members of the Mayo panel came from clubs located within the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District with Belmullet's Ryan O'Donoghue and Kilmeena's Jack Carey starting in the final and Westport's Rory Brickenden came on as a sub in the second half.
Speaking at the monthly meeting, Cllr Mulroy, who is Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District congratulated the Mayo team on their victory saying that they deserved a civic reception.
“It has been a fantastic week and the Mayo football team have been an absolute credit. I have never seen as many people crying in all my life and it was a joy to beyond.
“I want to propose a civic reception for the Mayo team from this municipal area. Regardless of what the [Mayo] county council proposes to do, I want to propose a civic reception in this area which will be held in the town hall in Westport. I want to be clear on that,” he said.
At Monday's homecoming in MacHale Park last Monday, Cllr John Caulfield, the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council said he would organise a civic reception for the team. However, the next meeting of Mayo County Council will not take place until September and a civic reception cannot take place until it is formally proposed and seconded.
Westport councillor Peter Flynn seconded Cllr Mulroy's proposal and added that with Kobe McDonald due to fly to Australia in the coming weeks to take up a career in AFL, it is imperative that a civic reception was afforded to the team as soon as possible.
“We have seen that with the Mark Carney civic reception there is no better venue than the town hall where the lads can go up on the balcony and show Sam Maguire proudly to the nation,” he said.
The proposal for a civic reception was broadly welcomed by the other councillors in the municipal district who all praised the All-Ireland victory and the joy it brought to the entire county.
When the proposal was passed, Cllr Mulroy asked council officials to write to the Mayo GAA County Board straight away to arrange a civic reception in Westport for the Mayo players and management.
The Mayo team and management are currently on the final leg of their tour of the county where huge crowds welcomed them to the four corners of the county. Last night, team manager, Andy Moran and defender David McBrien received a heroes welcome back to their home town of Ballaghaderreen and today the players visited a number of towns and villages in an open top bus as they completed the week's homecomings.