Mayos carol is crowned mum of the year

MAYO's Carol Whelan has been crowned Connaught Woman’s Way & Lidl Mum of the Year 2015.

She was nominated by her daughter Deborah for her hard-working ethic as global director of customer service for Dow Chemical, a Fortune 100 company, which led the family to move from Ireland to America to Belgium and back to America.

On returning to Ireland, Carol left her global job behind her and the self-confessed ‘doer and organiser’ settled in Ballina.

'We’ve had 16 homes in 30 years of marriage and this is where I feel most at home,' she revealed.

She has been involved in many community projects over the years, including volunteering in the church and choir, helping local artists and gathering government support for major projects. 

In spite of the recession, she established Creevagh Heights B&B, which has been credited by TripAdvisor and Booking.com. And it is clear that Carol’s role in her daughter’s life has greatly inspired Deborah in her own role as a mum now too.

'This is what motherhood is about - turning things around in the face of adversity, working hard and earning the results,' she added.