Special invitation to Connacht Fleadh on its way from Mayo to the White House

A specially hand-crafted bodhran with magnificent artwork by a team of designers at Office PRO, Ballina, is to be posted to President Biden at the White House with a letter of invitation to the Connacht Fleadh, which takes place in the north Mayo capital at the end of June.

The team at Office PRO on Tone Street spent several weeks creating the artwork in the Mayo colours, and in addition to the Fleadh committee sending a letter of invitation to President Biden for the big event, the designers came up with the unique idea of including a bodhran as part of the invitation.

It was hoped that President Biden would visit his ancestral home on Garden Street during his time in Ballina, and a group of young children were on hand and ready to present the specially designed bodhran with a letter of invitation to him in person.

However, due to President Biden’s busy series of engagements in Mayo, it was not possible to present the gift. Now, the bodhran is being posted to the White House via the Irish Embassy in Washington.

A spokeperson for the Fleadh committee is hoping the bodhran will be delivered safely to the White House and that President Biden will send a message of goodwill which can be included in the Fleadh programme of events.