Mayo Day 2024 another huge success

MAYO Day 2024 once again resonated with a global audience as it celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Events in Belmullet and Chicago attracted thousands of people, while there was an estimated 16 million reach online.

When it was first mooted 10 years ago the idea had its sceptics but it has evolved to be the envy of other counties, a council Corporate, Education, Culture, Heritage and Library Services Strategic Policy Committee meeting heard this week.

Committee cathaoirleach Councillor Michael Burke said all the reports on Mayo Day 2024 were positive and it had turned out to be a great project.

Council cathaoirleach Councillor Michael Loftus said he couldn't praise the roots we have around the county, country and internationally enough for the interest they have in the county.

North Mayo Councillor Gerry Coyle said it had been an honour to host Mayo Day in Belmullet.

He did comment on being 'shocked' by the amount of people from Mayo who were there on the day who had never been to Belmullet before. Travel within the county is something they should be promoting more, he suggested.

A request was made to return Mayo Day and the women's mini-marathon to Castlebar next year.

While she understood the rationale for moving it to Ballina in 2023 and Belmullet this year, Councillor Donna Sheridan said the county town seems to be an incubator for festivals. She didn't think it was fair if they work to establish festivals and then they are moved on.

Councillor Sheridan added that Castlebar will be celebrating 25 years of its twinning with the German town of Hochstedt in 2025 and 20 years of twinning with Dixon, Illinois, and this was a good opportunity to bring Mayo Day and the marathon back to the town.

Her colleague Councillor Blackie Gavin supported her, noting how a delegation from Dixon, including the mayor, was due to arrive in Castlebar that evening.

Director of services Catherine McConnell said all involved were proud of what Mayo Day has developed into and she thanked the team who have taken the concept and developed it into something that is the envy of other counties.

She noted the county's strong identity and the working relationship that we have with our diaspora.

Ms. McConnell said she was confident the event will go back to Castlebar at some point, but there are communities knocking on the door asking what they can do.