Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has spoken about his family’s story of emigration from Aughagower to Canada in the 1920s, at a St. Patrick’s Day reception held in Ottowa.
The event, held by the Irish Ambassador to Canada, was attended by Mr. Carney, his wife Diana, Mayo Fianna Fáil Minister Dara Calleary, and Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Seán Carey.
Mr. Carney, who was once also the Governor of the Bank of England, can trace his roots back to the West of Ireland, as his family left Mayo in 1925 to emigrate to Canada.
Records show that the Canadian Premier’s grandfather was baptised in St. Patrick’s Church, Aughagower.
One topic of discussion at the reception was the “Canada Ireland 180 project”. CI 180 aims to commemorate the legacy of Ireland’s famine refugees in Canada.
There has been talk of Mr. Carney making a visit to Mayo during some point of his Premiership. Minister Dara Calleary reminded the Canadian PM of the Taoiseach’s invitation to visit Ireland, and told him he would be delighted to welcome him to Mayo should a visit occur.
Minister Calleary has been assigned Atlanta and Savannah as destinations for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day visits, while Fine Gael Minister Alan Dillon is to visit Utah and Vancouver.
