People not invited for parts of Carney's Mayo visit leaves 'bad taste'
CANADIAN Prime Minister Mark Carney has been hailed for saving the day so that local people got to meet him.
The PM mingled with members of the community outside Mass in Aughagower after a hoped-for visit to the village community centre didn't materialise.
Local councillors who first proposed a civic reception for Mr. Carney had requested that it would be held in his ancestral home.
Instead the reception took place in Westport Town Hall Theatre where all agreed that it was an amazing occasion.
However, some local representatives have spoken out at a municipal district (MD) meeting about some people being left out of parts of the day's overall proceedings.
Outgoing MD cathaoirleach Councillor Flynn, who was unavoidably absent for Mr. Carney's visit, said the civic reception was proposed locally by Councillors Johnny O'Malley and Brendan Mulroy, the most important part being that it would be held in Aughagower.
The community did a lot of work in the local centre for the visit but sadly, those in power in Castlebar decided otherwise, and only for Mr. Carney himself decided to mingle with the crowd at the end of Mass he would have been whisked out there. It was a tribute to him for his foresight in recognising that he was in the community and making sure he met as many people as he could, he said.
Councillor Flynn said local TD Keira Keogh was not invited out to Aughagower, where her grandparents are buried, he continued. Neither were the local councillors, including the leas-chathaoirleach of the MD, Councillor O'Malley.
As elected members, they represent the people, which can be lost sight of, and they needed to get back to that basic, he commented.
The event in the town hall was 'amazing', said Councillor Flynn, but where was the local town band and local musicians and dancers, including many from Aughagower, and also the many people from the village who did not get an invitation to the reception, which has unfortunately left a 'bad taste'.
It has been a massive success for Ireland but as a MD they needed to look at how they fix these things going forward so they don't repeat their mistakes.
Councillor O'Malley said he had received a call from a person in Aughagower whose mother couldn't get into the Mass as it was full when she went to register, yet people from outside the area did get in.
A lot of time was spent on the community centre putting up photos going back to when Mr. Carney's grandfather lived there, up to the present time, and he never got to see them, he said.
Only for Mr. Carney's own initiative to meet them, the people of Aughagower would not have seen him at all, he added.
It seemed to him to be organised like a 'Mayo visit', but it wasn't. It was an Aughagower/Westport visit. That is what he came here for.
As acting cathaoirleach he was never asked to meet Mr. Carney officially or to say anything, Councillor O'Malley continued. He did meet the PM in the town hall for about 15 seconds because he stood there himself.
It was acknowledged by his colleagues that the county cathaoirleach, Councillor Sean Carey, did a great job on the day.
Describing it as an honour to meet the PM at Ireland West Airport, Councillor Carey paid tribute to the Aughagower community and town hall team for their input in what was a big occasion and a great success.
* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme