A Dutch boost for Mayo walking festival's 60th anniversary
MEMBERS of the organising committee of the Castlebar International 4 Days' Walks have welcomed Her Excellency Maaike van Koldam, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ireland, to Castlebar to hear the plans for the 60th anniversary of the walking festival next year.
Ambassador van Koldam had been due to open the festival last July, but commitments around the EU presidency meant she had to postpone her visit.
The Netherlands is paired with Mayo for the EU presidency, so this gave the organisers an ideal chance to share their plans for next year's festival.
Ms. Van Koldam joined Rowena Gillespie, Oisin Herraghty, Michael Baynes and Ernie and Susanna Sweeney for breakfast and heard the history of the event over the past 60 years, along with many of the stories behind it and the special connection between the festival and the Netherlands.
The Castlebar festival was modelled on a Dutch event that began in 1909 in Nijmegen, the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen (Internationale Vierdaagse Afstandsmarsen Nijmegen), now one of the most famous walking festivals in the world.
In 1967, Castlebar Chamber of Commerce decided to host a Midsummer Walking Festival Week in the town and it proved a huge success, attracting hundreds of visitors at a time when tourism was only starting to find its feet.
A report in The Connaught Telegraph from that year recorded that Mr. Sean Horkan said: “The chamber should feel proud of having initiated such a successful festival." And he paid special tribute to the festival chairman, Mr. Joseph Egan, county engineer.
Rowena Gillespie, director, said she is proud that the relationship between the festival, the chamber and Mayo County Council continues to this day.
The ambassador had learned before her visit that Susanna Sweeney came to Castlebar to walk almost 50 years ago when she met Ernie Sweeney.
The couple got engaged soon afterwards, married the following year, and will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next year.
Ms. Van Koldam presented them with a wooden bouquet of tulips to mark the occasion.
In turn, Susanna and Ernie presented the ambassador, on behalf of the walking festival, with a signed copy of Noel Campbell's The History of Castlebar and an engraved pen set from Mayo Crystal.
Ms. Van Koldam said she would love to return to Castlebar and take part in the walks.
Ernie Sweeney told her she would always be welcome as a friend.
Ms. Van Koldam added: "As ambassador of the Netherlands in Ireland and also personally I am very grateful for the warm welcome I received by the team of the Castlebar International 4 Days' Walk.
"The connections between the Castlebar walking festival and the Netherlands are deeply felt and cherished. I admire what all involved manage to organise in the magnificent landscapes and surroundings in Mayo.
"If I lived in Castlebar myself, I would definitely sign up as a volunteer. I hope to meet again and join you for the walks. Thank you."
Next year, 2027, also marks the 40th anniversary of the International Marching League (IML), the official walking organisation of which Castlebar is a founding member.
Its aim is to increase awareness of walking as a healthy sport, to discover new countries, their landscapes and cultures on foot, and to build international friendships that go beyond national borders.
The IML has chosen Castlebar as the location for its celebrations, so the Castlebar walks will be one of the highlights of the 2027 walking calendar.
The committee is working behind the scenes on a formal programme of events for next year's 60th celebrations, so keep an eye on local press and social media for details.
They are also looking for volunteers that will be willing to help with this fantastic occasion next year and also looking for people with memories of walking in the festival, at any point over the past 60 years, to get in touch on social media to share them.