Ambassador & Mrs. Rooney visit Mayo
On Wednesday, November 4 last Ambassador Dan Rooney and his wife Mrs. Patricia Rooney made an official two day visit to County Mayo. Upon arrival in Castlebar Ambassador & Mrs. Rooney were greeted by Dr. Sean Rowland, President of Hibernia College (the internationally accredited online college). Dr Rowland hosted a lunch in honor of the Ambassador and his wife at the “Welcome Inn” in Castlebar which was attended by local business people. Just before the lunch the Ambassador and his wife spoke to a number of local media about their trip to Mayo. Mrs. Rooney’s father, Martin Joseph Regan, and her mother, Mary Duffy, both came from Cloontia, Derrinabrock Parish, Co. Mayo. Ambassador & Mrs. Rooney continued their journey to the County Council Offices where they met with John Cribin, Mayo County Council Chair and the County Manager, Des Mahon.
On Thursday November 5th Ambassador & Mrs. Rooney visited the Museum of Country Life in Turlough, Castlebar where they were given a tour of the complex which showcases traditions of rural life throughout Ireland from 1850 until close to our time. Ambassador Rooney then hosted a Community Forum in the Castlebar Campus of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. Ambassador Rooney and a panel of four others which included his wife Mrs. Patricia Rooney, Art Ó Súilleabháin, Director of Mayo Education Centre; Thomas McAndrew, Former Chairman of Mayo Emigrant Committee and Auston Vaughan , Chief Librarian at the Mayo Education Centre discussed the topic of Transatlantic Migration and Irish-American Culture. Ambassador Rooney and the panel were introduced by Head of the Campus, Dr. Barbara Burns. The Forum was attended by an audience of about 60 people which included a mixture of students, politicians, local business and general public. Before departing Mayo the Ambassador and his wife visited the Coffin Ship Memorial in Westport. This bronze ship sculpture is a tribute to those immigrants who during the famine boarded ships bound for the Americas. The ships were often overcrowded and many of the passengers died on the journey.