Mayo set to welcome US Vice-President Pence

PLANNING is underway for the expected visit of US Vice-President Mike Pence to Ireland in September.

If the visit goes ahead - official confirmation is awaited - Mayo will get to welcome a second US Vice-President in recent years as Pence visits his ancestral home in the county.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is in contact with US officials about the proposed visit.

Records show that Vice-President Pence’s grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley, was born in Doocastle, near Charlestown, growing up in the area before emigrating to Chicago.

Mayo County Council has welcomed the news that Vice-President Pence is considering a visit to Ireland later this year to visit his roots and look forward to welcoming him to Doocastle.

Mayo last rolled out the red carpet for a US Vice-President in the summer of 2016 when Joe Biden flew into Knock airport.