Muintir Mhaigh Eo Gaillimh celebrate 50th anniversary
IT was an historic occasion for the Mayo Association in Galway on Saturday night as they celebrated their 50th annual dinner dance.
Held in the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill, the association members left no stone unturned and pulled out all the stops in order to make this special occasion the great success it turned out to be.
Attended by Mayo people from all corners of the country, it was a night of great fun, great chat, memorable memories of the past 50 years relived, interviews with the two special guests and ending with a wonderful night of dancing to the live Brose Walsh band.
Among the large attendance at this landmark function were special guest, Castlebar native Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, DSM, Irish Naval Service and chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice and Mayo 2020 Person of the Year, Cathal Gavin, Mayo Young Person of the Year 2020, Noel Larkin, Deputy Lord Mayor of Galway, Councillor Michael Loftus, leas cathaoirleach, Mayo County Council, Peter Hynes, CEO of Mayo County Council, Archbishop Michael Neary, and Maria Walsh, MEP.
The MC for the night was Seamus Murray.
The chairperson of the Mayo Galway Association, Monica Heneghan, welcomed the guests.
Association president Andy Dunleavy, a native of Crossmolina and one of the people who helped form the Association in 1970, said it was a very special night for the Mayo Galway Association and he was loud in his praise for the magnificent work the many great members did to help make the association the great success it has been over the past 50 years.
“Since the association was founded back in 1970 we were lucky to have had and still have many fantastic Mayo natives who worked very hard and gave up a lot of their free time to make this association the great success it is,” said Mr. Dunleavy. “I must pay a special tribute to the many great members who are no longer with us. Many of them put a huge amount of time and effort into the association, especially when we were getting the association up and running.
“All I can say is that it has been an outstanding 50 years for the Mayo Galway Association and I hope the next 50 years is every bit as good.”
Both Councillor Noel Larkin and Councillor Michael Loftus, in their addresses, said it was an honour to be present at such a marvellous and special occasion.
“Down through the years Mayo people have made a magnificent contribution to our great city here in Galway. It is little wonder that your great association has gone from strength to strength over the past 50 years. I have no doubt this will continue for the next 50 years and on behalf of all Galway people I want to thank you for what you have done for our city in the past and will continue to do in the future,” said Councillor Larkin.
“All I can say it is a privilege to be present on such a historic occasion. Every member of the Mayo Galway Association has kept the Mayo flag flying and made a huge contribution to making Galway the wonderful city it is today,” said Councillor Loftus.
Finally, MC Seamus Murray conducted interviews with both Mark Mellett and Martina Jennings, which gave a great insight into how both achieved their status beyond belief and which has made them both two outstanding Mayo people.
* Pictured: The committee of the Mayo Association Galway with guests, Martina Jennings, Mayo Person of the Year, Archbishop Michael Neary, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, DSM, Irish Naval Service, Monica Heneghan, chairperson, and Andy Dunleavy, president, at the 50th annual Mayo Association Galway dinner in the Galway Bay Hotel. Photo: Frank Dolan