Unique history repeating itself in work of Mayo Association Dublin as new chairperson is elected

Westport native Bernardine MacBride Walsh has been elected chairperson of the Mayo Association Dublin.

She was installed at the annual general meeting of the organisation.

The meeting was hosted virtually for the first time ever due to current government restrictions whilst the country navigates through the pandemic.

Bernardine is the sixth female chair since the association’s foundation in 1905.

She is the daughter of Mary MacBride and Seamus Walsh of The Old Rectory, Westport.

Bernardine resides in Dublin with her husband, Galway man, Adrian Cummins (CEO Restaurant’s Association of Ireland) and she works as a senior executive at the Construction Industry Federation.

Bernardine’s heritage runs deep in the association as her great grand uncle, Major John MacBride, was one of the main founding fathers of the Mayo Association Dublin back in 1905.

He was the first president and a major subscriber to the funds of the association in those early days.

Speaking after her election, Bernardine said it is with interest and passion she continues in the major’s footsteps and that it was a huge honour for her to be elected chairperson.

She paid tribute to fellow committee members who paved the path as she journeyed through the association over the years.

She stated: “Forthcoming events cast their shadows before – this certainly rings true with the MacBride history repeating itself in the association."

More than any other Mayo man of his time, a time of political turmoil and social upheaval, Major John MacBride was known for his integrity. He was also noted for his charity.

In 1897 he organized the West of Ireland Famine Relief Fund.

He was commissioned with the rank of Major in the Boer army and given Boer citizenship.

He was born and bred at The Quay, Westport in 1868, married Maud Gonne MacBride 1903. In fact, there is a double connection.

"Maud Gonne and her half-sister Eileen married two Westport brothers.

The two men being Major John and his brother Joseph MacBride (West Mayo TD in the first Dáil), who is Bernardine's great grandfather. Maud Gonne’s sister, Eileen (Gonne Wilson) MacBride is Bernardine’s great grandmother.

Major John MacBride and Maud Gonne gave birth to their only son, Seán, in 1904 in Paris.

He was an Irish government minister for external affairs in 1948, a prominent international politician and a former Chief of Staff of the IRA.

He founded and participated in many international organisations of the 20th century, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe and Amnesty International.

He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974, the Lenin Peace Prize for 1975–1976 and the UNESCO Silver Medal for Service in 1980.

Although Seán and his father did not know one another very well (Seán was 12 years old when Major John was executed) there is no doubt that his dad would have been a very proud man to see his son follow in his brave footsteps.

Seán MacBride loved Mayo and visited Bernardine’s parents regularly in their home.

The brave, courageous and noble Major John MacBride who died for this country and its people on the 5th of May 1916 during the Easter Rising, will go down in history forever and his legacy remains to this day within the Mayo Association Dublin.

Two other ladies and long serving committee members have also taken positions at the Association’s top table - Ballina native, Mairead Kenny, takes over as honorary secretary and Swinford’s Maeve McLoughlin is joining the troops as treasurer.

Lifelong committee member and chairman in 1989 and 1990, Noel Howley remains loyal to the association and joins the team of officers as the public relations officer.

Together with Teresa Ruddy (vice-secretary), Paraic Joyce (vice-treasurer), Fr Gerry French (president), Paul Sammin (vice-president) and Frank Fleming (Honorary Life President), this completed the election of eight new officer positions for the next term.

A new executive committee was elected and the association was delighted to welcome newcomer Trevor Wills (Wills Bros Construction, Foxford) to its fold.

The newly elected committee comprises the following;

John Costello, Orla Crowe, Laura Daly Kavanagh, Julie Doyle Owens, Keith Guthrie, Helena Kelly , Michael Kealy, Adrian Langan, Mona McGarry, Nora McBurney, Eddie Melvin, Paddy Moran, Jim Murphy, David Rafter, and Trevor Wills.

The association thanked the outgoing chairperson Michael Kealy (Newport) for his hard work and dedication over the past two years and wished him well with all future endeavours.

It was noted that Bernardine’s experience in the past two years as honorary secretary (and previously as PRO in 2016/2017) will stand to her as she moves into the chairperson’s seat.

Deceased members involved in the Mayo Association Dublin down through the years and who have sadly departed were sincerely remembered at the meeting, including Padraic Melvin, Sean Madigan, Tom Brennan, Joe Jennings and Val Gunning, former Mayo Person of the Year and husband of the late Sheila Gunning, a former president of the association.

The association wished the newly elected executive committee and executive officers the best of luck in their work for the upcoming year and confirmed that it is confident the hard work and commitment that everyone will bring to organising key social events (government restrictions permitting!) throughout the year will ensure the association remains vibrant and strong in the country’s capital.

The Mayo Association remains the largest and best supported association nationally and internationally.

The association is open to those of Mayo origin or of Mayo parentage living or working in Dublin. New members are always welcome.

Members and supporters of the association can keep abreast of upcoming events via Facebook or by visiting https://www.mayoassociationdublin.com.

Details of annual events such as the Business Lunch, Christmas and Summer parties and the Mayo Person of the Year Awards will feature in the local Mayo newspapers as well as on social media.