Mayo Person of the Year and Meitheal Award winners announced
THE Mayo Association Dublin has announced its winners of the 2026 Virginia Gallagher Mayo Person of the Year and Paddy Joe Moran Meitheal Awards.
Sabina Higgins Coyne, actress, political activist and First Lady of Ireland from 2011 to 2025, has been named Mayo Person of the Year.
The winners of the Meitheal Award are Cuimsiú Maigh Eo, an initiative to promote inclusive competition at Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo for music performers who have an additional need/disability of all ages.
As in previous years, the winners were selected independently of the Mayo Association Dublin based on nominations received from the public.
The awards will be presented at the awards night on April 18 at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. Tickets are available at mayoassociationdublin.com.
At the launch event last night, the Association also presented a cheque for €10,000 to Martina Jennings, chief executive, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, and former Mayo Person of the Year, representing the raffle proceeds from the association's business lunch in November.
Born in 1941 near Ballindine, Sabina Higgins Coyne, over a distinguished career, has amassed many considerable achievements.
A lifelong supporter of the Arts, she played a leading role in establishing the Focus Theatre in Dublin, contributing to experimental and improvisational theatre inspired by modern classics, while also working with groups like Druid Theatre and An Taibhdhearc in Galway, supporting community arts.
As First Lady, she celebrated community enrichment and civic society, and she has been a long-standing advocate for women's rights, empowerment, and gender equality.
Cuimsiu Maigh Eo was established, when, at the Mayo Fleadh in Achill in 2022, a young lady, Hannah Dunford, asker her parents when she would be able to play at the Fleadh.
The question was brought to her Comhaltas branch, Admiral Brown CCÉ, by Hannah’s parents, Mairead and Chuck, and presented to Mayo Comhaltas County Board, where it received a warm welcome. This led to the introduction of the very successful Cuimsiú competition, a competition for people with a disability/additional needs, at Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo in Westport in May 2024.
Following on from this success, Cuimsiú returned in 2025, warmly welcomed once again by the community, with continued support from Áirc Mayo and the addition of the valued involvement of Ballina Autism Friendly Town and Down Syndrome Mayo.
Cuimsiú is built on flexibility, dignity, and joy - offering competitors the chance to compete in a setting tailored to their needs.
Building on the success, additional initiatives have also been added, including Cuimsiu sessions, performance group, and workshops. These are informal, welcoming gatherings where participants can play music together, meet others, and build confidence with the support of musicians from local Comhaltas branches.