Carney touches down in Mayo to a hero's welcome

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney returned to the land of his grandparents today, descending on the world leaders ancestral village of Aghagower for 11.30 a.m. mass at St. Patrick's Church.

Carney began his second day in Ireland at Westport House after arriving at Ireland West Airport Knock, where he met with Irish President Catherine Connolly and a joint Irish-Canadian delegation.

He then made his way south to his ancestral home of Aghagower.

The crowds turned out in their droves. Parishioners who had secured seats from 10 a.m. inside the church were among the lucky ones.

Those outside soaked up the summer sunshine - and treats from Scotts XL, whose bumper trade of 99s and a maple syrup-inspired Canadian sundae captured the spirit of the occasion.

Before entering the church, Carney stopped to meet the crowd.

Among those he greeted was young Malachy Morgan, whom he lifted aloft as he made his way in. Malachy's father, Eoin Morgan, had travelled from Cornamona for the occasion alongside his wife Mary-Rose Connell, a native of New Brunswick.

"When we heard the big man was coming we knew we had to come and see him," Eoin Morgan said.

After mass, Carney walked through the local cemetery, pausing at the graves of his relations.

His grandparents, Robert and Nora Carney (née Moran), had emigrated from Aghagower to Canada in 1925.

Carney then crossed the spring at the heart of the village where he was officially welcomed as a son of the locality by the community council. He planted an Irish oak alongside the stream.

Speaking to the assembled Irish, Canadian and world media from the cemetery, Carney was warm in his responses.

"I feel a strong feeling of kinship between Ireland and Canada," he said. "It is a special honour to be here."

He described the welcome as one "for Canada and what Canada means to so many around the world."

His election as Prime Minister, he said, almost one hundred years on from his grandparents' departure, "represents what's possible in Canada, and what is possible in today in Ireland too."

“My father was the first to go to college, his father was illiterate.” Now Mark Carney returns to attend mass at the church where his grandparents were baptised - greeted by his own as a leader of a G7 nation.

He touched on the Irish meaning of Aghagower's place name and the changing direction of migration between the two nations - a tide that once ran only one way but now flows in both directions, with Canadians visiting Ireland and Irish people visiting Canada in growing numbers. Value in diversity and mutual respect, he said, were central to his worldview.

On more local matters, Carney was less forthcoming.

Asked about Mayo GAA, he declined to be drawn, saying he "wouldn't have advice on the All-Ireland" but there were other sports where he was willing to proffer his wisdom.

On the matter of a pint, he was similarly deft: "No one would want a pint I pulled - but I might drink one."

When a local woman raised her son's visa difficulties in Vancouver, he smiled and replied:

"There'll be no favouritism - he'll find out at the same time as me."

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who was among the dignitaries in attendance alongside Minister Dara Calleary, Minister of State Alan Dillon and Cathaoirleach of Mayo county council Seán Carey, described it as "a magical moment in Mayo."

Carney departed Aughagower for a civic reception hosted by Mayo county council at Westport Town Hall this evening.