It has been a busy and a very interesting time. Hospitality and tourism in Mayo are vibrant sectors, where there is always something happening, and this is what helps makes my job so enjoyable.
Bridal Fashion Show and Wedding Fair
I was asked to be the MC at the Bridal Fashion Show as part of the recent Westport Woods Hotel Wedding Fair. It was great fun and made me remember the excitement of planning a wedding! The fabulous wedding clothes on show were from Eddie Murphy’s Menswear and Whitethorn Bridal, two local suppliers. There were also many wedding exhibitors from the Mayo area including Concord Wedding Band, Enchanted Wedding Company, Ribbons & Bows, Mayo Wedding Bells, Precious Days and Kayla McDonagh Wedding Music.
I took the opportunity to chat to some of the exhibitors present and came away with so many tips and hints that I now feel I could take up wedding planning! There was a contagious air of excitement and anticipation at the wedding fair as soon-to-be married couples made plans for their big day. I could not help but share in their excitement.
Destination Mayo
As you know, part of my business is selling Mayo and its many attractions to groups and societies from all over Ireland. I usually feel that I know my county and what it has to offer pretty well but then I find there is always more to discover. I am delighted to accompany visitors to our many tourist attractions – cultural, historic and scenic, and in the process learn more about this wonderful part of the country. This month I had the pleasure of doing just that with two groups of over 30 group leaders each, hailing from all over Ireland. One of the things we do really well in Mayo is our visitor centres. With such a rich and long history there is plenty for the visitor to discover not to mention a native like myself!
Michael Davitt Museum
Naturally I was very proud to start the day by bringing the groups to my home village of Straide, birthplace of Irish patriot Michael Davitt. The museum in his honour at the centre of the village is housed in a beautiful restored 17th century church and really is a treasure to visit. It has recently received a Travellers’ Choice Award and was also voted Number 5 in the Trip Advisor Top Ten Museums in Ireland. Michael Davitt was a hugely influential figure in both Ireland and Britain in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was one of the founders of the Land League who fought for and succeeded in achieving land ownership for the Irish people. He was also a politician, a founding member of the GAA and a patron of Glasgow Celtic Football Club. He died in 1906 and is buried at Straide. On our visit to the museum we were given an excellent presentation to begin with by members of the staff who are a fountain of knowledge and very passionate about their subject. We even had the opportunity to hold a Gun (de-activated) from World War 1. This unique museum is definitely worth a visit whether you are from Mayo or simply have an interest in Irish history.
Jackie Clarke Collection
Our next stop was the Jackie Clarke Collection which is located in Ballina. Collected over his lifetime by Ballina business man Jackie Clarke it was donated to the people by his widow Ann in 2005. It is the most important private collection of Irish history material in public hands, comprising over 100,000 items spanning 400 years. It includes artefacts associated with Theobald Wolfe Tone; letters from Michael Collins, Douglas Hyde, Michael Davitt and O’Donovan Rossa. It also contains rare books, proclamations, posters, political cartoons, pamphlets, handbills, works by Sir John Lavery, maps, hunger strike material and personal items from Leaders of the 1916 Rising.
You could easily spend a full day here and again the staff are superb and very informative. An introductory film is watched before you begin your journey through the house. The museum is located in a grand Victorian house, built in 1881 and previously the Provincial Bank. It is a fitting setting for such an important collection.
Foxford Woollen Mills
The final destination on this trip was Foxford Woollen Mills where we enjoyed a mill tour, providing us with the history of the mills and their importance to the local community since their inception in 1892. It is an extraordinary story and one of great courage and hope. The mill has moved with the times and nowadays master craftspeople produce contemporary designs that are exported all over the world. Tradition still exists as techniques have been handed down through generations to the present day. This is another great visitor centre in Mayo which is definitely worth your time. Following this the group had a meal and then there was even time for shopping to finish the day!
Network Ireland Mayo Branch
This month I was thrilled to receive an invitation to join the committee of the Network Ireland Mayo Branch. It is a superb organisation for business people like myself which allows us to network in many different ways as well as offering mentoring and training, I am delighted to be asked to be involved in the organisation of my local branch.
Who said winter in the west of Ireland is a quiet time?