The hugely successful Mayo Day celebrates its seventh year this Saturday, May 1, with an outstanding programme of events to be viewed from around the globe. The virtual approach to the event has expanded the reach of this extraordinary celebration of all things Mayo.
The flagship TV programme, Mayo Day – Ár bPobal, Our People, at 9.30pm on Mayo Day evening on TG4 and the TG4 Player, is full of music and culture, conversation and craic, featuring very special guests and the incomparable beauty of the county.
Music will play a large part, including Matt Molloy of the Chieftains, Laoise Kelly, Billow Wood and Lisa Canny. Patrick Dexter, whose cello performances from rural Mayo lit up many a dull day in lockdown will also appear.
Speaking about Mayo Day 2021, Martina Hughes, Head of Communications, Mayo County Council, said: "Mayo Day is a national award-winning campaign that connects with our Mayo people around the globe. It is a unique initiative, in that we are the first County that celebrates the achievements of our people, our rich heritage, culture and community spirit on one dedicated day. If you are from Mayo, have visited Mayo, or like many people have a Grá for Mayo, Mayo Day connects us all, on this one special day.
"The Mayo Day initiative has grown at pace over the years into something that is really remarkable and provides us with an opportunity to present Mayo to a global audience and amplify a clear message of that pride and passion of the green and red of Mayo people, irrespective of where they are located in the world."
The website www.mayo.ie is the home of Mayo Day and will be lighting up the internet with a jam-packed programme of online activities on the day itself.
Musical stars Sean Keane, Olwyn Murray and Coda are onstage for a Facebook Live concert in partnership with Safe Home Ireland, while Ashford Castle is the classy venue for a special performance from the Alan Murphy School of Dance. The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is running a Bealtaine workshop on making a May garland.
The ‘Achill Lads’, whose sean nós dancing video set toes tapping around the world on St Patrick’s Day, are performing on Inishturk as part of Mayo Day on the Islands.
Recognising the new diversity which both emigration and immigration bring, We are Mayo – A Story of Mayo Emigrants/Immigrants will explore the lived experiences of Mayo people making their lives elsewhere and those from elsewhere who make their home in Mayo.
As part of the Mayo Day celebrations, Mayo County Council is launching ‘Home to Mayo 2022’, a Mayo Tourism and Diaspora initiative that has been selected to be part of the Global Irish Festival Series – a joint initiative in association with Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Home to Mayo will see a series of events running for the month of May 2022, incorporating existing festivals along with participatory experiences across towns in the county. Home to Mayo will also include the internationally celebrated Mayo Day. The campaign launches for Mayo Day 2021 and aims to encourage the Mayo diaspora to visit Mayo for the festival series in 2022. Everyone is invited to join in, to don the Green and Red, fly the county flag and share how you and yours, at home and abroad, will celebrate the Mayo Day spirit by using the hashtag #Mayo Day.Full information and updates will be posted on the Mayo.ie website and on social media. www.mayo.ie/MayoDay2021
