Mayo Day Chicago
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Mayo Day and Home to Mayo 2024, Mayo County Council are bringing the magic of Mayo Day all the way to the Windy City of Chicago this year.
On Saturday, May 4th Gaelic Park in Chicago will become a little piece of Mayo, when the international flagship Mayo Day event takes place. You can download our Flagship Event Brochure here or check out the information below.
Destination Mayo - Education, Enterprise, Services & Tourism Hub
Ballinrobe Golf Club
The championship Parkland Golf Course at Ballinrobe Golf Club is considered by some, including Padraig Harrington, to be one of the finest in Ireland. Cloonacastle Estate, which dates to 1238, became the new home for Ballinrobe Golf Club during its centenary year in 1995.
Connacht Whiskey
The Connacht Distillery was founded by master distiller Robert Cassell and he along with his team that saw the potential in Irish whiskey. They also spotted the potential of the derelict old Duffy’s bakery site in Ballina, and they painstakingly renovated it, with whiskey production commencing in 2016.
Aer Lingus
The national flag carrier of Ireland, Aer Lingus is one of the most recognised names in the aviation industry. Since its foundation by the Irish Government in 1936, Aer Lingus has been the national airline of Ireland. They operated 67 aircraft over 100 routes to destinations in the UK and Europe, along with 16 direct routes to North America.
My 360 Town
my360town.com was founded in 2022 by Belmullet brothers Brian and Martin Lavelle. It’s aimed at transforming traditional 2D tourism maps on community, leisure or destination websites into immersive and interactive virtual masterpieces.
Designed to highlight everything that an area has to offer a future visitor by means of a virtual tour. Check out their website: www.my360town.com
O’Hara’s of Foxford
It was September 1951 and a day to celebrate. Michael and Maureen O’Hara had just learned of their big win in the sweepstakes.The sweepstakes allowed them to establish their small family bakery in Foxford, Co. Mayo. So small, in fact, that they knew each and every one of their customers by name. From those small beginnings O’Hara’s Foxford has become one of Mayo’s biggest and most successful brands.
PEL
PEL is an Irish owned manufacturer of smart waste solutions serving a global customer from the heart of county Mayo. Their mission is to supply innovative waste handling solutions to our customers, which exceed expectations in quality, deliverability and most importantly cost.
Portwest
Portwest are a global manufacturer and innovator of workwear, safety wear and PPE. Established in 1904, Portwest today has a global distribution network and customer service staff in over 130 countries. The company is a Westport family-owned business and continues to be managed by the Hughes Family.
Consulates General of Ireland, Chicago
Delivering a wide range of consular services for Irish citizens, including passports, and providing consular assistance to Irish Citizens.
Irish Community Services
Founded in 1998, Irish Community Services is an immigration and community services provider. Their mission is to Serve, Empower and Connect the Irish and Irish American Community of the Midwestern United States. Be sure to stop by for guidance on Irish Passport applications, becoming an Irish citizen and returning to live in Ireland on a permanent basis
IDA
IDA Ireland have had an office in Chicago since 1965 from where we support companies from the Midwest to establish and grow in Ireland. They work with and support companies from across a range of business sectors. IDA Ireland offers comprehensive pro bono support for your company and will partner with you as you start to think about how Ireland is the best place to help you scale globally.
Nigel O Reilly
For more than a decade, Nigel O Reilly created bespoke works for some of the world’s most luxurious jewellery houses. In 2009 he founded his own studio. Nigel works only to technical perfection, using both innovative technology and ancient tradition to ensure that every angle of every piece is open to microscopic scrutiny. Nigel’s technical brilliance and the personal creative relationships with the world's most discerning jewellery collectors allows his creativity to flourish
Presentation by Head of Mayo Local Enterprise, Mr. John Magee at 5.00pm on the topic - “Mayo - A World Class place to do Business”
Education Hub
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – Information talk 4.00pm
As a multi-campus university, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) offers students a diverse range of experiences, from bustling cities to wild Atlantic coastal regions. With many courses to choose from, students can follow their passion, find their career path, and engage in a vibrant university community. With a continued emphasis on applied learning, small class sizes and a supportive environment, ATU students can immerse themselves in student life and emerge graduate career ready. For more log on to www.atu.ie/facts-and-figures
University of Galway - Information talk 4.30pm
It all began in 1845. That was the year Queen’s College Galway was founded. Following construction of the iconic Quadrangle building, the University opened its doors four years later to the first cohort of just 68 students. University of Galway has grown massively in size and reputation over the past 175 years, with a student population today of over 18,000. According to QS World University Rankings, we are ranked 259 in the world and have been increasing our global reach and reputation over the past decade. For more information log on to www.universityofgalway.ie
Mayo Day Exhibitions
The Famine in Mayo
Experience the tragic story of the great famine from contemporary sources
The Writers of Mayo
Celebrating Mayo writers who are putting Mayo on the literary map around the world
The War of Independence in Mayo
A visual chronology of some of the most important events to take place in Mayo from 1919 to 1921
Rebels in the Courthouse
A compelling and heartbreaking portrait of a country at war from 1920 – 1925
Mayo GAA Exhibition
Telling the story of Mayo’s footballing history from the county’s first appearance in a Senior final up to when we won our third – and still most recent – All Ireland title in 1951
In All Kinds of Weather
Henry Wills’ pictorial record of life in Mayo during the past 50 years
Exhibition Talks with Dominic A Prís: The War of Independence (3pm & 5pm)
Dominic A Prís, is a PhD final year student at TCD working on Army Mutiny Transition to Democracy in the Irish Free State. Dominic is also an author of two books in Irish history The Flame and the Candle, War in Mayo 1916-24 and We Bled Together, Michael Collins The Squad and the Dublin Brigade.
Mayo Day Art Exhibition
Mayo Art Exhibition – by Jeffrey Hirst and Amy Metier
‘Crosscurrents’ is a collaboration featuring abstract paintings and prints by U.S. artists Jeffrey Hirst and Amy Metier. This exhibition reflects the remarkable contrasts and natural phenomena of the area around Ballycastle in Mayo that Jeff and Amy observed while artists in residence at the Ballinglen Arts Foundation over a period of five years.
Mayo Day Music Lineup
Tha Patio - Music, Dance & Entertainment
- 2pm Lavin Cassidy School of Irish Dance
- 2.15pm Michele McGuire
- 3.15pm The Dirty Wellies
- 4.15pm Lavin Cassidy School of Irish Dance
- 4.30pm Michael S & Clodagh Togher
- 6.30pm Cathal Chambers
- 8.00pm Eileen Ivers & Band with Special Guest Matt Molloy of The Chieftains
Brough to you by Mayo County Council in partnership with Mayo Association Chicago
GAA, Irish Dance & Art Workshops
Main GAA Pitch
- 12pm: Chicago Cup Game
- 2pm - 3.30pm: Kids GAA Skills Workshop & Blitz with GAA Legend Cora Staunton
- 4pm: Chicago Cup Game
Side Pitch No.4
- 4.00pm: John McBrides GFC, Chicago Patriots & St Pats Cleveland Scrimmage Game
- GAA Skills & Tactics talk with Cora Staunton throughout the day
Basement Dance Studio
- 2.45pm - 3.30pm: Irish Dance Workshop provided by the world-renowned Lavin Cassidy School of Irish Dance
Printmaking Workshop For Children
- 2.30pm and 4pm: Gel Plate Printmaking. The workshops will explore printing images using acrylic paint. The workshop is entirely non-toxic and perfect for children. Participants will draw, paint, and roll paint onto Gel Plates and print multi-layered images. Collage ideas will also be covered with images from county Mayo and Chicago.
Other Information
- Tom Flannery will be hosting his radio show in Chicago Gaelic Park on Saturday May 4th – Good Morning Ireland, www.GIR.ie
- Meet special guests on the weekend including
- Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael Loftus
- Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny
- TV Ireland's Henry McGlade
- Mayo Diaspora Mass on Sunday May 5th in Old St Patricks Cathedral at 11.00am Address: 700 W Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661 for more see: www.oldstpats.org/
- Live Podcast from 3pm in Chief O Neill's, 3471 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 (sport, music, live link to Newport County Mayo) for more see: www.chiefoneillspub.com/
