Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed in County Mayo, Ireland

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in County Mayo, Ireland, to trace his family roots in the village of Aughagower (Aghagower). The visit, part of a two‑day state trip, featured a warm welcome with Canadian flags lining streets, local businesses creating special menu items, and crowds greeting him with chants of “welcome home.” Carney attended a Catholic mass, planted a tree, and visited the cemetery where his grandparents Robert Carney and Nora Moran are buried.

During the trip he met Irish President Catherine Connolly at Westport House and held a press briefing in Dublin. He and Taoiseach Micheál Martin agreed to cooperate on artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and food security, and discussed deepening commercial links as Ireland prepares to assume the EU Council presidency. Bilateral trade between Canada and Ireland totals about $6 billion, with cereals leading Canadian exports and pharmaceuticals leading Irish imports. Carney announced up to $2 million in funding for the “Canada‑Ireland 180” cultural initiative, marking 180 years since Irish emigration to Canada.

Local officials highlighted the historic ties, noting Carney’s grandfather was one of the first members of the Garda Síochána in 1922. Carney described the welcome as “a welcome for Canada,” emphasizing the shared values and immigrant heritage that bind the two nations.