The Mayo Association Dublin hosted their Annual Business Lunch at The Four Seasons Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, on Friday, 13th November 2009 . This year's event was extremely successful with record numbers in attendance. This event provides great networking and socialising opportunity for Mayo natives throughout the country.
The Annual Race Night.
Our annual Race Night was held in Peggy Kelly's bar in Harolds Cross on Thursday 19th November. This event was a most enjoyable evening and as always, was very well attended. Yet again, the organising committee had raised significant funds for charity. Stay posted to find out what charities will benefit from the monies raised this year.
Autumn BBQ for Mayo Association in Dublin
The final BBQ of the year took place on Arthurs Day, 24th September in the Sub Lounge Bar on Tara Street (formerly O'Reilly's). The aim of the evening was to provide a meeting point for any Mayo people working or living in Dublin .
The BBQ and drinks was very informal and followed on from a most successful summer BBQ in July where a large number of Mayo people attended. The Sub Lounge Bar is managed by Padraig Murray from Charlestown who has kindly sponsored our BBQs over the past few years.
If you would like to become a member of the Association you may join up on the night. Membership of the Mayo Association Dublin is €25 and this gives you lifetime membership and keeps members informed of the Association's activities and events on an ongoing basis.
Dublin launch of the Ballina Salmon Festival
There was a large gathering of members of Mhuintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath at the official Dublin launch of the Ballina Salmon Festival on June 23rd last.
The reception, which was hosted by Minister Dara Calleary TD, took place at the offices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment at Davitt House on Adelaide Road .
Welcoming the large attendance of Mayo people in Dublin , Minister Calleary said he was honoured to perform the launch of the prestigious festival of his hometown in the capital city. He welcomed all the dignitaries and guests who included the Mayor of Ballina, Mary Kelly and Mayo TD, John O'Mahony.
The annual Ballina Salmon Festival runs between 10th – 19th July and includes such great events as Heritage Day, The Lady of the Moy, Triathlon, Salmon Samba and Fireworks, Teddy Bear's Picnic and lots more.
Chairman of Mhuintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath, Sean Reid spoke on behalf of the Association and made a presentation to Minister Calleary to mark his recent appointment to ministerial office.
Mayo Association Summer BBQ
This years Summer BBQ was held on Thursday evening 16th July in the Sub Lounge Bar on Tara Street (formerly O'Reilly's).
The Sub Lounge Bar is managed by Charlestown man Padraig Murray who kindly sponsored the event.
The night was a great success and well supported by individuals from all corners of the county, working or living in Dublin . Aside from the social aspect of the evening, the aim of the event was to encourage new members into the association.
Joining the Mayo Association in Dublin is a great way to meet and socialise with Mayo people in the capital. The Association has many events throughout the year such as the Annual Dinner Dance in February, Summer BBQ, Race night and so on.
Membership is open to anybody born in Mayo or of Mayo descent and who are resident and/or working in Dublin City or County.
The cost is a once-off fee of €25.00 and there is no annual subscription. Once you are on the register of members you will be informed by email or letter of the upcoming events run by the Mayo Association in Dublin .
Members of the Mayo Association in Dublin had a social evening in June and attended the staging of “Bondi Beach Boy Blue” – a play by Benny McDonnell from Ballinrobe who is also a member of the association. Following the start of a nationwide tour of the play at the Listowel Writer's Week at the end of May, it was then moved to Galway for several nights before coming to the Capital. The venue was the New Theatre in Temple Bar.
“Bondi” tells the tale of Declan - a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny and poised to become a hurling great until his potential is cut short. He decides to forsake the game he loves and travel to Australia in the company of his best friend Gary. He leaves his girlfriend Lisa behind, as well as an indifferent relationship with his father, to embark on a life- altering trip ‘down under.'
The play is the story of the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia. It is the story of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find a place on a larger stage. The play has already received praise from GAA President Christy Cooney who endorsed the production by writing the foreword for the play's theatre booklet. The head of the GAA announced himself delighted with the depiction of Gaelic games as having a profound impact on the lives of young people and was delighted that this play was focusing on this.A most enjoyable night out was had by all the members of the association who attended the event. Benny is wished every success in his rising star as a talented playwright.
Mayo Association bring the Playboy of Western World to Dublin's Liberty Hall Theatre
The Mayo Association Dublin brought the Erris players up to Dublin to perform their authentic version of Synge's “Playboy of the Western World”. The play, directed by Ms. Bridie Quinn and promoted by the Mayo Association Dublin was a huge success and over 350 people showed up against the odd's to be shown just how good this performance is.
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A.G.M. Muintir Mhaigh Eo
Our Annual General Meeting was held in The Garda Club, Harrington St. on Monday 27th April 2009 at 8 p.m.
Playboy of the Western World Event
The Erris Players, in association with the Mayo Association, Dublin staged The Playboy of the Western World for one night only in Liberty Hall Theatre Dublin on Saturday the 4th April at 8.00 p.m. As far as we know, there doesn't seem to be any of the other Mainstream Theatres doing a Synge play to celebrate this very significant time. Synge spent considerable time around the west coast of Mayo and it is widely acknowledged that The Playboy, by far his most outstanding work, was set in the Geesala/Bangor Erris area in Mayo.
The Erris Players are an amateur dramatic society from Bangor Erris right in the heart of where the play was set! We think it is appropriate that this group should, in celebration of his Centenary, bring this wonderful play back to his birthplace. It's not often that an amateur group get to play in Mainstream Dublin Theatre but don't be fooled by their amateur status. This is a first class production. Joseph O'Connor also spoke of how inexpensive a night out at the theatre can be.
Race Night
The annual race night was held in Peggy Kelly's bar in Harolds Cross on Thursday 20th November last. The event was very well attended and the race night sub committee would like to thank all the generous sponsors who made the contributions enabling over €11,000 to be raised for charity. The Mayo Association would like to express their gratitude to Helene Kelly and her subcommittee who worked very hard to make the night a huge success. Stay posted to find out what charities will benefit from the monies raised later this year
The Mayo Association Dublin held two very successful Barbecues last summer in O'Reilly's of Tara St. The Bbq's were new events added to the schedule of annual events and based on it's popularity and large attendance it is likely the event will become an annual fixture. The bbq's attracted a large number of new and existing younger members and there was quite an amount of coverage in the local Mayo press including photographs of attendees.
Nights at the Theatre
The Cultural committee organises a night out at the Dublin Theatre Festival in October every year. In 2007 a group attended Bisi Agigun and Roddy Doyle's hilarious version of Synges great classic ‘The Playboy of the Western World'. This hugely successful production of the Abbeys most famous play was enjoyed by a Mayo audience and critics alike.
The following year 2008 brought the opportunity for members of the association to see one of theatre's richest and most enduring creative partnerships – actress Fiona Shaw and director Deborah Warner - working on one of Samuel Beckett's greatest plays ‘Happy Days'.
Also in October 2008 there was a large attendance at ‘Bondi Beach Boy Blue' a play by Benny Mc Donnell. Benny is a member of Muintir Mhaigheo and originally comes from Ballinrobe.
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Mayo Person and Meitheal Award Press Reception 2008 Click on images to enlarge...
Visit to Dail Eireann 2008 Click images to enlarge...
Christmas Party 2008 On Friday the 5th December 2008 the Mayo Association in Dublin held their Christmas Party. This year the event was hosted by Bewleys Hotel in Ballsbridge and was complimentary for members to attend.
The evening commenced with a Mass given by Fr. Gerry French in the Ailebury room followed by Mulled wine and canapes in the lounge. The evening was well attended and was viewed as a huge success by all those who were present.
The committee would like to thank Mary Fraine for organising the event, Fr. Gerry French for giving such a nice Mass and Bewleys Hotel Ballsbridge for looking after us so well on the day...all was very much appreciated.
Business Lunch - Four Seasons Hotel - November 2008
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Dublin Mayo BBQ July 2008
BBQ The Mayo Association held two very successful BBQ nights this summer. The first one was held on the evening of July 17th to welcome new members who had recently joined the organisation as well as inviting new Mayo faces in Dublin to join. The barbeque and drinks took place in the Sub Lounge (formerly known as O'Reilly's Bar), Tara Street and over 70 people attended. It was a great night with lots of new members signed up.
The second social evening took place at a BBQ on September 18th in the same venue - the Sub Lounge and another very successful night was had by all. The food on both nights was sponsored by Padraig Murray from Charlestown who is manager of the premises. The purpose of both nights was purely social and to welcome new members who have recently joined the Mayo Association as well as to encourage Mayo folk to come along and join the fun. We look forward to seeing you at next year's events!
(LtoR) Henry Cleary, Claremorris; Julie Doyle, Swinford and Deirdre Walsh from Ballina at the Mayo Association BBQ evening in Dubli .
(LtoR) Paul Gallagher, Swinford; Stephanie Heaney, Swinford; Jennifer Jordan, Straide and Kathrina Gallogly from Swinford pictured at the recent Mayo Dublin BBQ social
(LtoR) Sean Reid, Charlestown - Secretary Muintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliatha; Micheal Nallen, Crossmolina; Regina Duffy, Ballina and Jarlath Ryan, Carracastle pictured at the recent Mayo Association in Dublin BBQ social.
