News Item

Westports of the World Convention A Success

The Mayo News-Áine Ryan: CITIZENS of Westports from round the globe recently gathered in County Mayo to celebrate the annual Westports of the World Convention 2010. There are approximately 25 Westports and on Thursday, September 16 last, delegates from some of these towns spent four days enjoying a great Irish welcome in the Mayo seaside haven.

“The whole gathering was absolutely fantiastic. We had delegates from Westports in Newfoundland, New Zealand, Kansas City and New York,” explained Rosemary Doyle of Westport Town Council.

She told The Mayo News that: “When they arrived on Thursday (September 16) we brought them on a walk of the town and then out to the Quay to the Clew Bay Heritage Centre. The following day we went to Clare Island, had lovely sunshine, and a great day. On our return, we stopped at the Famine Monument in Murrisk and visisted Campbell’s pub before doing a tour of Westport House,” she continued.

Each evening the delegates met locals who had attended conventions in other Westports around the world.

“Then on the Saturday we travelled to Killasser to Tom Hennigan’s heritage farm. They were absolutely enthralled. And we finished up then in Foxford at the Woolen Mills,” Rosemary Doyle added.

It is now 25 years ago since the inaugural Westports of the World convention was held in Westport, County Mayo. The annual gathering has managed to create ‘warm and friendly connections with many countries’, according to Ms Anne Moore, Town Clerk.

According to the organisers the concept may be unique. They say it has been very successful in creating tourism and cultural links, as well as the camarderie and craic that occurs during the convention.

There are towns called Westport in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Zealand, Somerset, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, New York, North Carolina and Washington.

This year’s Westports of the World Convention ran from Thursday, September 16 to Sunday, September 19.

The Westports of the World organization was founded by my father back in 1984 and our own Westport district here in Kansas City was represented in Mayo this year by my mother and sister Carol. Carol of course being one of Irish Fest's award-winning Snug Sisters and my mother Patty being Irish Fest's official beer quality inspector.