Best wishes to Mayo-born Mary Davis, who is attempting to be the third ‘Mary’ in a row to occupy Aras an Uachtarain, the seat of the Irish presidency in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Previous ‘Marys’ have been the present encumbent Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson, like Davis, a Mayo woman.
This Mary is President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, with responsibility for the development in fifty-eight countries throughout Europe and Central Asia. In 2010, Davis secured for the first time ever significant funding from the European Union for the Special Olympics movement across Europe. In addition, Mary has held the role of Interim Chief Marketing and Development Officer at Special Olympics International overseeing development in more than 180 countries.
Previous to this she was Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Ireland and was CEO of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The 2003 Games were the largest sporting event in the world that year and Ireland had the great honour of being the first to host the Games outside of North America.
Over the years Mary Davis has received many distinctions and achievements including Person of the Year (2003), Woman of the Year (2003), and Mayo Person of the Year (2004). She has many and varied interests which include golf, running and outdoor pursuits, which have led to her climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in 2003, complete the New York Marathon in 2005 while raising €80,000 for Special Olympics, and represent the Irish Government on a climb of Mount Blanc in July 2008 to celebrate the start of the EU Presidency in France.
She is married to Julian and has four children, two boys and two girls. Her brother, Eugene Rooney, well known in the hospitality trade in New York, is a former Mayo goalkeeper. The election will be held on October 27th. Anyone interested can contact Mary Davis at
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I know she’d love to hear from you!
Have Your Say
Tourism Ireland has launched a promotional campaign to be rolled out in Great Britain, the US, mainland Europe, Australia and emerging markets aimed at attracting more tourists to visit the island of Ireland this autumn. The new campaign has a strong focus on Ireland’s cultural tradition and the arts. As well as highlighting city breaks, it hopes to attract visitors to more rural parts of the island, highlighting the cultural festivals and events taking place right around the island this autumn.
Activity involves co-operative promotions with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, as well as TV, radio and online advertising. According to Tourism Ireland, the September to December period traditionally yields as much as 30% of the country’s overall tourism business.
“This promises to be an innovative campaign to promote Ireland in our key markets,” said Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar TD. “I hope it will build on the tentative signs of recovery we have seen in the tourism industry this year. The festivals theme, both in Dublin and around the country, should be a strong incentive to encourage short holiday breaks in Ireland.”
Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons said 2011 has been a more positive year so far than 2010 for the tourism industry, with a 12% growth in visitor numbers from overseas in the first half of the year. An extensive campaign in the US will target consumers and the travel trade. Campaign messages will remind people in America that the island of Ireland offers a unique, distinctive and worthwhile vacation experience; and will highlight the value airfares and vacation packages on offer during the autumn/winter period.
Now with all that in mind, let me say that I have encountered a fair few vacationing Americans in Ireland this year and the vast majority have been telling me how much they have enjoyed the experience. But the other half, looking over my shoulder as I write, has suggested that I do a poll of readers—yes, that’s you, dear ianohio enthusiasts!—and see what you think about the Emerald Isle. So here goes… just eight questions… a few lines of an answer… maybe five minutes of your time!!
Have you been in Ireland this year?
What did you think of the welcome you got?
Did you get value for money in hotels and restaurants?
What annoyed you most?
What charmed you most?
What was your overall impression?
Will you come back again?
If you could give one piece of advice what would it be?
If your response is good I will pass on your comments to our Minister of State for Tourism, Mayo-man Michael Ring, who hails from beautiful Westport. Go on, have a go! Send your replies to my email address below.
Great Boost for Musical
Those of you who have been following the progress of the musical On A Wing and a Prayer, which stemmed from my book of the same name and was scripted for a musical by my friend Tommy Marren and myself, will be pleased to know that the show and the accompanying DVD has raised over $400,000 for Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
If you are looking for a Christmas present, details of the DVD and the book can be found on my website www.terry-reilly.com.
Speaking of the musical, a really talented friend who helped in the composition of some of the songs, Denis McCalmont, has just released a new album, Nature of Life.
It’s been a busy year musically for Killala-based singer/songwriter for, apart from his work on the musical, earlier this year Dennis’s song ‘Carousel’ was short-listed for the final of The Irish Daily Mail ‘Fighting Chance’ for Unsigned Artists.
‘Carousel’ is featured on his new album Nature Of Life which offers 14 original songs, written, recorded, mixed and produced by McCalmont. Think Neil Young jamming with the Fleet Foxes and you will get a flavour for these acoustic driven songs, coloured with vocal harmonies. Nature Of Life is now available to download at www.reverbnation.com/dennismccalmont.
Famine Reminder
Finally, a moment in time from 1849, right on the tails of the Great Famine: “There is no trade so profitable in Miltown Mabay, Co. Clare, as that of coffin-making. It is awful to think of the number of coffins that leave it every day, and the number that goes in the direction of Quilty and Kilmurry exceeds anything that can he imagined. The mortality is entirely confined to those in the receipt of our out-door relief. (from Limerick Chronicle 1849).
Until next time, slan. Email:
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. www.terry-reilly.com.
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