On 14/6, the second day of his official visit to Ireland, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to Aghagower village in Mayo county, the ancestral home of his paternal grandparents before they emigrated to Canada in 1925, to attend mass and meet relatives.

Upon learning of Prime Minister Carney's impending visit, members of the Carney family and local residents in recent weeks collaborated to plant trees and flowers, whitewash walls, and display Canadian flags throughout Westport's shops and streets. Westport is known as one of Ireland's cleanest towns.

Irish officials welcome Carney (second from right) at Ireland West Airport. *Photo: X/Government of Ireland*

Outside St. Patrick's Church, dozens of relatives and hundreds of local residents awaited Carney, many having traveled for one hour to meet the Canadian prime minister. "Welcome home", the crowd chanted as Prime Minister Carney appeared at the church.

As Carney walked through the welcoming crowd, many relatives remarked that he "looks exactly like his grandfather" in old photographs. "The Carney gene is strong; it's evident across generations", the Canadian prime minister stated.

He made an effort to shake hands and take photos with everyone in the family. This church was where Carney's paternal grandparents were baptized. Inside the church, he sat next to two paternal relatives from his father's generation.

After mass, Carney visited the one shop in Aghagower, which also serves as the village post office and pub. He then toured the cemetery next to the church, home to a 10th-century round tower and numerous headstones bearing the Carney name.

Carney meets and takes photos with relatives in Aghagower village, Mayo county, Ireland. *Photo: X/Government of Ireland*

En route, Prime Minister Carney learned about the 5th-century pilgrimage route through Aghagower to Croagh Patrick, a mountain overlooking Westport. Father Tod Nolan recounted local sites where Saint Patrick reportedly rested and baptized people before spending 40 days and nights on the mountaintop.

Following the family gathering, Carney attended a local government reception at the Westport Theatre. He received a 28-page Carney family genealogy from Aghagower and heard a poem by Irish poet Ger Reidy, who praised him as "a voice of reason in a turbulent world".

"When democracies are under pressure, we look to Canada as before and are proud of our native son", Reidy wrote.

Earlier, Prime Minister Carney met Irish President Catherine Connolly at Westport House, an estate on the edge of Westport town, Mayo county. Carney stated that Canada aims to strengthen relations with both Ireland and the European Union (EU).

"We are not satisfied with the current situation and see significant opportunities with Ireland, as well as with the EU, to deepen trade relations", he said.

By Duc Trung