Ring is Mayo Person of the Year 2025
Recently retired Fine Gael TD and Minister Michael Ring is the Mayo Person of the Year 2025. Picture: Conor McKeown
Michael Ring has been announced as the Mayo Person of the Year for 2025.
The recently retired politician will receive the prestigious accolade at a gala dinner in the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin on Saturday, February 15th.
The Mayo Person of the Year Awards are organised by the Mayo Association in Dublin and have been running for over six decades. Many of the most famous names in Mayo’s history have received this award including former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, Iar Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Ireland West Airport founder Mgr James Horan and legendary journalist John Healy.
Mr Ring is being recognised for his outstanding contribution to his native county over a distinguished 45-year political career, initially with Westport Urban District Council and Mayo County Council before his election to Dáil Éireann in 1994. He served as a government minister from 2011 to 2020, including a period as a senior minister at the Department of Rural and Community Development when he delivered funding for numerous important projects in all parts of Mayo.
The adjudicators hailed the Westport native for his devotion to his constituents during his long political career.
“Michael Ring earned a reputation as a hard-working and astute public representative, leaving no stone unturned in serving his constituents. His work ethic was legendary and he excelled in grassroots politics, going well beyond the call of duty on numerous occasions to assist members of the public, whether it was with medical cards, third-level grants, fuel allowances, etc.”
There were a large number of nominations for Mr Ring with many of them citing his outstanding work as a government minister when he spearheaded initiatives like The Gathering in 2014 and the development of the Wild Atlantic Way, which has become such a major tourism attraction along the western seaboard over the last decade.
Meanwhile, the Mayo Meitheal of the Year 2025 has been awarded to the committee behind the SOLAS heritage and history centre in Eachléim on the Mullet Peninsula. The multi-million euro facility, which has been described as one of the outstanding tourist attractions in the West of Ireland, opened its doors last year.
This state-of-the-art facility has immersive exhibits spread across three galleries, each offering a unique perspective on the heritage of the Mullet Peninsula. This remote region holds a treasure trove of tales, from its early Christian settlers to its involvement in significant historical events like the Spanish Armada and the aforementioned World War II.
SOLAS also shares stories of the diaspora who moved away but always kept the Erris area close to their hearts.
The local community conceived SOLAS through Comharchumann Forbatha Ionad Deirbhle (CIFD), which has been at the centre of developing opportunities for the Gaeltacht region on the Mullet Peninsula since 1995. CIFD actively enhances the use of the Irish language within the area by providing education and tourism initiatives through our native tongue.
The Mayo People of the Year Awards will be presented at a gala dinner in the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Ballsbridge, on Saturday, February 15th.
Tickets on behalf of Michael Ring are being coordinated by Joan Jennings at 087-2411118 or e-mail joanjennings@gmail.com and for the Meitheal Award tickets can be obtained from John Gallagher at 086-2801933 or e-mail teachjohnjoe@yahoo.ie.
