Canadian Prime Minister Carney to visit Dublin and Mayo next week
The trip also carries a personal dimension for Mr Carney: two of his grandparents left Aughagower, near Westport, for Canada more than 100 years ago.
A visit rich in both diplomacy and family history is on the horizon, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney set to travel to Ireland next week.
Mr Carney will begin in Dublin, where he is due to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the first bilateral visit to Ireland by a Canadian Prime Minister in nearly a decade.
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He will then travel west to Co Mayo, where he is scheduled to meet President Catherine Connolly.
The trip also carries a personal dimension for Mr Carney: two of his grandparents left Aughagower, near Westport, for Canada more than 100 years ago.
The Taoiseach had been expected to lead a major trade mission to Canada in April alongside several ministers, but the trip was cancelled because of fuel price protests across Ireland.
In a statement this afternoon, Mr Martin said he was looking forward to welcoming Mr Carney and said he is “proud of his Irish heritage”.
“We will be discussing ways to strengthen our bilateral relations even further,” Mr Martin said.
“Canada is an important economic partner for Ireland, with strong trade in goods and services in both directions. CETA is close to be being fully ratified by the Oireachtas, so this is an ideal time to explore further options for economic cooperation across a range of sectors.
“We will also discuss global issues including the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine. Canada and Ireland have an excellent working relationship on the global stage and, as we face many geopolitical challenges, it is important that we work closely together to support peaceful resolutions.”
In 2025, bilateral merchant trade between Canada and Ireland reached $6 billion, with Canadian exports to Ireland valued at $1.1 billion and imports totalling $4.9 billion.
After his time in Ireland, he will travel to France to take part in the 2026 G7 Leaders’ summit.
Mark Carney became Prine Minister of Canada last year after a remarkable election.
Even with bleak polling for his Liberal party and no experience in elected office, the former Bank of England governor emerged as the party’s leader in a contest shaped by one central question: who was best placed to deal with Donald Trump.
When he secured that victory last year, the Chairperson of the Ireland Canada Business Association said Mr Carney’s election was very positive news for Ireland.
