Brian Mulroney while serving as Prime Minister of Canada visited Leighlinbridge Co Carlow, Ireland in July 1991. His ancestor Pierce Mulroney had left Carlow for Canada in the mid 1800’s where he settled in the province of Quebec. The 1861 census returns for Ste Catherine de Portneuf, Quebec list Pierce Mulroney age 53 from Carlow, his wife Ellen Buckley from Tipperary age 45 and their seven children ranging in age from sixteen to three years old.
Martin Brian Mulroney was born in Baie-Comeau, Quebec, on March 20th 1929. His father Benedict Martin Mulroney was an electrician and later foreman at a paper mill in the town which was owned by Robert McCormick of the Chicago Tribune. Brian Mulroney was educated locally and completed his high school education at a Roman Catholic boarding school in Chatham, New Brunswick. He received a B.A. from Saint Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, in 1959 and a law degree from Laval University, Quebec city in 1962. He began practicing law in Montreal in 1965
Brian Mulroney became involved in politics at university and was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada on June 11th 1983. On August 29th of the same year he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a by-election in Nova Scotia. In the General Election of 1984 he led his party to victory winning 212 seats out of 282. It was the largest number of seats won by a political party in Canadian parliamentary history. He was re-elected Prime Minister of Canada in the general election of 1988.
During his second term as Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney paid an official visit to Ireland from July 10th to the 13th 1991. He visited the attractive and historic village of Leighlinbridge with his family during the official visit. The centuries old village is about 12.5km southwest of Carlow town. The village lies on the river Barrow which is crossed by valerian bridge built in 1320. It is reputed to be the one of the oldest bridges in Europe which is still in use. A feature of the village is the Vivaldi Garden, a section of which commemorates the visit of Brian Mulroney to Leighlinbridge
Brian Mulroney, whose ancsestor was a native of Carlow, Ireland was sworn in as the 18th Prime Minister of Canada in the year 1984 On This Day.
Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney at the NATO Associations 50th Anniversary Gala by NATO Association of Canada on 2016-06-20 14:21:46
November 1988 federal election rally in Calgary. Front row: Mayor Ralph Klein, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Premier Don Getty. Visible in second row is former Prime Minister Joe Clark by Government of Alberta on 2014-08-29 09:32:45