‘Blue wave’ as #CavanDay takes over the world

The inaugural #CavanDay was a roaring success, with online messages mentioning the #CavanDay garnering a whopping 9 million impressions on social media, and trending on Twitter from 10am Saturday until Sunday afternoon.

The online celebration of Cavan took place on Saturday, September 26, but all week, the excitement had been building online, particularly with the launch of a new Cavan Cola ‘advert’, created by Gowna filmmaker Pádraig Conaty and funded by Cavan County Council through the Creative Ireland programme.

On the day, messages of support flooded in with the likes of Ministers Simon Harris and Heather Humphreys, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, and RTÉ legend Marty Morrissey getting involved, while well known Cavan stars such as Neven Maguire, Brían F O’Byrne, Leona Maguire, Leanne Kiernan, Kevin McGahern and Aaron Monaghan all joined in the online celebrations.

Throughout the day, Cavan people, those with Cavan ancestry, and those with an affinity for the county, shared their love for Cavan on social media, and messages were posted from locations as far flung as Japan, Colombia, Malaysia, Russia, and South Africa, as well as every county in Ireland and all corners of the United States and the UK.

A highlight of the day’s proceedings was the Cavan Day Live broadcast, a magazine-style show directed by Alan Bradley and presented by Louise O’Reilly McGuinness, which included interviews with many familiar faces including Sex and the City star Chris Noth, and greetings from Cavan Associations and Societies and friends of the county around the globe.

That the Cavan Senior Football Championship County Final was broadcast live on RTÉ2 on the day only added to the occasion.

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Tommy Ryan said the event had been an unqualified success.

“We’re delighted with the response to our Cavan Day initiative, which really brought the global Cavan family together and helped shine a positive light on the county. When Cavan Calling had to be postponed, we knew so many people around the world had been looking forward to a homecoming celebration, so I think the fact that we managed to capture a sense of ‘home’ despite the virtual nature of the event is testament to the team behind Cavan Day and, even more so, to the enthusiasm of Cavan people and friends of Cavan for the county.

“I’m confident that this event has further whetted the appetite for a full-scale homecoming event, and we all look forward to hosting a wonderful Cavan Calling celebration once it is safe to do so,” said Mr Ryan.

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Sarah O’Reilly, who posted her own Cavan Day greeting from a frosty-looking early morning charity swim, said the event had provided a much-needed sense of belonging and togetherness for people after a difficult year.

“The positivity and pride in Cavan shown by all who took part was genuinely heart-warming and I thank all who took part for helping to celebrate Cavan and making the world a little smaller for the day. I hope we, as a global Cavan family, can continue to build bridges around the world and keep celebrating this wonderful county.”

The Cavan Day live broadcast is available to view on the Cavan Calling YouTube channel, or by visiting bit.ly/cavandaylive