Local people in Aghagower, Co Mayo are gearing up for a possible visit by newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Mr Carney's grandfather Robert Carney hailed from Ayle in Aghagower, which is near Westport in Co Mayo, while Robert's wife Nora Moran came from nearby Mace.
Both Nora and Robert attended Knockrooskey National School in Knockrooskey, Co Mayo.
According to school records, Robert Carney left the school in February 1916 when he was 14 years old.
According to Robert Carney's niece Maureen O'Malley and nephew Pat Carney, Robert joined the Civic Guard (later renamed Garda Síochána na hÉireann).
However, when Nora Moran travelled to Canada, Robert left the Civic Guard to follow her across the Atlantic.
Pat Carney says that at the age of 23, Robert departed from Belfast Port on 18 July 1925 and went on to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Robert and Nora's grandson Mark Carney, despite never having held political office, was chosen to succeed the outgoing prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, in March.
Last week, he led the Liberal party to stage a major political comeback to retain power in parliamentary elections.
A former governor of the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney earned his PhD in economics from Oxford University in 1995, where he wrote his thesis on whether domestic competition can make an economy more nationally competitive - a topic which is no doubt relevant in the wake of US trade tariffs.
In March, CBC News reported that Mr Carney said he had begun the process of renouncing his citizenships of both Ireland and Britain, saying that as prime minister of Canada, he should only hold one citizenship.
Mr Carney is due to meet US President Donald Trump in the White House tomorrow, their first in-person encounter in Mr Carney's role as prime minister.
One resident of Aghagower, writer and poet Ger Reidy, said all of his friends are watching with great interest to see how Mr Carney handles the US President.
"We are all very proud of Mark Carney in the village," Mr Reidy said.
An invitation has been extended to Mr Carney through the Canadian Embassy in Ireland for the new Prime Minister to visit the area, a place steeped in history for famous people visiting.
Aghagower boasts stunning views of Croagh Patrick and is home to Leaba Phádraig, St Patrick's bed, where he rested during his preparation for the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage.
Locals in the village are waiting to see if their invitation entices the most powerful man in Canada to take a break and come home for a visit.
