A strong connection to County Roscommon was proudly highlighted recently when Cllr Mike Hallam was installed as the 786th Mayor of Northampton during a formal ceremony at the town’s historic Guildhall.
The occasion carried a distinctive Roscommon touch, with the hall decorated in primrose and blue floral displays — a tribute to Cllr Hallam’s heritage through his grandmother, Elizabeth Rowan, who emigrated from Castlecoote to Northampton in the 1940s.
It was a proud milestone for the mayor and his family. He was joined by his wife and the new Mayoress, Shannon, who has roots in County Clare, and their daughters, Sian and Isla, marking a day that blended civic achievement with a celebration of Irish identity.
Cllr Hallam, who represents Parklands Ward, first entered public office in 2009 when he was elected to Northamptonshire County Council at just 28 years of age — one of the youngest councillors at the time. His journey from a family shaped by emigration to the office of mayor formed a central theme of his inaugural address.
Reflecting on that journey, he spoke of the path from Castlecoote to Northampton, recalling both those family members who left Ireland and those who remained, while highlighting how dramatically the emigrant experience has changed over time.
“People coming here in the forties, fifties and sixties didn’t have FaceTime, social media or easy access to a landline,” he noted, pointing to the reliance on letters as the sole link to home.
The new mayor emphasised that his own story reflected the broader diversity of modern Northampton, where successive generations of Irish emigrants, alongside communities from Poland, Bangladesh and beyond, have built lives and contributed to the town.
He said he looks forward to engaging with these communities during his mayoral year.
Despite the demands of his new role, Cllr Hallam maintains a keen interest in Roscommon affairs, particularly through the county’s GAA fortunes. Modern communication has allowed him to stay connected, and he recently followed celebrations in Roscommon Town after the provincial victory over Galway, as well as watching the county’s clash with Tyrone.
The Roscommon link will be further strengthened during his term through his chosen mayoral charity, the McCarthy-Dixon Foundation, founded by Kerry native Teresa McCarthy-Dixon.
The organisation previously organised a fundraising cycle from Northampton to Belmullet, with stops in Ballaghaderreen and Lisacul — and plans are underway to repeat the challenge this August in reverse.
Cllr Hallam intends to take part in the demanding event himself, with a planned stop in his ancestral home area adding a personal dimension to the journey.
Preparing for the challenge, he admitted the training has been demanding but rewarding, recalling how he has built up his endurance from modest beginnings to completing longer distances, including a recent 60km round trip.
Full details of the route are expected to be announced shortly, with Roscommon Town among the anticipated stops.
