Local Notes: 70 years of regattas in Erris
For the past few years, the Corless family, from Coolaba, have sponsored a cup for the Youth Rower of the Day at Crinniú na mBád at The Ferry. This year the winner was Sophie Carty, of Tullaghan Bawn, and she is pictured accepting the cup from Ann Conroy.
Cruinniú Na mBád 2025 marked the 70th year since regattas first started at The Ferry. The participation recently leaves no doubt but that there will be rowing there for many years to come.
Tullaghan Bay Rowing Club honoured the late Big Mike Goonan and thank sincerely his family, Father Anthony and the wonderful local musicians and friends who made the opening ceremony so fitting.
Míle buíochas le Minister Dara Calleary TD, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council Cllr Sean Carey agus Cllr Gerry Coyle as a bheith linn don ócáid agus as an suim léirithe ins an obair atá ar shúil againn. Beidh bhúr dtacaíocht de dhíth ag dul ar aghaigh agus tá muid buíoch as.
The Phelim Henry Memorial Cup winners were Luke Carty and Tiernan Gaughan and the runners-up were Cuán Keane Geraghty and Luke Keane Geraghty.
Sonny Goonan Memorial Cup: 1st, Enda and Derek Cosgrove; 2nd, Donal Murphy and Aaron Barrett.
Michael Gerard Reilly Memorial Cup: 1st, Martina Cronin and Kea Lavelle; 2nd, Leah Gaughan and Tara Doocey.
Sonny Sweeney Memorial Cup: 1st, Donal Murphy, Michael Cormack and Aaron Barrett; 2nd, Sean Meenaghan, Michael Meenaghan and Mark Gilbert.
Tullaghan Duff Cup: 1st, Jacqueline, Una and Tina McCafferty; 2nd, Rachel Barrett, Emma Gaughan and Kea Lavelle.
Eddie Doocey Memorial Cup: 1st, Sophie Carty, Luke Carty and Ava Doherty; 2nd, Josh Lavelle, Ríona McIntyre and Conor Horkan.
Bunnafolly Captains Cup: 1st, Sean Meenaghan, Una McCafferty and Jackie McCafferty; 2nd, Donal Murphy, Kathleen Doocey and Tara Doocey.
Tony Walsh Memorial Cup: 1st, Thomas McGinty, Tara Doocey and Emma Gaughan; 2nd, Eddie Doocey, Rachel Barrett and Leah Gaughan.
Ferry Cup: 1st, Enda Cosgrove, Tony Cosgrove and Derek Cosgrove; 2nd, Brendan Barrett, Sean Heaney and James Gaughan.
Dinny and Jimmy Masterson Memorial Cup: 1st, Derek Cosgrove and Padraig Cosgrove; 2nd, Eddie Doocey and Patrick Doocey.
Patrick Goonan Memorial Cup: 1st, Johnnie Deane, Aaron Barrett and Michael Cormack; 2nd, Tony Cosgrove, Enda Cosgrove and Derek Cosgrove.
Ballycroy Community Council is delighted to announce that Ballycroy has been awarded funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund to establish a new Community Sports Hub right in the community as a result of an application from Ballycroy Community Council last year.
This initiative will use the existing community facilities to create new opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in sport and physical activity through a range of new initiatives. The aim is to encourage more people to get active, meet new people, and enjoy the benefits of sport in a welcoming environment.
The Community Council is incredibly grateful for the support of Mayo Sports Partnership, Sport Ireland, the Dormant Accounts Fund and Mayo County Council in making this possible. They also wish to acknowledge the support of local public representatives who advocated for this project.
It will take a little time to get everything in place, and the community council will keep the community informed as the project develops.
Ballyglass RNLI says a big thank you to everyone who stopped by its stall during Belmullet Festival week and everyone who bought a ticket for the raffle of the signed Mayo football jersey.
A big thank you to the Geraghty family - Margaret, Ricky, Ryan, Kyle, Kayley and Brandon - who donated the jersey. The winner was Anna Murphy while Celia O'Donnell claimed second prize and Patsy McGonagall took third prize.
The RNLI Ballyglass branch Golf Classic Fundraiser 2025 will take place on Saturday, October 18th, at Carne Golf Club It is a four-person scramble, €120 per team, offering fantastic golf, great company, and all proceeds in aid of the RNLI, helping save lives at sea.
Book your team now by calling 097-82292 or email info@carnegolflinks.com.
There was no winner of last week’s Kiltane GAA Club weekly lotto jackpot of €7,300.
The two winners of €50 were Eoghan Spencer, Bangor and Sean McKenzie, Attawalla while Bert Flannery, Muinginaune and Liam Donoghue, London both won €25. The two online winners were Michael Barrett, Sligo (€50) and Michelle Coyle, Turlough (€25).
Bingo will take place in the GAA complex in Bangor this Tuesday, August 26th, at 8pm. The jackpot will be €600 in 47 calls or less.
The club wishes to thank most sincerely everyone that purchased a €100 Mayo GAA Development Draw tickets recently.
The Erris Market will be held in Arás Inis Gluaire, Belmullet on August 30th and September 13th and 27th, from 10am to 2pm. It showcases the best of Erris handmade and home-grown goods.
Gaeilge Iorrais would like to offer heartiest congratulations and a huge round of applause to all the young people from CCÉ Craobh Iorrais in our Gaeltacht area that took part in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann recently.
Nine young people from the Craobh Iorrais branch of Comhaltas qualified in six distinct competitions at Fleadh Chonnacht to progress to the All-Ireland Finals in Wexford. The nine were Ailbhe de Róiste, Aoibhinn Ní Mhonacháin, Ava Ní Fhathaigh, Conn Ó hIomhar, Eimear de Róiste, Fionn Ó hIarbháin, Mae Ní hIomhar, Nell Ní Mhongáin and Nora Ní Mhongáin.
Five young people from Craobh Iorrais took part in the Irish language conversation competition in different age groups (an comórtas comhrá Gaeilge), all from Scoil Bhreandáin, Eachléim. Ailbhe de Róiste, Conn Ó hIomhar and Mae Ní hIomhar took part in the Irish language conversation competition under nine, while Ava Ní Fhathaigh and Nora Ní Mhongáin participated in the Irish language conversation competition 9-11.
These young people had to speak in Irish about a variety of topics for about ten minutes and then recite a poem or tell a story i nGaeilge. Two from Eachléim took first and second place in the under 9 comhrá Gaeilge competition - these are some of youngest that participated in the Fleadh this year. Cumann na bhFiann Perpetual Cup was awarded to Ailbhe de Róiste, meaning the trophy will be returning to not only the same school and Craobh but also to the same family as well. Ailbhe’s sister, Eimear de Róiste, was all-Ireland champion in this competition in 2024!
Eimear de Róiste (Scoil Bhreandáin, Eachléim) won third place in the under 12 Storytelling competition this year as well. She told the local story ‘Caora Inis Gé’, which was collected by her great-grandfather before her (Séamus nó Jim Phaddy Mag Uidhir from Dumha Thuama).
Three talented young sean-nós singers from our Gaeltacht area also took part in Fleadh na hÉireann. Aoibhinn Ní Mhonacháin (Coláiste Bhreandáin Naofa) took part in the sean-nós singing competition for women 12-15, Fionn Ó hIarbháin (Scoil Bhreandáin, Eachléim) participated in the sean-nós singing competition for men 12-15, and Nell Ní Mhongáin (SN Dhumha Thuama) won third place in the sean-nós singing competition for women under 12.
It was truly heart-warming to listen to these children singing local versions of renowned songs from our Gaeltacht area (songs such as Sail Óg Rua, Liam Ó Raghallaigh, Amhrán na Sméara, to name a few). Not only that, but these young people and the other young people of this Gaeltacht are keeping the tradition of sean-nós singing alive in this area and bringing new life to local Erris sean-nós songs.
Nár laga Dia iad.
Gaeilge Iorras would also like to give special thanks and due praise to their sean-nós singing teacher, Síle Uí Mhongáin, who is undertaking the sean-nós singing program in Gaeltacht scheme schools in Erris with enthusiasm and dedication under the Ealaín na Gaeltachta Neartú Scheme, which has been co-ordinated by Gaeilge Iorrais in co-operation with local Gaeltacht schools since 2020.
Gaeilge Iorrais would like to thank everyone who attended the homecoming celebration for all the local children that participated in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and also those that participated in Fleadh Chonnacht and Fleadh Mhaigh Eo. The homecoming event took place on Wednesday, August 13th, in Áras Inis Gluaire, Béal an Mhuirthead.
All these young people, together with their parents, schoolteachers, music and singing teachers, deserve huge praise. Families, friends, teachers, supporters of the children along with the local Gaeltacht community came together to celebrate all their hard work, talent and achievements. Gaeilge Iorrais also awarded goodies and awards on the night. There was a great turnout and all had the opportunity to listen to the young singers and Irish speakers of this Gaeltacht and then enjoy refreshments together.
Events such as fleadhanna give participants opportunities to further their learning and development in traditional and Irish language-based arts, as well as building on their self-confidence and performance skills. It also offered a great opportunity to showcase the rich linguistic and musical heritage of our Erris Gaeltacht area. We are delighted to celebrate the great level and standard of participation and all these talents and achievements. We look forward to hearing much more singing, storytelling, comhrá Gaeilge and music from each of these talented young people.
The Comhaltas traditional music session (local Craobh Iorrais Branch, Béal an Mhuirthead) continued after this event. All enjoyed a night of music, singing, dancing and more from some of the best local and visiting musicians both young and old. Huge thanks as always to Craobh Iorrais and Áras Inis Gluaire, Béal an Mhuirthead and Ealaín na Gaeltachta for their continued support and collaboration.
