Local Notes: All Ireland glory for Darragh Gaughan, Erris Pool Events.
Members of Erris Pool Events who participated in the All-Ireland Junior Pool competitions in Wexford recently.
Darragh Gaughan, Belmullet, was crowned the U12 All-Ireland Pool Singles Champion in Rosslare recently, while Mayo came close to adding more titles, with Mia Barrett Belmullet reaching the final of the Junior Girls and the Mayo U18A team finishing as runners-up in the team event.
Following the long journey to Wexford on Friday, March 27, the U18 singles were first to begin. With 153 players competing, three rounds were completed with Kieran O’Rourke, Sean Coyle, Danny Hession, Keelan Barrett, and Jack Gaughan all progressing to the last 32.
The action resumed on Saturday, March 28, and it was Keelan Barrett and Jack Gaughan who advanced to the quarter-finals. Keelan lost out to the talented Kian Hopkins, while Jack was defeated by eventual runner-up Rhys McLaughlin. The U15 singles began early on Saturday, and by evening the competition had reached the quarter-final stages, with Paul Neary and Darragh Gaughan representing Mayo among the final eight. Darragh recorded an impressive 4–2 win over fellow Mayo player James Brennan in the last 16, while Paul produced strong performances throughout the day to join him in the quarter-finals. Paul was later beaten by Archie Henderson, who went on to win the competition, while Darragh reached the semi-finals, where he also lost to Henderson.
The team events also got underway on Saturday. In the U15 event, both Mayo A and Mayo B qualified for the knockout stages, with the A team securing four wins from five matches and the B team going undefeated in the group stages. Mayo also fielded a girls’ team, who produced some credible performances, including a 5-2 win over Carlow A and two narrow 5-4 defeats to Leitrim A and Kildare A The quarter-final draw proved difficult for Mayo A, who exited the competition against a strong Dublin side, while Mayo B recorded a 5–2 win over Kerry A. This set up a mouth-watering semi-final between defending champions Mayo B and Dublin, but unfortunately Dublin progressed in a final-frame decider.
In the U18 team event, the Mayo A team came close to adding another All-Ireland title but was defeated by a very strong Antrim side in the final. They progressed from the group stages with four wins from five, setting up a quarter-final clash with Cavan A on Sunday afternoon. Mayo proved too strong with a 5–3 win and followed it up with a superb 5-1 victory over Donegal in the semi-finals. Shortly afterwards, they were back in action in the final, but Antrim showed their class, keeping their composure under pressure to take the title by five frames to one.
Special mention should go to the Mayo girls team that played in the U18 event with all the boys’ teams. They had a 5-0 win over Wicklow and were 2-2 at one stage with Donegal who went on to reach the semi-finals. Keelin Coyle was the eldest of the three players and she was joined on the team by ten year old Chloe Sheridan and seven year old Emily Gaughan who had a large audience watching her every time she picked up the cue.
Mayo had a strong contingent in the junior girls singles, with Mia Barrett, Sophie Carty, Keelin Coyle, and Aoibhinn Barrett all reaching the quarter-finals. Keelin was first into the semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Sophie Donnelly, while Mia joined her with a 3-1 victory over Aoibhinn Barrett. Mia then defeated Brooke Sinnott 3-1 to reach the final, while Keelin was beaten by former champion Kayla McCrory. In the final, the experienced McCrory claimed the title after a hard-fought win over Mia, who came close to adding an All-Ireland title to her recent successes in the Erris and Mayo Championships.
The highlight for Mayo came late on Sunday evening as they retained the U12 singles title won last year by James Brennan. Darragh Gaughan secured victory in a dramatic final-frame decider against his cousin Lorcan Barrett, who also did his county proud by reaching the final.
County winners from across the region of Connaught were announced recently at the 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final at the Knockranny House Hotel. More than 600 guests attended to recognise the achievements of restaurants, cafés and hospitality businesses operating across Connaught. Congratulations to Padraic and all the staff of McDonnell’s Bar and Undertakers in Belmullet who took the top prize in the Pub of the Year category. Once all regional finals conclude, both Regional and All-Ireland winners will be revealed at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on Monday, May 18.
Belmullet Cycling Club will host its very first official sportive event on September 18. There will be two routes a 60km and a 100km on the day. They have had a great response from cycling clubs in this new event and would like to invite you to consider joining them on the day. Considering the fitness levels all of you have, the event will be very easy, but if you would like some help getting ready, whether around training or indeed a bike just let any of the organisers know, they really want to use the event to promote the beautiful area and also to get a few more people into cycling.
Congratulations to Emma Gaughan who completed the Sport Ireland ‘Women in Sport’ leadership course with Rowing Ireland. This course brings together women from various sporting backgrounds to share their leadership experience and develop expertise.
Well done to Emma Gaughan and Kirsten Donoughue on a great performance at the Coastal Championships in Courtmacsharry recently. Emma rowed the single and later Kirsten joined her in the double. This was Kirsten’s first coastal race. Great experience for them both and for us as a club.
Tá tús curtha leis an togra Gaelomana sna Iar bhunscoileanna agus chuir Joe Greaney an chéad seisiún oiliúna ar fáil i gColáiste Chomáin le déanaí. Beidh seisiúni ar siúl leis an idirbhlian I gColáiste Naomh Brendáin agus i bPobalscoil Acla i mí Márta maraon le Coláiste Mhuire, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh. Beidh an cuairt tumtacht ar Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe ar siúl ar an 21 Aibrean.
The senior hurling team is back in training on Friday evenings in the handball alley from 7.30 to 9pm. The club extend a warm welcome to Alan Tynan, who played senior club hurling in Limerick and has moved to Beal an Mhuirthead and wish him well in co ordinating the senior panel. New players are welcome as are players that might have played a few years at underage and want to join the team.
The 5th year students recently travelled to ATU Sligo to experience a university 'Taster Day'. This event enabled students to choose two college courses and experience first-hand what it would be like to study these programmes. Students chose a variety of courses such as clinical measurement physiology, quantity surveying, business studies, health and safety, design and forensic science. This activity was organised by the Guidance Department and the school is sure that it will prove invaluable as students continue working on their career choices.
Third year students from OLSS were taken to The Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina. They learned about The Jackie Clarke repository of historical sources, how sources are archived and how they are preserved and stored. They viewed many exhibits and sources on topics from the 1798 Rebellion to The Anglo Irish Agreement and The War of Independence.
Well-done to six fantastic athletes who represented Erris Athletic Club incredibly well recently at the All Ireland Indoor Championships in Athlone. Ailbhe McHugh 7th 1k walk; Ben O'Connor 5th 60m race; Emma Naughton 7th shot putt; Mícheál Walsh 5th 600m race; Róisin Edwards 9th 60m race; Shane Naughton 1st shot putt; Shane Naughton is the U12 shot putt all Ireland champion. Well done Shane, a wonderful achievement
A quiz night will be held on Saturday, April 18, in Denny’s Ferry Bar starting at 9pm. Table of 4 is €40.
The service recently received a very generous donation from Carne Golf Links following the successful golf event held in October last year. After all sponsorship was collected and green fees gathered, the total was rounded off to a tidy sum of €10,000 for Ballyglass RNLI. They had Fiona Togher in and apologies from Gerry McGuire who was unable to attend to make a small presentation to them and thank them both as well as all the staff at Carne Golf Links for making the day such a special event.
Deepest sympathies to the family of Michael McBride, Glengad, Pullathomas, and formerly of Culloville, Co. Monaghan; Bridget Sweeney (née Goonan, better known as Bridie), Geesala; Fidelis Lavelle (née Lynn), Attycunnane, and formerly of ‘Lavelle’s Bar’, Main Street, Belmullet and Rathbane, Crossmolina; Kathleen Tighe, Leam, Clogher and formerly of East Kilbride, Glasgow. May they rest in peace.
Erris Branch of Irish Wheelchair Association thank all of those who supported their 25-card drive recentlly, to those who sold tickets and made donations, to Mary Teresa for the homemade boxty and to local IWA staff for their time and help on the night. All money raised will go towards supporting services in Erris.
