Local Notes: All the latest news from Claremorris
Claremorris Handball Club’s Paddy Murphy reached the All-Ireland Senior Singles Hardball Championship Final.
Claremorris Handball Club’s Paddy Murphy reached the All-Ireland Senior Singles Hardball Championship Final following an impressive weekend of competition.
Paddy began his campaign in Kells on Saturday week last, defeating Kilkenny’s Kieran Neary 25-11 before recording another 25-11 victory over Evan Murphy of Limerick. Those wins secured his place in Sunday’s All-Ireland final at Croke Park.
There he faced experienced Kilkenny player Shane Dunne, a two-time winner of the Senior Singles title. Paddy produced a strong challenge but ultimately came up short in the final.
Garrymore will contest their first Mayo Senior Football Championship final in 44 years later this month following a dramatic extra-time victory over Belmullet in the semi-final. The 2-16 to 2-15 victory has set up a county final meeting with Castlebar Mitchels at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Sunday, October 25th, at 3.30pm. It will be a repeat of the 1982 county final, when Garrymore defeated Mitchels to claim their most recent senior championship title.
The achievement brings Garrymore back to a stage the club once knew particularly well. Between 1974 and 1982, Garrymore won six Mayo senior titles, taking the Paddy Moclair Cup in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981 and 1982. They have not won the championship, or even appeared in the county final, since that remarkable period.
Best wishes go to the players, management and everyone involved with Garrymore GAA as they prepare for their first senior county final in 44 years.
A hugely successful raffle in aid of Brickens Meals on Wheels has raised €7,300, with the organisers thanking the many people and businesses who supported the fundraiser.
Fourteen prizes were presented following the draw, which was hosted by McGuire’s Bar in Brickens. First prize went to John Quinn, who won two tickets to see John McNicholl at the INEC Killarney on November 9th, together with dinner, bed and breakfast at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney.
Mary Stanley won second prize, a Russell Hobbs Chester Grind and Brew Coffee Machine sponsored by Harvey Norman, while Bree and Ciara Chambers won a €100 Castlecourt Hotel voucher. Mary Murray received a €100 One4all voucher and Elle Quinn won a Prime Irish Meat voucher from Keane’s Butchers, Claremorris.
Margaret Cosgrove won a Remington Ladies Hairdryer and Haircare Hamper from Harvey Norman, while Fiona Hills received a Remington men’s shaver from Harvey Norman and a three-month FarmFLIX subscription. Michael Joyce won a Dublin Zoo day pass for two adults and two children, Darren Lydon received an Oral-B iO Series 3 electric toothbrush from DeCare Dental and Eoin Coffey won a deluxe food and drink hamper.
Rachel Fleming won an afternoon tea for two voucher from Breaffy House Resort, Lisa Walsh received a lip and eye collection gift set from BPerfect Cosmetics, and Ciara and Bree Chambers won two children’s passes from Baysports. The final prize, a €50 Dunnes Stores voucher, went to Aidan Ruane.
The organisers thanked all of the businesses which provided prizes, including the INEC Killarney, the Gleneagle Hotel Killarney, Harvey Norman Ireland, Castlecourt Hotel Westport, One4all, Keane’s Butchers Claremorris, FarmFLIX, Dublin Zoo, DeCare Dental, Breaffy House Resort, BPerfect Cosmetics, Baysports and Dunnes Stores.
Brickens Meals on Wheels also thanked Eastern Gaels GAA and Village Farm for their ongoing support, along with everyone who sold raffle lines, shared information about the fundraiser and helped promote the Meals on Wheels service locally. Special thanks were extended to Joelyn, Dermot and the team at McGuire’s Bar, Brickens, for hosting the draw.
The €7,300 raised will support the work of Brickens Meals on Wheels in providing its service within the local community.
The popular Fun Football Academy is back in action at Barnacarroll Community Sports Centre, with strong demand once again for places across the different age groups.
The programme caters for children from five up to 13 years, with sessions spread across Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Monday session for 11 to 13-year-olds runs from 6.45pm to 7.45pm and still has spaces available. There is no Monday group for nine and 10-year-olds.
On Tuesdays, the five and six-year-old group runs from 5pm to 5.50pm, with only a small number of places remaining, while the 7–8-year-old session from 6pm to 6.50pm is already full. A girls-only group takes place from 7pm to 7.50pm and still has spaces available.
Thursday’s programme includes a 7–8-year-old group from 6pm to 6.50pm, where places remain available, followed by the 9–10-year-old group from 7pm to 7.50pm, which is almost full.
Head coach Michael Collins has asked parents to adhere closely to the allocated starting and finishing times and not to arrive more than a few minutes before their child’s session. With large numbers attending, the ten-minute interval between groups is needed to allow one group to leave the centre and car park safely before the next arrives.
Claremorris was well represented at the recent FIBA Youth Under-18 EuroBasket tournament in Croatia, with two members of the Ireland team having strong family connections to the area.
Galway-born Michael Cunningham-Smyth, a member of Titans Basketball Club, is the son of Padraig Smyth, originally from Main Street, Claremorris. US-born Aidan McGrath, who represents Thayer Academy and Middlesex Magic Basketball Club, is the son of Kevin McGrath of Quincy, Massachusetts.
The McGrath family has strong roots in the Claremorris area through Ballykinave and Koilmore, as well as connections with Glenfarne, Co Leitrim. Both young players featured for Ireland at the tournament, continuing the strong sporting links between Claremorris and the Irish diaspora.
There was strong local success in the latest Mayo GAA Club Development Draw, with five Claremorris winners and one from Hollymount sharing €1,500 in prize money.
Damien Hall, Claremorris, won €500, while Kieran Heneghan, Catherine Noone, David Hurley and Melissa Walsh, all Claremorris, each won €200. Mike and Niamh McHugh, Hollymount, also collected a €200 prize.
The annual general meeting of Barnacarroll Group Water Scheme will take place in Barnacarroll Sports Centre on Tuesday, October 20th at 8.30pm.
All members are strongly encouraged to attend or to ensure they are represented at the meeting. Nominations for membership of the committee are also welcome.
Claremorris Family Resource Centre has a number of courses and activities planned for October and November, including a Halloween Camp, children’s confidence workshops, nutrition programme and smartphone photography.
The Halloween Camp, presented with Go Fly Your Kite, takes place on October 30th and will give children an opportunity to make their own kite. Separate groups will cater for children aged five to seven and eight to 12, with participants welcome to come in Halloween costumes. The cost is €5 per child.
Food Freedom will begin with a free information session during October, followed by a four-week health and nutrition programme in November costing €25. Dates have yet to be confirmed. A four-week Smartphone Photography course is also planned, running from 7pm to 9pm, with the starting date to be announced. The full course costs €25 per person.
Further information on all activities is available from Claremorris Family Resource Centre on 094-9377838 or by email at info@claremorrisfrc.ie.
Cúram Family Centre in Claremorris will host an evening for parents and carers of primary school-aged children on Thursday, October 22nd from 7pm to 9pm.
'Look Beyond the Behaviour' will be presented by Child and Adolescent Creative Psychotherapist Lyndsey Gill and will explore children’s behaviour, big feelings, emotional reactions and connection. Places are limited and registration is available by contacting m.cribbin@curamclaremorris.ie or 087 911 9714.
The Autism Parent Peer Support Group has changed its meeting day and time. The meetings will take place on the first Monday of each month, offering parents, guardians and grandparents an opportunity for peer support and a cup of tea and chat in a friendly setting. The cost is €2 per person.
Claremorris will hold an Art and Wellness Programme on this Thursday, October 15th from 7pm to 9pm. The nature-inspired clay project will involve creating prints and impressions, with all materials provided. Places are limited and booking is essential by contacting the Women’s Collective on 089-4695189.
John Connolly was the winner of Claremorris GAA Club’s 50/50 draw last week, taking home a jackpot of €1,386. John bought his winning ticket in Warde’s.
The club congratulated John on his win and thanked everyone who continues to support the weekly fundraiser.
James Vahey was the winner of the Claremorris AFC 50/50 draw last week, collecting a prize of €480.
Claremorris AFC congratulated James and expressed its appreciation to everyone who continues to take part in the weekly draw.
Taugheen Tuesdays are back, with social dancing classes returning to Taugheen Community Centre. The classes are open to both beginners and those looking to improve their dancing skills.
A range of popular dances will feature during the classes, including jiving, waltz, foxtrot and line dancing, offering participants an opportunity to learn new steps, brush up on existing skills and enjoy a social evening in the community centre. Beginners and improvers are welcome to come along and join in.
The death has occurred of Svitlana Vlialko of Woodstock, Ballindine, and formerly of Kherson, Ukraine.
Svitlana will be deeply missed by her daughter Svitlana (Oleh), granddaughter Yuliia (Borys), grandchildren Carolina and Robert, cousin George, Valeriy, Alina, Elena, wider family circle and friends.
Svitlana’s remains reposed in Carey’s Funeral Home, Ballindine, on Wednesday, October 7th. A funeral service was held in the funeral home, followed by burial afterwards in Ballindine Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Susan Canny of Convent Road, Claremorris, and formerly of Drum, Knock. Susan died suddenly and peacefully at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, on October 5th, 2026.
Susan was predeceased by her grandparents Catherine and Jimmy Nally, and Bríd and Anthony Canny. Susan will be sadly missed by her loving parents Rene and Tony, sisters Theresa and Grace, brothers Darragh, Robert and Emmett, Rene’s partner Richard, aunts Margaret, Mary, Eileen and Stephanie, niece Elliana, nephew Jack, brother-in-law Jimmy, cousins, relatives and friends.
Susan’s remains reposed in the Marian Funeral Home, Knock, on Friday evening, October 9th, with removal afterwards to St John the Baptist Church, Knock. Susan’s Funeral Mass was held on Saturday morning, followed by burial afterwards in Knock Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Teresa Moore (née Costello) of Mayfield, Claremorris, and formerly of Northampton and Brooklawn, Kilconly. Teresa died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, in the wonderful care of Claremount Nursing Home.
Teresa was predeceased by her husband Martin, son Paul, parents William and Winifred, and siblings Mary, Sean, Joe, Una, Bridie and Mick. Teresa will be sadly missed by her heartbroken family, daughter Carol, son-in-law Mark, grandchildren Sean, Adele and Luke, brother Liam Costello (Castlerea), nieces, nephews, neighbours and friends.
Teresa’s remains reposed at St Colman’s Funeral Home, Lower James Street, Claremorris, on Friday evening, October 9th, with removal afterwards to St Colman’s Church, Claremorris. Teresa’s Funeral Mass was held on Saturday afternoon, followed by burial afterwards in St Colman’s Cemetery, Claremorris.
May she rest in peace.
