Local Notes: All the latest news from Kiltimagh
Members of Bohola Foróige Club are pictured at the Mayo Foróige 3rd Years Prom Ball, held at the Great National Hotel, Ballina. Picture: Trish Forde
Preparations are continuing in Kiltimagh for the return of the Coillte Come Home Festival, which will take place from July 8th to July 13th, with organisers promising the biggest and most varied programme in the festival’s history.
The annual event is organised by Kiltimagh Tourism Festivals committee, and has become one of the major summer attractions in Mayo. It draws visitors home to Kiltimagh and from across Ireland and abroad for six days of music, entertainment, sport, family activities and community celebration.
Events will take place throughout the town, including Main Street, the Festival Field, local pubs, the Sculpture Park and a number of community venues.
One of the headline attractions confirmed for this year’s programme is the return of Ruaile Buaile, who will perform live in Kiltimagh on Saturday, July 11th. The group has become a regular feature of festival week in recent years and organisers are expecting another large attendance for what is expected to be one of the busiest nights of the festival.
Comedy also forms part of the programme once again, with Coillte Come Laugh taking place at the Cill Aodain Court Hotel featuring Karl Spain, Ger Staunton, Martin Angolo and Aideen McQueen.
The official opening of the festival will include the arrival of the King of the Coilltes followed by a fireworks display, while Friday night entertainment will feature live music from Spring Break.
Other events confirmed for festival week include the return of the popular Coillte Come Home Busking Competition, an Interpub Quiz and Poker Tournament, Race2Glory, a Soccer World Cup competition and the annual Kids Tractor Run.
A wide variety of family and community activities are also planned throughout the week, including Murray’s Funfair, obstacle courses, sack races, egg throwing competitions and entertainment for younger age groups.
The programme will also include Pilates for EveryBody in the Sculpture Park, jiving workshops with Sandra Ganley and the inaugural Shane Peach Freeman Junior Coillte Cup golf competition.
Music sessions and entertainment are expected to take place in local pubs and venues throughout the festival week, continuing a tradition that has become closely associated with the event over recent years.
Festival organisers are also continuing to encourage local clubs, businesses and community groups to become involved in the programme. Groups organising events, workshops, sporting fixtures, fundraisers or community gatherings during festival week are invited to submit details for inclusion in the official festival brochure by emailing kiltimaghtourism@gmail.com.
Organisers said the festival continues to grow each year and remains focused on community spirit, local involvement and reconnecting people with Kiltimagh.
Further announcements and schedule updates are expected over the coming weeks. More information is available on www.kiltimagh.ie.
St Louis Community School has been celebrating a range of student achievements in recent weeks, with success in community initiatives, sport and environmental projects highlighting the wide variety of activities taking place across the school.
Congratulations were extended to Transition Year students Daniel McNicholas, James Duffy, Ryan Griffin and Conall Reilly, who received an Exemplary School Award in the AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards. The students were recognised for a coaching initiative they organised with pupils from Kinaffe National School as part of their Transition Year activities.
The project focused on encouraging participation, teamwork and engagement among younger students and formed part of the wider Future Sparks programme supporting leadership and community involvement among secondary school students. The award presentation took place in the presence of representatives from AIB and school staff, including Transition Year coordinator Mr Harrington.
The school also acknowledged the support of local businesses Finn’s Footwear and Heneghan’s Pharmacy, who recently sponsored a new set of Canterbury rugby jerseys for the school ahead of next season. School representatives expressed appreciation for the continued support shown to student activities and sport within the community.
Environmental awareness and biodiversity were also placed firmly in the spotlight through a recent CSPE Photography Competition held in the Emigrant Park. The initiative encouraged students to explore themes of biodiversity and sustainability through photography while highlighting the natural habitats and wildlife present within the local area.
The competition was organised as part of the school’s Green Schools activities, with judging carried out by Ms O’Hora. Students captured a wide range of images focusing on pollination, wildlife habitats, native plants and the relationship between nature and sustainability.
Among the first-year winners, Danny Carroll received first place for a photograph highlighting the role of flowers often regarded as weeds in supporting insect life and biodiversity. Ruth Slattery placed second for an image of a gorse bush and its importance within the natural ecosystem, while Muireann Curry took third place with a photograph capturing multiple habitats within a single scene.
In the second-year category, Anna Okolie won first prize for an image focusing on pollination and the importance of dandelions in biodiversity. Seán Creighton placed second with a photograph showing how decaying trees continue to provide habitats for insects and wildlife, while Stephen Callaghan received third place for a photograph exploring the role humans can play in supporting sustainability and protecting the environment.
The school said the project provided students with an opportunity to engage creatively with environmental themes while developing a greater appreciation for biodiversity within the local community.
There was another lively gathering at the weekly 25 Card Drive, with plenty of close contests and strong competition throughout the evening.
Top honours on the night were shared by three pairings, with Joe Boyle and Tom Conroy, Tom Walsh and Francis McNicholas, and Martin Regan and Danny Doherty all finishing joint first after an evenly matched series of games.
The Last 10 prize was also shared, with Ciaran McDonnell and Jack Ryan, James Walsh and Paddy Carney, and Aiden Lydon and Alo Langan all taking a share.
Geraldine Turbitt and Anne Rowley claimed the spot prize, while the raffle winners on the night were Pius Forde, Richard Carney, Jack Pidgeon and Francis McNicholas.
Keith Lydon produced a dominant performance in the final round of the Spring Poker League at Teach O’Hora, knocking out eight players on his way to victory and securing a strong finish in the overall standings.
Alan Sheridan finished runner-up on the night, while Martin Regan took third place and Kieran McGee was fourth. The remaining finalists were Gerry Groarke (5th), John Reynolds (6th), Pat Boyle (7th), Thomas MacDonagh (8th) and Majella Gilmartin (9th).
The result brings the 15-week league campaign to a close, with Enda Ruane finishing top of the overall table after leading for most of the season on 255 points. Brian Quinn was second on 249, with Keith Lydon close behind in third on 247. The remainder of the top twelve qualifiers are Paul Walsh (208), John Reynolds (205), Gerry Groarke (196), Conor O’Hanlon (195), Kieran McGee (194), Majella Gilmartin (186), Michael Sheridan (184), Michael Higgins (180) and Nicky Cunnane (177).
Those 12 players qualify automatically for the Grand Final, while the final two places from the playoff game were secured by Adam Earley and Conor Byrne. The 14 finalists will now compete for a prize pool of €3,310, with the date of the final yet to be confirmed.
A regular weekly game was also held last week with no league points at stake. Tom Maughan and Kieran McGee shared first place, while Gerry Groarke finished third.
Irene McNicholas was the winner of Kiltimagh GAA Club’s weekly 50/50 draw last week, taking home €763.
The draw continues to enjoy strong support from the local community, with tickets available online as well as through shops and pubs around the town. The club congratulated Irene on the win.
The club also expressed sincere thanks to all who entered the draw, as proceeds continue to support underage coaching, facilities and ongoing development projects.
The death occurred peacefully on May 26th of Gerard Reilly of Convent Hill Crescent, Ballina, and formerly of Main Street, Kiltimagh.
Gerard was predeceased by his parents Michael and Bridie Reilly and his brother-in-law Charlie McGoldrick. He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken wife Mary (McGoldrick), daughter Elizabeth, sister Marion, brothers Fr Michael and Eamon, aunts Bernie and Kathleen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, sincere friend Séamus, relatives, neighbours and many good friends.
Gerard’s remains reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Thursday evening, May 28th. Requiem Mass was held in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Friday morning last followed by burial afterwards in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
May he rest in peace.
