Local Notes: Ballinrobe rally pair kicked off their 2026 season in style.
Ballinrobe rally pair John Warren and Ruthann O’Connor kicked off their 2026 season in style in the McHale Fusion 4 Plus Ford Fiesta Rally2 during an action-packed Corrib Oil Galway International 2 day Rally, in which they won their class and finished eleventh overall. Picture: Seamus Counihan/CRS Pics
The results of a recent competition were as follows: 1st nett John and Mo Mullin; 1st gross Flor Higgins and Dympna Smyth; 2nd Nancy Hughes and Bob Craddock; 3rd Lena Lowery and Maura McHugh; 4th Kathleen and Phil Walsh; 5th Maureen Gallagher and Mary Connaughton.
Ballinrobe Golf Club will hold two fundraisers for the club starting with a poker classic on Friday, February 13, at 8pm, in the clubhouse. Then, on Friday, March 6, the club will hold a table quiz, also in the clubhouse, with that event commencing at 8pm. Your support for these fundraisers would be greatly appreciated.
Tickets are selling fast for the return of the much-loved ‘Somebody Special’ concert, which takes place this month at Claremorris Town Hall Theatre. The special fundraising concert in aid of Gaza, will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 7.30pm. Following the enthusiastic response to the initial performance in August, with audiences praising both the calibre of the musicians and the atmosphere on the night, the organisers are encouraging people to buy tickets now for another memorable evening.
Produced by Hollymount’s Pat McGovern, ‘Somebody Special’ brings together a group of outstanding local musicians and singers from Hollymount, Roundfort and Irishtown. The performers share songs they love in a spirit of friendship, music and community, spanning traditional, folk, gospel and bluegrass styles, with contemporary Irish dance by Molly Hughes adding another memorable dimension to the evening.
The concert is a joint undertaking between the ‘Somebody Special’ musicians and the Claremorris Palestine Solidarity Group. Members of the group organise weekly peaceful vigils across nine towns in Mayo, including Claremorris, to show solidarity with Palestine and to keep humanitarian issues in the public eye.
Pat McGovern originally brought the musicians together through his long-standing involvement with The Rise and Shine Trust, where he has volunteered for over a decade. What began as a shared love of music and friendship grew into the recording of the ‘Somebody Special’ album at Launchpad LK Studios in Limerick, featuring a wide mix of traditional, folk, gospel and contemporary songs, including the title track written by Galway’s Don Stiffe.
All proceeds from next month’s concert will go to medical aid for Palestinians, which works to support access to healthcare and dignity for Palestinians. Copies of the ‘Somebody Special’ CD will also be available on the night, with proceeds supporting the Gaza fund. Tickets (€27.50, including booking fee) are on sale now from Claremorris Town Hall Theatre Box Office (094 931 0999) and online at www.townhall.ie. Early booking is strongly advised to ensure you don’t miss this very special event.
The Ballinrobe women’s team will be in senior cup action on Sunday, February 15, when they host Sligo Rugby Club at The Green. At time of writing no kick-off had been confirmed for this fixture, however, the kick-off-time will be available on the club’s Facebook Page neater the date. Your support for this fixture would be appreciated.
The junior men’s team will face Westport in the Super 4’s promotion play-off semi-final, on either February 28 or March 1. The game will take place in Carrowholly, and confirmation of the date and kick-of time will be available next week.
Martin Gannon was the winner of €565 in the weekly 50/50 draw which was held on Sunday, February 1.
Congratulations to Teresa Burke who was the winner of €65 in last week’s 50/50 draw conducted by the Tacú Family Resource Centre.
Meals on Wheels are hot meals delivered to individuals at home (either on a temporary or long term basis). Meals on wheels can make your life easier. This service covers Ballinrobe and the Lake District area. Deliveries take place on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s and consist of soup, main meal and dessert. People can also avail of two meals on Monday’s and Thursday’s. Those interested or who require further details and information, are asked to contact the Tacú Family Resource Centre, Main Street, Ballinrobe, on 094 9542908 or 087 2347438.
Bingo (also via-Zoom) takes place in the Parish Centre, Ballinrobe, on Tuesday (tonight) at 8.30pm. For those wishing to play via-Zoom or who require further details and information, you are asked to contact Monica on 087 4111343. Books are also available to purchase in the Tacú Centre.
Low-cost counselling is available in the Tacú Family Resource Centre, Main Street, Ballinrobe. Contact 087 2859973 to talk confidentially and/or to make an appointment. Each call to the low-cost counselling service is dealt with promptly and the caller is matched with a suitable counsellor. This is an extremely confidential service.
Youth Counselling is available by contacting the Tacú Family Resource Centre. Two counsellors are available for young people aged 16-25, who are struggling with relationships, anxiety, worries, or who just simply wants someone to listen to them. Further details and information are available by contacting Mary on 087 2859973.
The Sing Song Social is a pop-up choir from Ballinrobe, who meet up on a regular basis and just sing for fun. These pop-up singing events are very relaxed and sociable, and you get a great sense of achievement from singing the finished product. There is also no commitment to the group, and you can join in the singing as little or as often as you like, and each event is new to everyone.
The group meet at Ballinrobe Bright Beginnings, in the church in the old convent, Covent Road, Ballinrobe. Please visit the Sing Song Social’s Facebook page to see their upcoming get-together. New members are welcome.
There was no winner of the €11,800 lotto jackpot draw which was held in Tierney’s of Foxhall, on Sunday, February 1. The numbers drawn were 12, 20, 23 and 31. The €50 winners were Caolan Crowe, Garrymore, Peadar Higgins, Ballycushion, and The Lynskey Family, Gortskehy.
GOAL is delighted to announce that the thousands of people who took part in GOAL Mile 2025 across Ireland and overseas helped raise a record €800,000 for the aid agency’s lifesaving humanitarian programmes around the world. Of that total figure, €16k was raised at GOAL Mile events across Co. Mayo, including at Ballinrobe, Castlebar and Westport. Proudly backed once again by AIB, the GOAL Mile is the Dublin-based agency’s flagship fundraiser, which has grown from humble beginnings in the early 1980s into a much-loved annual event. The 2025 edition was held at over 200 locations across the Republic and Northern Ireland, as well as in the United States and Africa, over the Christmas season and into the New Year.
All funds raised will go towards GOAL’s ongoing efforts in delivering life-saving aid to some of the world’s most fragile communities including those in Gaza, Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria and beyond. For over four decades, GOAL has worked to provide food, shelter, water and sanitation in these crisis-hit regions, and events such as the GOAL Mile play a vital role in sustaining this mission.
Learn about marriage, matchmaking and the folk traditions in between at an upcoming talk at 2pm on St Valentine’s Day, 14th February, at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar. This talk will be given by Keeper of the Irish Folklife Collection, Clodagh Doyle. Admission is free and ooking is required. Visit museum.ie, or email BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie, or telephone +353 94 90 31751.
Parke Keelogues Crimlin Gaa Club, in conjunction with Mayo Mental Health Association and The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park and Mayo AC announced the date of February 15, for the 2026 Turlough 8K. Participants are encouraged to run, walk or jog during this event which sees huge participation each year and is very popular. All monies raised go back into Parke GAA Community Initiatives and Mayo MHA Schools Education Programmes. Link to register at https://eventmaster.ie/.
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Kilmaine Community Centre Social Cafe returns on Friday, February 13, from 11am-1.30pm. This is a free event for everyone in the community. Tea, coffee and scones provided. Scones are kindly sponsored by Balance You Foods in Ballinrobe. Pop in for a cuppa and a chat.
Bingo takes place every Sunday night in Kilmaine Community Centre at 8pm. A great night guaranteed in this 7 game bingo. Books are only €5 and all proceeds go back into the local community. There are wonderful prizes on offer and complimentary refreshments at half time. Follow Kilmaine Bingo on Facebook to keep up to date.
Congratulations to Donnacha, Cillian and Oisín Ronan, Ciarán Kelly and Eoghan Maloney who won medals at the recent indoor Mayo County Athletic Championships, and well done to all of the children from Kilmaine who participated on the day.
Set Dancing classes continue every Thursday evening in Kilmaine Community Centre from 8.30-10.30 pm. Cost is €10 for 2 hours. All are welcome and all levels are catered for.
Kilmaine Community Games are hosting chess and draught classes for all primary school aged children every Sunday evening in Kilmaine Community Centre from 5.30-6.30pm. All are welcome.
“Move it or Lose it” gentle exercise classes take place every Monday evening at 7.30pm in Kilmaine Community Centre. €10/class. All are welcome.
Chair Yoga takes place every Thursday afternoon at 2.30pm in Kilmaine Community Centre. The cost is €5 per class. All are welcome.
Kilmaine Community Centre is available for bookings for birthday parties, meetings, classes etc. Bookings can be made via our Facebook Page or by contacting 087 6467177.
Kilmaine GAA Lotto stands at €24,200. Tickets can be bought online at Kilmainegaa.com or from Walshs Centra, Murphys and Harry’s bar and in Kilmaine Community Centre. The lotto draw takes place every Monday evening at 9.30pm and can be watched live on the Kilmaine GAA Facebook page.
