Local Notes: Ballyhaunis boxer stars at tournament in hometown
Local boxer Carla Peake (in red) in action against Canadian boxer Rosalind Canty at the successful tournament hosted recently by Ballyhaunis Boxing Club in the Friary grounds. Picture: Adam Kaczmarek/ AK Photography
Local man Dr Gay Corr has been eulogised by management of the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) as a “pioneering figure” in the development of higher education in the region. Dr Corr passed away in Galway on July 1 last.
“Known affectionately as the ‘founding father of Galway RTC [Regional Technical College],’ Dr Corr's legacy is profound and enduring,” stated the ATU in a recent statement.
Dr Gay Corr was born in Feamore, on the road between Ballyhaunis and Irishtown, before graduating from the University of Galway and becoming a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
He was appointed as the first principal of Regional Technical College Galway on April 1, 1972.
“His visionary leadership was instrumental in forging significant links and partnerships, such as those with Mountbellew Agricultural College and Connemara West PLC in 1987, which led to the establishment of the Letterfrack campus,” noted the ATU. “His efforts further expanded RTC’s footprint with new campuses in Castlebar and Cluain Mhuire in Galway city in 1994.
“Under Dr Corr's guidance, GMIT saw the development of the landmark Learning Resource Centre on Galway city's Dublin Road, a building renowned for its award-winning design and maritime-inspired green sails. His commitment to research and consultancy was exemplified by his chairing of the 1982 national report on Research and Consultancy in VEC Colleges and the subsequent establishment of the first Research and Consultancy unit in an RTC in 1984.
“Dr Corr's influence extended beyond Galway RTC when he was appointed by the Minister for Education, Mary O'Rourke, to the role of ‘acting’ Chairman of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in January 1990, a testament to his significant contributions to education at a national level. He served in this role until January 1, 1993, during which time Galway RTC became a statutory body under the RTC Act 1992, and Dr Corr was named its first Director.
“After a remarkable 30-year tenure marked by extraordinary growth and transformation, Dr Corr retired in 2002. His enduring impact was further recognised on April 1, 2022, when GMIT transitioned to Atlantic Technological University, and Dr Corr was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his invaluable services to the HEA.
“Dr Gay Corr’s dedication, vision, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the educational landscape of the region. His contributions have shaped the lives of countless students, educators, and community members.
"Atlantic Technological University extends its deepest sympathies to his family and our thoughts are with all who knew and loved him throughout his incredible life.”
Gorthaganny man Brendan Hurley is confident that the Night and Day Festival he established is now a firm feature on the Irish music circuit and set to grow in 2025. He was speaking after the latest edition of the festival, at Lough Key Forest Park in late June.
“It was great, the numbers were really up. They say it takes three years to establish a festival. The first two years, the saying goes, you lose money, then in the third year you break even.”
That maxim has come to pass for Night and Day, said Hurley, who organises the festival with his nephew Craig Hughes from Ballyhaunis.
“When we look back now on the first year we wonder how we survived it...The first year we had 1,000 festival goers; in 2024 if you count the kids [who haven't had to pay entry] we had 3,000. This year we charged a nominal €2 per child as for insurance purposes you have to know the number of people on site.”
A one-day ticket for the festival is €80, including booking fee.
The early bird tickets for this year’s festival sold out in 24 hours, explained Hurley.
“I feel now we are on people radar,” he said.
Major Irish acts appearing this year included Damian Dempsey, the Frank and Walters and BellX1.
Organising the three-day festival is a major logistical and planning operation, explained Hurley.
“You are working on a greenfield site, you have to manage ground conditions, water and electricity supply. You never stop learning.”
Hurley hopes to have more food vendors on site in 2025 and to have a family carpark nearer to the main festival site, but the organisers have to comply with health and safety inspections by the Gardai and fire service.
Success also brings new dilemmas.
“The next question is if we reach 5,000 attendees you have to apply for a license. That’s a lot more red tape. And the bigger you get you lose some of the atmosphere.”
Financial sustainability matters, of course.
“A lot of festivals are going out of business and losing money,” notes Hurley who believes higher transport and fuel costs are to blame.
He gets generators from Dublin and “their costs are gone through the roof". Also, some festival organisers try to bite off too much too soon.
“They go for a 15,000 audience. But that comes with huge overheads.”
Performers have been unpaid by some over-ambitious festival organisers.
“The artists need to know you can pay your bills,” said Hurley.
He is aiming to host Night and Day next year during the last weekend of June and he’s not ruling out getting more international acts on the bill.
"If you restricted yourself to only Irish acts you’d run out of headliners quickly.”
Ballyhaunis Cricket Club has seen its season take off with some very competitive games coming thick and fast.
Club member Zia Shafique explained: “It was pretty slow in June as there wasn't much competition games. But the last game we played was very intense against the University of Galway. It was 20 overs game, and for Ballyhaunis it was a must-win game in this format to proceed to the Connacht League semi finals.
"We played in the Lydican Galway ground...we didn't pull through, we lost in the last over as they needed nine runs in the final over with the last man standing.”
The team is hoping for better luck in its next game, a 30 overs game against Kilconnell in Co Galway.
Zia believes an increase in the Indian student population is contributing to the strength of cricket in the western region.
“It's great to see the majority of University of Galway team players were from India and they were very excited on the day as India won the T20 Cricket World Cup Final between South Africa and India.”
Kilconnell, near Ballinasloe, is the location of one of several new cricket clubs which have emerged across Ireland, making for more competition for Ballyhaunis, long one of the best-performing teams in the region.
Congratulations to Justina Lyons, Upper Main Street who won €460 on an envelope sold in Londis in the July 14th draw in Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50.
Knock-based weightlifting star Vaidas Milius recently took third place in the European Masters Weightlifting contest held in Norway.
“I took third place in the 55-year-old age group and 102 kilo weight category... in my category there were seven lifters,” explained Vaidas who is now preparing for the World Masters 2024, which will be in Lapland, Finland, from September 5th to 14th.
“Some friends from the factory were happy for me,” explained Vaidotas (known as Vaidas) who trains daily in a Claremorris gym after finishing his shift at Western Brand, the Bekan-based poultry processor. “I started lifting when I was 14… I competed at a high level in my country, Lithuania,” he explained to this column.
Last year, Vaidas competed in the world masters finals in Poland where he participated in two divisions: the snatch and the clean-and-jerk, with competitors scored according to how well they lift.
Masters Weightlifting is an Olympic sport for athletes aged 35 years and older. The sport’s governing body, the International Masters Weightlifting Association, describes it thus: “Weightlifting is the ultimate sport of strength and power and should not be confused with powerlifting, bodybuilding, or general weight training.”
All roads lead to Urlaur on August 4th for the annual Pattern in the historic village. A great day’s entertainment gets under way at 1pm with Mass at the Abbey. There’ll be traditional music by the lake as well as sports competitions and amusements for children.
There’ll be food, tea and coffee and the formal launch of Jim Casey’s book about his military service in Cyprus. There’s also a social in the Community Centre at 10pm.
See www.urlaurcommunitypattern.ie for more details.
A popular monthly social night at the Community Hall in Ballyhaunis returns on July 27th with music, dancing and recitations. Proceeds from the event will go to Mayo SPCA, a local animal welfare charity.
Starting at 8pm, with a €5 cover charge, the event is organised by Ballyhaunis Community Council and performers are invited to participate.
