Local notes: Bishop to make whistle-stop pilgrimage
Rory Gruddy, a 2nd Year student at St Joseph's Secondary School in Foxford, and teacher Mrs Aileen McNamara, at Dublin Airport where the pair jetted off as part of the Irish delegation taking part in the recent Schools International Cross-Country in Falkirk, Glasgow. Rory was part of a team of six Irish junior athletes who won team silver, with Rory finishing an excellent ninth overall. Mrs Aileen McNamara was a member of the Ireland management team for the trip.
The Church of Ireland in Foxford will be one of the stops on a remarkable endeavour by Bishop Michael Burrows on Good Friday.
The Rt Revd Burrows, who is the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, is to travel across his vast diocese on pilgrimage all in one day, commencing in Killala and ending in Kenmare.
Beginning his Stations of the Cross pilgrimage at 8.30am in Killala and then visiting Ballina, Bishop Burrows will be in Foxford at 10am outside the church, where he will pause for a short reflection on Christ’s journey to the Cross.
It is one of 15 churches he will visit on the day, arriving to Kenmare in Co Kerry at approximately 9.50pm.
The Church of Ireland congregation in Foxford would be delighted if as many as possible could join they and Bishop Michael Burrows in the Market Square on Friday, April 18 for the station of the Cross – Jesus condemned by the Sanhedrin.
A tea party will be held in aid of Alzheimer’s in the home of Maria and Richard Bourke, Tavanaghmore, Foxford (F26 K028) on Sunday, April 27 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend and support a worthy charity.
Moy Davitts GAA for All, an inclusive team for children with additional needs, has resumed for 2025. The first session was held in Sraith Garbh last Saturday morning, April 12. It represents an excellent opportunity to have fun and make new friends. If your child would like to be part of GAA for All, contact Barbara Conlon at bconlon02@gmail.com or Deirdre Maloney at 087-6951835.
A huge amount of work has been taking place by and on behalf of the Foxford Enhancement Group of late. They were joined members of Foxford Foróige Club on Friday, April 4 for a litter pick around the town and its outskirts while they also employed the talents of Sylvia Spain to paint a scenic mural on the wall behind their planted boat on Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard Road.
And you too can play your part by assisting Foxford Enhancement Group in their big Spring clean-up on Easter Monday, April 21. They would gladly welcome any volunteers who have two hours to spare, from 11am to 1pm.
The meeting point is at the pharmacy carpark and gloves and high viz vests will be provided along with pickers but if you have your own, please do bring it with you.
This is a great community event and a way of getting to meet people also. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
There were scores aplenty at St Brendan’s Park in Kilmeena last Tuesday evening as Moy Davitts recorded an impressive away win in Round 2 of the County Minor Football League Division 4. It finished 2-18 to 3-12 in favour of Moy Davitts who also have an away game today (Tuesday) against Ballintubber. Throw-in at Ray Prendergast Memorial Park, Clogher is at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the U16 Division 4 game that was due to be played last week between Moy Davitts and Islandeady was postponed and refixed for Thursday, May 8. The U16s will be in action this week, however, with Burrishoole the visitors this Thursday, April 17 at 7pm.
Elsewhere, the Moy Davitts U12 team commences its season this Wednesday, April 16 with a home game against Naomh Padraig in the Homeland U12 Spring League Group 3. The game gets underway at 7pm.
Moy Davitts got their Mayo SFL Division 1B campaign off to a victorious start when they beat Mayo Gaels by 2-17 to 1-16 in Round 1 last Saturday week.
Against Mayo Gaels, it was actually the South Mayo outfit led for the first 41 minutes but ultimately a goal and two points each by Mayo senior panellist Cian McHale and Brian Heneghan saw the home side eventually emerge as four points winners.
Mayo Gaels had made the perfect start to proceedings when Peter Gallager fired to the Moy Davitts net after only eight minutes and at half-time they led 1-8 to 1-6. The hosts, however, were to turn in an impressive second-half display, outscoring Mayo Gaels 1-11 to 0-8. Outside of McHale and Heneghan, the remainder of their points were provided by Padraig Ruane and Ronan Clarke, three apiece, Ryan Kenny, two, and Oisin McHugh.
St Joseph’s Secondary School is celebrating some wonderful achievements of their students of late.
Sarah Jane Walsh, a Transition Year, student, and 5th Year Dara Walsh, have been elected to Foróige’s Reference Panel which works together to influence and improve the governance of Foróige, ensuring that decisions align with the views of young people. The panel consists of 64 young people. Dara, however, was also successfully elected to the National Council, which is the representative body for all young people and volunteers involved in Foróige. It allows young people to directly influence decisions that affect them and helps shape how Foróige meets their needs.
As part of this role, Dara now represents the voices of nearly 50,000 young people across the country.
Meanwhile, another St Joseph’s pupil, Lauren Neary, who is in Transition Year, was last week at the University of Galway where she was presented with a certificate at a special awards ceremony in which recognition was awarded to students who achieved a distinction in Higher Level Gaeilge in the Junior Cycle exams. Well done to all.
On the second and fourth Thursday of every month, the Foxford Board Games social group meets at Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre at 7pm where new and different board games are played. All are welcome to attend.
Congratulations to Eileen Goldrick who was last week’s winner of the Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw. She won a jackpot prize of €492.
There was a terrific 5-1 win away to Manulla for S&F United’s U13 girls team last Tuesday, April 8. In what was their second game of the season, two goals apiece by Lucy Durkan and Amber Ginlagh were added to by one from Zoe Corcoran, to help them secure all three points. Lucy Durkan had also scored twice in the side’s 4-2 loss away to Westport United in the round – a game they had led 2-1 in the second-half and in which they also played extremely well.
Several more of S&F United’s underage teams have also been on the winning trail of late. The U17 boys visited Partry Athletic last Monday and emerged with a 2-1 win thanks to a goal apiece by Brady Guilfoyle and James Duffy while both of United’s U15 boys teams won their games also. The Premier Division side saw off home side Killala 3-1 after goals by Rian Jordan, Ronnie Deacy and Calum Costello while the Division 4C team beat Ballina Town ‘B’ comprehensively thanks to a barrage of goals by Martin Dillon, four, Heath Byrne, two, Harry Prendergast and Joseph Elstone.
Elsewhere, S&F’s U13 boys team were unfortunate to begin their Division 1 season with a 3-1 defeat away to Kilmurry. Eoghan Jordan scored their only goal.
S&F United’s U15 girls were also in action and their performance deserved more than a 3-1 defeat when visiting Snugboro United. Their only goal was scored by Kasia Berkowski.
It’s still early days in the 2025 Castlecourt Hotel Premier Division but S&F United’s men’s team earned what could turn out to be a very valuable point away to Ballyheane ‘B’ with whom they drew 2-2. The hosts went two up inside eight minutes but late goals by Damian Frontczak and Andy Neary levelled the game. The result came on the back of a 2-1 win away to Kilmore where James Lynskey and Conor Devaney scored the goals.
It's been a steadying of the ship after United lost their opening four league games of the season. They now sit three points clear of bottom-of-the-table Ballyheane, although United have played one game more.
To assist with the fundraising for their new build project on the Swinford Road, Knockmore-Foxford Boxing Club are collecting scrap metal – big and small items alike – for the entire month of April and would appreciate all donations.
They are accepting everything from cars, tractors, motorbikes, oil ranges, bicycles, batteries, galvanised gates and sheets, barrows, buckets, radiators, copper aluminium, lead and cast iron.
Pick up is available for large loads, otherwise drop off is from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm on both of the next Saturdays, April 19 and April 26, or by appointment, at the Jacob Truck Rental Yard beside Applegreen, Foxford.
You can contact Billy 086-8363646, Tom 087-6685476 or Brendan 086-3525403 for further details.
The senior footballers of Moy Davitts LGFA made an excellent start to their Memorial League campaign when beating a visiting Hollymount side by 3-12 to 2-13. The U16s also saw off the challenge of a visiting Castlebar Mitchels team but the U14s were unlucky to lose their first match of the season away to Ballyhaunis, in what was a very competitive match played in hot conditions. Their next match is not until April 23.
An invitation is extended to boys and girls who would like to join the Moy Davitts GAA under-6s and nursery. The first session of the year will be on Friday, April 25 at the club grounds from 6 to 7pm.
The U6 group is for players born in 2019 while the nursery group is for those born in 2020 and ’21.
Registration is at www.foireann.ie. If you need help, the Bord na nÓg committee will be on hand as well as the club registrar. If you would like to be added to a WhatsApp group, contact Paula at 087-322677.
