Local notes: Boxers take centre stage in Foxford
Pictured are boxers and coaches of Knockmore/Foxford BC who hosted a tournament at Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre recently. Front row, from left: Michael Ronan Ward, Axel Doherty, Sean Bourke, Michael Jordan McDonagh, Leon Lackey, Martin Ward, Finn Judge and Benjamin Garvin. Back row, from left: Martin Ward (assistant coach), Hunter Byrne, Shay Judge, Bernie Lackey, Martin Lackey, Kevin Spellman, Warren Ryder, Michael Howley, Se Dempsey, Kyle Reape, Joe Hanson (coach) and Billy Rice (referee, judge, coach).
Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club (KFC) staged an enormous tournament at the Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre, with a double programme of contests for the Vincy James Memorial Tournament taking a marathon six hours to complete. The first of 22 boxing bouts commenced at 1pm with all but one of them involving a KFC boxer. The majority of the boxers were extremely well matched and the experience gained by all of them will be invaluable in the future. Knockmore/Foxford BC are grateful to St Anne's, Castlebar and Ardagh/Crossmolina for providing fair and quality boxers to suit the underage KFC members.
The main event had 24 more contests. KFC were due to have nine boxers on the bill but unfortunately there were two no shows from visiting boxers. The seven KFC boxers still involved each had good competitive contests and all seven had their hands raised in victory after the final bell, which sounded at 7pm to conclude the double tournament.
The event overall was a huge success and was arranged as a fundraiser for Knockmore/Foxford BC’s new premises on the Swinford Road, construction of which is to begin shortly.
Alan McTigue was awarded the Kelly Cup as the best KFC boxer and his clubmate Benjamin Garvin won the best underage boxer award. Other KFC boxers on the main bill were Stephen McTigue, Martin Lawrence, Jonah Gallagher, Joshua Garvin, Sam Reddington and Pearse Lawless.
Due to the huge success of the underage event, Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club plans to stage another similar event later in the season.
€1,000 was raised by Admiral Brown CCÉ as a result of the quiz night it held at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford on Friday, January 17. The event was extremely well supported. The branch would like to thank its youth officer, Méabh Hyland, who set the questions and acted as quizmaster, and Peter Fox for his help in organising the event. Thanks is also extended to everyone who helped on the night, made donations or contributed prizes, and to Aileen Gilmore, Sean McLoughlin and all at St Joseph’s for making the venue available.
There was music provided on the night by the branch musicians who last Saturday represented Moy Davitts GAA at the All-Ireland Scór na Óg finals in Monaghan.
The proceeds of the quiz will go towards the running of the Admiral Brown CCÉ branch.
It was with sadness that the town of Foxford learned of the recent passing of Michael Healy from Borehallagh, and formerly of Shraheen. Michael was a community man in the truest sense, particularly relating to cultural, religious and sporting events. He was a member of various choirs including the Foxford church choir, where he held positions as conductor and musical director, and the Fr Peyton cluster choir.
During the Mayo 5000 celebrations held in the National Concert Hall in 1993, Michael was part of the combined Mayo choirs which provided backing to a musical composition called ‘The Spirit of Mayo’. It was at this event that all the central elements of Riverdance came together, including the partnership of Moya Doherty, John McColgan, Bill Whelan, Michael Flatley and Jean Butler.
He was an accomplished singer and musician, able to turn his hand to a multitude of instruments including flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone and trombone. As a member of both the Moy Rhythm Orchestra and Pasadena showbands in the 1950s and 60s, he helped bring entertainment to dancehalls up and down the country.
Michael worked for 18 years in the Foxford Woolen Mills where he met his beloved wife, Maureen. During this time, he also joined and was a long-standing member of the Foxford Brass and Reed Band. In one tribute, a fellow member called him the best sight reader in the band. It was a compliment he would have greatly appreciated.
Another of Michael’s great loves was sport. A useful handball player in his youth, he represented Foxford on several occasions. He also followed Gaelic football closely, being of a generation inspired by the great Mayo teams of the 1930s to 50s. Indeed, having witnessed first-hand the Mayo team entering Foxford in September 1951 with Sam Maguire in tow, he was quick to shoot down talk of a supposed funeral procession and related curse in later years.
Michael cheered on the local Moy Davitts team right up to the time of his passing, with a number of his grandchildren still involved today.
Michael passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in the wonderful care of the Moyridge Nursing home, Ballina. He will be sadly missed by all his family and many friends who had the pleasure of his acquaintance over the years. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasail.
Following a review of its 2025 Membership Rates, Moy Davitts GAA Club has announced more options for returning and new club members. There are also attractive packages for non-playing club members who buy 50/50 lotto and County Board tickets as well as many other options.
For anyone who may already have purchased membership prior to this update, they can contact Paula Ruane on 087-322677 to combine any membership.
To register, visit www.foireann.ie or the Foireann app.
This year, all players from U8s to U18s (boys born between 2007 and 2018) who are registered by Friday, February 14 will receive game day Shorts (white and red) plus red midi socks (to the value of €30 per member) as part of their registration.
Moy Davitts will host a registration information evening and size confirmation on Monday, February 17 for parents/guardians. One parent/guardian must make every effort to attend in order to confirm sizing and to meet the manager of the various age groups for the year ahead. The club will then place orders on February 18 to have gear in time for the playing season.
Parents will also have the option of purchasing a training short sleeve t-shirt on the day, with the price yet to be confirmed.
All club members must be registered by March 31, 2025 if they wish to have voting rights for 2025.
Congratulations – and good luck – to Moy Davitts footballer Cian McHale who has helped University of Limerick to reach the quarter-finals of the Sigerson Cup. Cian was quickest to react to a rebound when tucking home UL’s opening goal in their 3-8 to 0-14 win against University of Galway last week. The corner-forward also added three points, including two from play, in an eye-catching display against a side that featured another Mayo attacker, Ryan O’Donoghue, in its ranks.
McHale and co will travel to Grangegorman today (Tuesday, January 28) to play TU Dublin in the last eight of the competition.
Cian and his Moy Davitts teammate Conor Reid are also wished every good luck as they embark on this season’s National Football League Division campaign with Kevin McStay’s Mayo senior football panel. It is Cian’s first year and Conor’s second in the squad.
Meanwhile, another of Moy Davitts’ former Mayo attackers, Brian Reape, has a provincial final to look forward to after he helped Abbvie overcome Medtronic in the Connacht Senior Inter-Firms semi-final, at the Connacht GAA Air Dome. In a unique twist, another Moy Davitts footballer, Oisin McHugh, was on the opposing team.
Over €700 was won in the past two Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 lotto draws. Congratulations to Colm Reape, Foxford who won a jackpot of €342 while the week before Tarran Napier was the recipient of €410. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by playing on the club app.
Set dancing classes have resumed on Sunday nights in the Brown Memorial Hall, Foxford. New beginners are most welcome to attend. The class gets underway at 7pm.
The Foxford Traditional Singing and Poetry Group will meet in Guiry’s Bar, Foxford this Thursday, January 30. All are welcome to attend. The event gets underway at 8.30pm.
Clinics are continuing to take place for people in the locality whose homes have been impacted by defective concrete blocks.
Caroline Wilson is the DCB facilitator and is available by appointment, in conjunction with Mayo North East Partnership, to assist homeowners with the DCB Grant scheme and application. For all enquiries or to make an appointment, contact Caroline at 087-4828261 or by email at carolinewilson@mayonortheast.com.
It was a case of easy as 1-2-3 for Tommy Durkan from Belass, Foxford when his season ticket scooped €123 in last week’s S&F United 50-50 lotto draw. A season ticket represents great value as it costs just €50 to enter all 52 draws. They are available at smartlotto.ie and from committee members while weekly tickets can also be purchased in usual local outlets.
Stephanie Loughney and Fiona Doherty were in attendance at the Mayo Women’s Football League annual presentation night, which was held in the Western Hotel, Claremorris recently, to receive awards after an excellent season in the colours of S&F United. Stephanie was named on the Premier Division of the Year while Fiona was recognised for having been named Premier Division Player of the Month for June. Congratulations to both.
There have been a couple of terrific wins for S&F United youth teams on the provincial front of late. There was a very commanding performance from the U14 boys who advanced to the last 16 of the Connacht Cup thanks to a 9-0 win against Dromahair FC. They did so thanks to four goals from Rory Gruddy, a brace from Jamie Loughney and one apiece by Calum Costello, Ronnie Deacy and Michael Ruane.
S&F United are also into the next round of the Connacht U12 Shield after a solid 5-3 win over Loughrea. Again, one player delivered four of the goals, namely Eoghan Jordan, while the other was netted by Oisin McHale.
Unfortunately, United couldn’t make it a clean sweep for the weekend as the U18s exited the SFAI Cup following a 3-0 defeat at home to St Bernard’s, after a game that was much tighter than the full-time scoreline might suggest.
The club would like to thank the parents who provided refreshments for the teams after the game.
