Local Notes: Californian actress enjoys visit to Ballyhaunis
Members of Tooreen Foróige Club are pictured at the Mayo Foróige 3rd Years Prom Ball, held recently at the Great National Hotel, Ballina. Picture: Trish Forde
Ballyhaunis left a very positive impression recently on Californian actress Terry Finn, who was in town to visit her sister Merrilyn. Terry, who is also known off-stage as Teresa, is currently a cast member of the Matlock remake starring Kathy Bates on Paramount+ television.
“There is little that contradicts an Irish American’s notion that they are Irish like a trip to Ireland," said Terry. "I learned this on my first visit here over fifty years ago and the two weeks I’ve spent here since my most recent return have not dissuaded me. Having embraced this truth, I make it my business to honor the local vibe wherever I travel and the local vibe in Ballyhaunis is very agreeable indeed.
“I’m here to see my sister who has been embraced by the community since her arrival seven years ago. I’d been bragging of my sister’s bravery in leaving the United States to establish a life in the land of our ancestors and had of course been eager to see the place she calls home. Happily, I can now brag that her instincts served her well in putting down roots in heavenly Ballyhaunis.”
During her visit, Terry spoke at the Thursday night meeting of Ballyhaunis Language Café about her acting career, highlights of which include being in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's .
“I also appeared Off Broadway in , directed by Ireland's Donal Donnelly. I worked in regional theatres around the States doing such plays as and .
Terry’s husband, David L. Snyder, is an Oscar-nominated production designer.
“We have worked together on , and , directed by Bob Hoskins.”
The recent spell of sunshine allowed Terry see Ballyhaunis at its best.
“My first walk into town on a beautiful bright clear day found me wandering in the friary and listening to the many varieties of birds and their song. A gentle river ripples through the landscape where steps lead up to the friary church and the adjacent churchyard where I searched for names matching my grandparents and their ancestors.
“The peace here contrasts sharply with the cacophony of life in Los Angeles and the US in general in these unsettling days in America. I’ve since taken this walk into town every day to shop and enjoy the cordial atmosphere. The gorgeous weather has been a blessing during my trip and I have enjoyed every minute of Ireland’s crisp temperature and sunshine.”
Teresa visited the gravesite of her great-grandparents Michael and Mary Morley, in Aghamore, and the homestead where her grandmother lived before she emigrated to America.
“This was a surprisingly profound moment for me. Putting my hands on the ground where they are buried, and touching the stonework on the old house moved me to tears.”
She also saw extended family nearer to Ballyhaunis.
“Breakfast after church with second cousins in Johnstown was great and they took me to see some donkeys which I'd been dying to do. I also wanted to tempt some faeries to my orbit but was assured by those in the know I probably don't want to invite that kind of mischief.”
Terry said the “open friendly faces” she encountered in Ballyhaunis have been a “nourishing tonic” as she returns to Los Angeles.
“The spectacular sky with it’s grey clouds battling the insistent sunshine against the bright Irish green landscape where stone fences snake into the horizon conjure Ireland’s magic. It is just so pretty. I will miss Ballyhaunis.”
The Brackloon School and District Reunion Group, Ballyhaunis will run a homecoming festivity in August that is being organised this year as part of the Clans of Mayo initiative by Mayo County Council.
“The focus of the planned homecoming festivity is to encourage community interaction and visitor attraction, similar to the acclaimed Gathering 2013,” note the organising committee.
The celebratory weekend will commence with an exciting day tour by bus on Thursday, August 20. More details to follow.
A festive social event is also being organised for Saturday, August 22, that will include music, genealogy and an ideal opportunity to reminisce with friends, family and the local community.
“The committee is especially pleased to extend an invite to those who have connections in the area or whose ancestry came from the general locality to come and join us for this celebration. Further updates on the festive weekend events will be advised in the coming days.”
More details on the events will be published on this page and on the ‘Brackloon Reunion’ Facebook page You can also email brackloonreunion@hotmail.com for further information.
With school-specific reports from a recent survey on school patronage coming out this month, it’s worth hearing what teachers in the Ballyhaunis area are saying about patronage of local primary schools.
A Department of Education survey of parents found that 60% of parents were content with the patronage of schools remaining with the Catholic Church, with local clergy in most cases presiding over the board of management in local primary schools. The online survey, which was conducted from November 4 to December 16 last year, also showed 40% of parents want the Catholic Church’s role to end, in line with a policy of divestment introduced by the government in 2011.
Speaking to this paper, one teacher in the Ballyhaunis area, believes “that the fact that 60% of parents prefer for things to remain the same is the real story".
"Why highlight the minority view? We have not received any breakdown as to how the parents or staff in any individual school expressed their preferences; suffice to say that 40% of the children in our school are Catholic, yet if 60% preferred to not divest, that suggests to me that there are a lot of non-Catholics out there who are quite happy for their children to be educated in a school that promotes and espouses a Catholic ethos.
“In terms of the teachers' opinions, I have not really spoken to many about it but it's very likely that they reflect the national trend, with a majority in favour of maintaining the status quo. To be honest it is not the hottest topic and does not pre-occupy our thoughts very much - we are far too busy with the day-to-day life of school.”
Another educator in the wider Ballyhaunis area said the feelings among staff in that school “are that the Church or diocese have a strong say in who gets teaching positions in schools". Interview panels have to have a diocesan-approved interviewer. There is also concern about the amount of time that religious education takes up.
“The demand for religion to be taught daily when we are required to teach such a loaded curriculum, especially now with wellbeing taking a large chunk of time. Mainly it's the amount of time it takes to prepare children for Holy Communion and Confirmation, it’s so much pressure. It’s pressure on families too.
“And obviously it's not fair to have children of other religions sitting for half an hour a day doing basically nothing while religion is being taught in the classroom. We do not have resources to take these pupils out.”
Another educator in the wider East Mayo area said: “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure that the local feeling reflects the view outlined in the survey. My sense is that our school community is generally happy for the school to remain under its current patronage.
“We have always been a Catholic school; however, we warmly welcome children of all faiths and none, and we have a diverse, multicultural school population. This has been the case for many years, and patronage has not really emerged as a significant issue for parents locally.
“Similarly, it has not emerged as an issue among staff. We are involved in aspects of parish life and in sacramental preparation, and this has always been approached positively and there has never been a problem with this.”
The recent drop in prices being paid for cattle by meat processors like Dawn Meats in Ballyhaunis has been blamed by factory executives on more competition in the key UK market where major clients have post-Brexit opened up to imports from Australia.
But there may also be some opportunism on the part of the processors in blaming Aussie competitors, suggests British-based meat industry analyst Rupert Claxton who agrees that there is more Australian beef in the UK market, “but it's nothing compared to the existing volumes from Ireland, but sufficient to be used to negotiate prices, I’m sure".
Speaking to this column, Mr Claxton, at Gira Foods, a consultancy, said: “I think more important in the price is a switch of mindset by the factories in Ireland, I think the prices last year was unsustainable, especially given weakening demand for premium beef like steak on the back of rising energy costs.
“The factories, I believe, have moved away from chasing cattle to maximise capacity utilisation and gone to a more pragmatic mode. I suspect this has far more to do with the price than Australian imports. But [it’s] potentially easier to blame Australia!
“The reality is, prices in 2025 were overvalued, and we are seeing a correction, but I don’t believe in a collapse in the market,” said Mr Claxton, who often speaks at Irish meat conferences.
“Can Australia ship more? Yes, but as always, that too is complicated. It must be compliant with EU rules, which really limits supply, and they have good access currently to the US, and are funnelling product into China as they grab quota there... Mid-term, Australian [export] volumes will continue to grow, but will perform strongest in food service.”
