Local Notes: Cill Chomain GAA Club award winners for the 2025 season.
Congratulations to the winners at the recent Cill Chomáin GAA Club awards for 2025 pictured with club officers. Missing from photo is Girls Junior Player of the Year, Liadh McGrath; Men's Player of the Year at U17 Ciaran Rowland and at U18 Gavin McAndrew.
Cill Chomain GAA Club held its buffet and awards recently in Healy’s, Glenamoy and congratulations to all the winners on the night. Girls Player of the Year 2025 at U15 was Alex Coyle; U16 award winner was Lexi Mills Barrett; U18 was Niamh Rafter; Junior Player of the Year went to Liadh McGrath; the Players Player of the Year in memory of Tracey Moran sponsored by Marty and Maureen Healy was Róisin Healy; the Men's Player of the Year awards at U15 was Shay Gallagher; U17 award went to Ciaran Rowland; U18 award winner was Gavin McAndrew; U21 winner was Liam Maloney; Intermediate award went to Lorcan McGrath; the Players Player Award in memory of John McAndrew went to Lorcan McGrath; and Maureen Healy received the Club Person of the Year award.
The Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programme, now firmly embedded in North West Mayo is making a real difference in people’s lives by providing free evidenced-based health programmes. These programmes include; Stop Smoking one to one support, Healthy Food Made Easy community sessions, the Social Prescribing initiative connects people to local activities, programmes and shared interests, the Parenting workshops support parents and they deliver community based Food and Nutrition initiatives.
The HSE and local organisations such as Mayo North East Development Company and the Family Centre are providing long-term continuous investment in the area to deliver these courses free of charge to local communities.
To date they have helped over 200 people quit smoking, which places additional money in their pockets, they feel healthier, have more energy and have more zest for life. They will chat with you in person, on the phone of via a Zoom call on a weekly basis to help and guide you along your journey. Free Nicotine Replacement products are free to all who participate. Call Brenda on 087 448 4711 if you are thinking about stopping smoking.
They will be commencing the ‘Healthy Food Made Easy Courses’ in early 2026. These courses are very popular, with over 476 people having completed them since 2022. It is a 6 week course, delivered in a fun, informal environment, participants learn to cook easy healthy meals and at the end of each night, they eat together whilst discussing menu choices, shopping on a budget and menu planning. Call Rina on 097 20808 for further information.
These food initiatives are supported by Ciara, their Community Food and Nutrition Worker. Ciara will deliver several initiatives over the coming months such as air fryer courses, nutrition workshops, chef cookery demonstrations and horticultural courses. These will be delivered across Erris and Achill. Ciara also works closely with the network of community based organic gardens in the area. For more information, call Ciara on 087 929 8956.
Slaintecare Healthy Communities joined forces with Mayo Local Sports Partnership to deliver the Staying Fit for the Future and Better Balance workshops. These workshops are free if you live in the Erris and Achill areas. The workshops will support older people to improve their strength, balance and flexibility and offset a decline in muscle mass and bone density.
‘Staying Fit for the Future’ Better Balance Workshops started in Belmullet on January 12 at 12 noon and 1pm, will commence in Currane on January 19 at 10am, Achill on January 19 at 1pm, Glenamoy on January 20 at 11.30am and it started in Ballina on January 12, at 10 and 11am. Book your place on the Mayo Sports Partnership EVENTBRITE page or email Edel O’Malley eomalley@mayococo.ie or call 094 90 64360.
The launch of the 2026 Slaintecare Healthy Communities Calendar will be held in Aras Inis Gluaire on Friday, January 16. Feel free to come along at 12 noon on January 16. Call Paul Gillen on 087 4066 518 or email paul.gillen@hse.ie for more information.
Congratulations to Martin Cosgrove who was crowned Golfer of the Year for 2025 with a great total of 102pts for the year, well ahead of the chasing pack. Well done to Martin who wins the Golfer of the Year title for the fourth time.
The club extend thanks to the many generous sponsors who supported the Golfer of the Year competitions throughout the year, to John Hanley for updating the standings after each week, Kevin Donnelly for maintaining the Twos competition and competition secretary James McGuire for his work throughout the year.
On Sunday, December 28, Erris Darts saw 36 players battle it out for the annual Kilmore fundraising seeded doubles event. A brilliant night of darts was had by all thanks to Teresa and Ray and all the staff in O’Raghallaigh’s Pub, Binghamstown for hosting and keeping everyone fed and adequately hydrated. Winners on the night where the pairing of Jimmy Lavelle and Paddy Dixon beating Jason Walsh and Ashton Monaghan in the final. Ben Wilson took home the 9 at 9 prize with a cracking score of 135 and celebrated with his now trademarked finger point.
€800 was raised on the night and thanks is extended to all that bought tickets and sponsored raffle prizes, to all players and supporters in attendance for creating a brilliant atmosphere.
2025 was a brilliant year for darts in Erris kicking off with winning the Western People's Sports Stars Community Award and the creation of the Erris Darts Youth Club some of the biggest highlights and not forgetting the massive €21,000 raised for charities and local causes at darts in events in Erris during the year. All at Erris Darts remember those they lost during 2025 but especially team mate Evan Irwin who is always in their thoughts.
On January 1, the tractor raffle draw was held in McDonnell’s for the North West STOP-Suicide Prevention. The lucky winner of a Ford 3000 1975 tractor on the night with number randomly drawn was 1646 and the buyer was John Reddington, JRL Group London. Congratulations to John.
The fundraiser has raised €17,900 for North West Stop Counselling service- Erris branch and the funds raised will allow them to continue the delivery of a free counselling service in Erris.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club lotto jackpot of €6,500 with the two €50 winners being Carmel Keane, Ballycroy and Ruth Donohue, Cloontakilla while Amanda Carrabine, Bangor and Michelle Curley, Glenamoy both won €25. The two on line winners were Carmel Keane, Srahnamonragh €50 and Martin McManamon, Glenturk €25.
Bingo will take place in the GAA complex Bangor this Tuesday, January 13, at 8pm. The jackpot will be €800 in 51 calls or less.
The organising committee of the Padraig Gallagher Memorial Darts 2025, appreciate all the support they received with another great night of darts in his memory. Firstly thanks to Lorraine McCormack and all the gang in Connolly’s Pub for the venue; to Calpine’s Country Fryer for the food; to Brendan Doherty and Nathan Naughton for all the help setting up; to Shane McHale and all at Erris Darts for all their help; to everyone that donated prizes for the raffle; and to the girls that sold the raffle tickets and everyone that bought tickets. A total of €1500 was raised this year in aid of Ballyglass RNLI; to all the players that took part with massive darts played all day. The standard of darts in Erris is at an all-time high and it’s brilliant to see.
Well done to the 2025 semi-finalists Thomas Moran and Jarlath Staunton; to the 2025 runner up Alex Bielinski and finally a huge congratulations to the Padraig Gallagher Memorial Darts 2025 Champion, Ultan Mac Duibhir, who played unbelievable darts all day, well deserved champion.
Deepest sympathies are extended to the family of Anthony Togher, Ballymacsheeron, Binghamstown, Belmullet; Patrick Wilson (better known as "Packie") Drum, Clogher, Belmullet; Rob Turner, Bunnawillian, Bunnahowen, Belmullet; Martin Hefferon, Muing, Belmullet; Martin Lavelle, Shanahee, Belmullet; Bernadette O’Malley (better known as Bernie), Faulmore, Blacksod; Tommy McManamon Townagh. Bellacorick; and Elizabeth Jane McGrath (nee Robinson), Rossport. May they all rest in peace.
The Blacksod Rowing Club thanks all the people who bought lines for the club fundraiser from the New Year’s Day 30 year swim in Blacksod. They raised €1,344 for the club and they are so grateful for everyone’s generosity. A special mention to the prize sponsors Mullavelle Construction, Sean Meenaghan Construction and CFID na hÉachléime for their amazing prizes for the raffle. The draw took place in Teach John Joes recently. Prizewinners were 1st €200 Oil voucher, Sophia Padden, 2nd €200 Ice House voucher, Henry Monaghan, 3rd hamper, Jack Devlin, 4th hamper, Rosie Meenaghan, and 5th hamper, Éanna Óg Reilly.
The draw was held on January 4 and the numbers drawn were 6, 13, 21 and 34 with no winner for a jackpot €7,600. The house prize of €100 was won by Brendan Conway, Lenamore and the €30 offline winners were Marty Healy, Ballinaboy and Ruraí Garvin, Portacloy. The €30 online winners were Mary Fallon, Cornboy and Catherine Maloney, Gorthbrack.
A selected of weather data for Belmullet all-weather Met Éireann station at Carne from the 1st January to 31st December 2025 inclusive.
Wind: Highest gust: 137 km/hr - Recorded on January 24, 2025.
Rainfall: Yearly total: 1230.8 mm (0.9% lower than average). Highest daily total: 30.9mm recorded on July 13, 2025.
Temperature: Max Air Temperature: (26.9°C) recorded on July 13, 2025; Min Air Temperature:(-1.0°C) recorded on February 9, 2025; Lowest grass temperature:(-4.4°C) recorded on December 25 and 26, 2025.
Sunshine: Yearly Total: 1393.5hrs (5.8% higher than average), highest daily total: 14.8hrs recorded on May 17, 18 and May 21, 2025.
Weather: 14 days when fog occurred; 4 days when either thunder or lightening occurred; 19 days when gales occurred; 26 days when snow, sleet or hail occurred.
