Local notes: Double act to light up Linenhall
The organisers of Remembrance by Candlelight recently made a presentation of €8,736.76 to representatives of Foxford's Search and Rescue arising out of the proceeds of their concert. The same amount was also received by Foxford and District Alzheimer's Trust. The event was another huge success and the organisers have extended their thanks to the local community for their amazing support, kindness and hard work. in making this fundraiser such a success.
Foxford's Stephen Doherty is to team up with Swinford native Alannah Thornburgh for an intimate night of traditional and new music performed on harp and flute. Stephen and Alannah are two of Mayo’s most accomplished musicians and composers and have now created a freshly inspired duo performance with their combined material. They are to appear at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on May 21 at 8pm.
Stephen is a multi-award winning musician, composer and producer and has toured with many of Ireland’s major artists including Sean Keane, Lunasa, Niall McCabe and many more along with performances with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Alannah Thornburgh meanwhile is fresh from the success of her debut solo album and she has gained massive momentum through her various residencies and festival performances over the past number of years. She is constantly pushing the boundaries of the Irish harp through her technical compositions and collaborations and was awarded 'Best Folk Instrumentalist of the year' at the RTÉ folk awards last year.
Tickets for the pair’s May 21 gig are available from www.thelinenhall.com.
The funeral took place on Thursday last, April 30, of Nellie Ferguson (née O’Dowd), Carrowkerrbilla, Attymass who passed peacefully, in her 94th year, in the gentle care of the staff of St Joseph’s Hospital Ballina, surrounded by her loving family.
Nellie was predeceased by her son Anthony, her parents Anthony and Mary, her brother Jimmy, her sisters Mary and Nora and her niece Marian Henry.
She will be dearly and forever missed by her loving family, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandson, in-laws, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Nellie lay in repose at the Fr Peyton Centre in Attymass last Wednesday evening and her funeral Mass was at the Church of The Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Attymass on Thursday with the funeral proceeding afterwards to Bonnifinglas Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
Sunday, May 17 has been confirmed as the date for the athletics competitions of Foxford Community Games. They will get underway at 1pm at Swinford Athletics Track. Entries close on Wednesday, May 13 and must be completed online. There will be no registration on the day.
The entry fee is €5 per child or €10 per family and check in and payment on the day will be from 12.30pm.
For further details you can contact Lisa on WhatsApp at 0867332982.
A pair of students from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford were in Dáil Éireann last Friday, May 1 having both been selected by Comhairle na nÓg to represent Mayo as delegates in Dáil na nÓg 2026.
3rd year student Paddy Doherty and 1st year student Cohen Gill had their say in the Dáil on behalf of the young people of Mayo and played their part in the hugely important National Conversation on Education, specifically the topics of the Irish language and continuous assessment.
In addition to being one of the Mayo delegates, Paddy has also been elected to the steering committee to represent his peers.
Congratulations to both students.
Mahony Montessori School in Foxford has limited places available for children aged from two and a half to five and a half years old. The morning class runs from 9.15am to 12.15pm and the afternoon from 1pm to 4pm. A free pre-school year is available. Call Rachel on 087-9125372.
There were scenes of great joy in Limerick City last Wednesday as the under-15 team from St Joseph’s Secondary School defeated Coláiste na Sceilge from Caherciveen in Co Kerry to be crowned FAI Schools National Minor ‘B’ Cup champions. The Foxford students won the final at Jackman Park by three goals to one, with Jamie Loughney (2) and team captain Ronnie Deacy bagging the goals in what was a thoroughly deserved win.
See the Game On sports section for full coverage of the historic victory.
Foxford Table Tennis Club is to officially open its doors on Tuesday, June 2. The club has already attracted 30 adult members and 12 under-18s, with hopes that the junior numbers will grow significantly when the school year resumes in September.
Training will take place at the newly built boxing club gym on the Swinford Road. Sessions will run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for adults from 7pm to 9pm, and for juniors on Sunday afternoons from 4pm to 6pm.
The club membership already includes notable talent. Brothers Martin and Eddie Ditchburn, both former national champions, have signed up. They are joined by Helen Barnes, who was previously ranked No.3 in Ireland.
Club organisers are currently seeking full size table tennis tables to accommodate growing demand and ensure quality training sessions for all members.
Anyone interested in joining the club, sponsoring equipment or donating tables can contact 086-8373646.
Three salmon were reported caught – and all released – for the week-ending April 26. There had been some lovely sunny warm conditions throughout the week and the river was in great condition, with water levels good. According to their latest report, Foxford Salmon Anglers said one of the fish caught was “a lovely spring fish of 12lb”. The good weather last week was hoped to lead to further good fishing.
The Rosary was recited at the Grotto on the Swinford Road last Friday evening to mark the first day of May and will continue every Friday evening at 7pm for the remainder of the month.
Congratulations and best wishes are extended to Helen Killen and Joseph Hannon, Sleive Na Greinne, who were married in St Michael’s Church, Foxford on Friday, April 17.
Sympathies are extended to the family of the late Ann Conlon (nee Hughes) who passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, in the care of the wonderful staff of St Gerard’s Ward, Galway University Hospital, last week. Ann was formerly of Cuingbeg, Pontoon and late of Ellaghmore, Bonniconlon, having also resided in Leeds, UK.
Predeceased by her husband Paddy, her parents Richard and Mary Hughes (nee Mellett) and her brother Richard, Ann will be sadly missed by her son, Sean, daughters, Ann and Teresa (Hallinan), daughter-in-law Helen, son-in-law Declan, grandchildren, sisters Norah, Maureen and Sheila, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.
Ann lay in repose at the Fr Peyton Centre, Attymass on Thursday evening last, while her funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon on Friday. Burial afterwards was in Bonniconlon Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
Foxford flier Ruairí Reynolds, who is a 1st year student at St Joseph’s Secondary School, won gold at last week’s Triathlon Ireland National Primary and Post-Primary Schools Duathlon Championships held in Athy, Co Kildare.
The very worthwhile ‘GAA for All’ programme returns to Moy Davitts every Sunday from 10am to 11am. It is aimed towards children with additional needs who would like to become involved in Gaelic games and primarily is about fun, friendship, activity and inclusion. For further details contact Deirdre at 087-6951835 or Barbara at bconlon02@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 winner Sarah Cunnane who won a jackpot prize of €535 last week.
The benefit dance in aid of Callow native Brenda Walsh Grealis will be held in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris this Thursday, May 7, with music by Streetwise and Friends. Music and dancing from 9 to 11.30pm. Tickets are €20 and are available from O’Hara’s Centra, Foxford; Kennedy’s Eurospar, Swinford; The McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris; The Connaught Telegraph, Castlebar; Mulroy’s Londis, Moneen Roundabout, Castlebar; Carrabine’s Centra, Bangor Erris; Doherty’s Costcutter, Mulranny and Mulranny Post Office.
Brenda was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare, severe neurological disease that causes extreme muscle rigidity, painful spasms, and progressive loss of mobility. A gifted singer and musician, she is a wife and mother of four children. All support will be greatly appreciated.
Straide will once again act as one of the numerous host venues of Pieta’s Darkness Into Light walk which will be held in the early hours of next Saturday, May 9. Registration is now open and as many people as possible are asked to participate in this special morning in Straide and come together to help stop suicide.
People walk for many different reasons; for family, friends or for themselves.
Darkness Into Light is Pieta’s biggest fundraiser and by registering and fundraising, you are helping to keep Pieta’s doors open and making sure suicide prevention services are there for anyone who needs them, free of charge.
To register visit www.darknessintolight.ie and click Straide as your venue.
S&F United has congratulated Pauline Thompson from Foxford on winning €100 in their 50-50 draw held last week.
An opportunity to offload unwanted scrap metal presents itself this month as Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club is to accept scrap metal every Saturday, May 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th, with the collection point being beside Applegreen Filling Station on the Ballina road.
The proceeds are to be put towards the completion of the club’s new gym on the Swinford road.
Unwanted bikes, galvanise, gates/sheets, barrows, buckets, radiators, copper, aluminium, lead, cast iron, oil ranges etc. will all be accepted. There will be a small fee to collect scrap metal. You can WhatsApp 086-8373646.
Items and materials that will not be accepted include glass, timber, tyres, rubber, washing machines, fridges and cookers.
