Local Notes: Erris couple celebrate 60th Wedding Anniversary
Congratulations to Michael and Mary McGuire, Derrycorrib, on their recent 60th wedding anniversary pictured with their family and grandchildren. They are wished good health.
The Post Office in Binghamstown has come to an end after a period of 123 years with the retirement of Postmistress Evelyn Hanley O’Hara on Friday, December 29. Evelyn’s grandparents, Tom and Mary Hanley (nee Crean from Emlybeg) first opened the Post Office in 1900 and it was then operated by their son Jim and his wife Julia (nee Barrett from Drum) for 26 year before it was handed on to their daughter Evelyn in 1997, moving it to her own home a few yards away.
A Grant Thornton report last year recommended urgent government investment for the post office network, with an annual Public Service Obligation of €17m needed. More than 190 Post Offices have closed since the middle of 2018 and four closed permanently over the worst of the Covid-19 crisis. In 1992 there were 1,907 Post Offices in Ireland, roll on a quarter of the century later to 2017 and that figure stood at 1,130.
A lifeline in rural areas, and an essential service everywhere else, the 21st century has put increasing pressure on post offices across Ireland, as their traditional business model shifted, usual safe sources of income began to erode and post offices began to close.
Evelyn is wished well in her retirement and a big thank you for her service and the service of her parents and grandparents, their commitment, courtesy and professionalism over the years.
The club awards sponsored by Mardec Utilities were held in Healy’s, Glenamoy, on Thursday evening, December 28, when the club reflected on a very successful year winning the Junior Comortas Peil na Gaeltechta for the first time in the club history in Donegal. The club also won the winter league, Exclusive Cup, North Mayo Championship Deane/Maloney Memorial Cup and the U14 boys won the North Mayo final.
The club congratulated Tamara O’Connor and Michelle Lynch on their Connaught Cup success and the club thanked all the managers, coaches, trainers and players, physio’s, selectors, supporters, parents, umpires, linesmen for efforts during the season and to all the club sponsors. The White Collar Boxing fundraiser was a great success and thanks has been extended to all the participants, to Geesala Boxing Club for coaching and efforts leading up to and on the evening.
Many thanks to everyone who helped to sell Club Development tickets and to everyone for supporting; to the club CE workers for their efforts, their role is very important in keeping the club grounds and clubhouse and Kilcommon lotto.The Health Club is also successful with thanks for their help extended to Róisin Healy, Justin Healy, Courtney O’Connell and Noreen O’Conner.
Thanks to Peter Winters Plant Hire and Greg Conroy Hardware for sponsoring prizemoney for the Deane/Maloney Memorial Game and Mícheál and Bernie McAndrew for sponsoring Player of the Game and to Fintan Ruddy for organising St Marys visit from Sligo. Congratulations to Ruraí Ó Donnell on his Glenamoy/Ballinaboy 10k run success and to Róisin Healy on being runner-up. Many thanks to all the sponsors for the club gear from senior to youths.
The club award winners on the night were: Ladies Players of Year for minor was Madison Murphy; Intermediate Player of the Year was Róisin Healy; an Appreciation Award was presented to Tamara O’Connor; U15 Player of the Year was Conor McAndrew; U16 Player of the Year was Kyle McGuire; U17 Player of the Year was Hayden Murphy; Minor Player of the Year was Jack Healy; U21 Player of the Year was Lorcan McGrath; Junior Player of the Year was Liam Maloney plus Liam picked up the Players Player of the Year award also. The Club Person of the Year was Orla McAndrew. The MC on the night was Michael D McAndrew.
Congratulations to the 10 €100 winners of the CLG Cill Chomáin Club development confined draw and thank you to all who supported the club development draw for 2023. Winners included; Gerard McDonnell, Dooncarton, Glengad; Nicola Loftus, Rossport; Paschal Moran, London C/o Kieran Moran; Eamon Deane, Gorthbrack; Alan Mills, Glenamoy; Ann Warner, Leeds C/o Mixie McGuire; Donal Healy, Gladree; Laura Doherty, Pullathomas; Orla McAndrew, Portacloy and Eileen Irwin/Kelly, New York.
The first Tracey Moran Memorial Darts Competition will take place on Sunday, January 14, in Healy’s of Glenamoy. Names will be taken from 3pm and the competition starts at 4pm, €10 entry fee on the day with raffle on the night with all proceeds going to Cara Iorrais. Competition is confined to Erris players. Please support.
Belmullet SAC Annual Portacloy Beach Competition for the Shane Coyle Cup was held recently and the winners on the day were; Joe Chambers in 1st place, 2nd place was Shane Gilvarry, 3rd Peter Coyne and the longest fish was Brian Mooney. Fishing was poor by Portacloy standards although there were 50 fish caught and released on the day including coalies, turbot, and flounder. Thanks to everyone who travelled long and short distances to take part and to Shane Coyle for presenting his cup to Joe Chambers.
Congrats to Kevin Rowland, Kevin Kilcoyne, Eamon Fallon and Jimmy Lavelle, winners of the recent Castle Inn Glencastle 4 player team dart event. Well done to Thomas Meenaghan who had highest check out of 170 on the night. Thanks to the 32 players that took part. There was €500 in prize money given and the organisers also thank Noel and Kevin for their help.
Belmullet Tidy Towns thank each and everyone who support them so well every year. They are looking forward to 2024 and have many plans to celebrate Belmullet bicentenary. There are many projects to be launched during the year, some Tidy Towns projects and also some projects in partnership with other organisations. Belmullet Tidy Towns will, of course, be hoping to improve their performance in the Tidy Towns competition - last year they were very pleased to win a silver medal but they would love to be able to celebrate 2024 with a gold medal and they hope with a little added motivation and with peoples help they will be able to achieve this goal!
Cara Iorrais recently received €2,085 donation from the recent Padraig Gallagher Memorial Darts Competition 2023 organised by Celia Gallagher and Kyle Gallagher. Thanks to everyone who took part or supported this event in any way.
Geraghty Charters was established in the summer of 1993 with the launch of the "Ave Marie" at Blacksod Pier with family and friends. Mattie, Josephine and their sons Jason and Allen, began trips to Inishkea Islands, Achill Island and Sea Angling trips to the deep rich waters around Blackrock. Later on a new vessel joined the fleet called, "Fionnuala" and later again "Noirín Bán. Mattie and Josephine have enjoyed the last 30 years and now it's time to retire and hand over the helm to their son Jason.
They wish him and his partner Katherine, daughters Maisie and Kitty every success for the years ahead. Mattie and Josephine Geraghty thank each and everyone who supported them, sailed with them, helped them and skippered for them during the last 30 years.
Deepest sympathies to the family of Mary Ruddy, Muingaroon, Barnatra; Jimmy Mills, better known as Jim, Dereens, Barnatra; Andy Deane, Gorthbrack, Pullathomas, Ballina, Co. Mayo and formerly of Birmingham, England, at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England; Ann Padden (née Sheridan), Ballina Road, Belmullet; Martin Geraghty, Cross Lake, Binghamstown, Belmullet and late of Nottingham, England. May they rest in peace.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club weekly lotto jackpot of €10,800 with the two €50 winners being Bryan Scanlon, Ross, Castlebar, and Martin McCann, Belderrig while Rory and Ultan Corrigan, Shragraddy and Indiana and James Murphy, Ballinaboy both won €25. The two online winners were Evita Coyle, Geesala €50 and Sandra Heraghty, Doohoma, €25.
Bingo will continue in the Bangor Complex, this Tuesday, January 9, at 8pm with a €700 jackpot in 49 calls or less.
The draw was held on January 3, and the numbers drawn were 6, 19, 21 and 25 for a jackpot of €11,400 with no winner. The house prize of €100 was won by Mel Merryman, Leicester and the €30 offline winners were Anna McAndrew, Lacken and Geraldine Donoghue, Ballinaboy. The €30 online winners were Elaine Maguire, Rossport and Claire Naughton, Barahave. Next week’s jackpot will be €11,500. The draw will take place in McGuire’s, Barnatra.
A total of €850 was raised for Breast Cancer Ireland at the St Stephens Day charity match. Míle buíochas.
