Local notes: Financial boost for Leisure Centre
Members of Foxford Foróige Club at the Mayo Foróige Prom Ball held at the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport. Picture: Trish Forde
There was excellent news for Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre last week with confirmation of its inclusion in the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. In total, €768,839 in funding for sports equipment is to be distributed among 28 Mayo applicants, with Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre securing €28,297 for the purpose of purchasing new gym equipment.
The news has been welcomed by Michael Ring T.D. who said, “The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. This funding will support clubs and organisations to provide the facilities necessary to achieve the objectives of increased participation in sport and help realise the immense benefits that physical activity can bring to our lives.”
St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford has been selected as part of the ‘iRun’ initiative that is being rolled out by Athletics Ireland in September. iRun is a recreational running programme created for secondary school students. The aim of this programme is simple: to get more students moving and enjoying physical activity in a relaxed and non-competitive environment. The training programmes are designed in a simplified manner where students can participate and challenge themselves relative to their own fitness level.
The inclusion of St Joseph’s in the programme represents a great opportunity for any students who would like to experience all the benefits that sport and athletics has to offer.
The school already has a proud tradition in athletics and as recently as Bank Holiday Sunday, a team of Leaving Certificate students from St Joseph’s competed – and completed – the Mayo.ie Western People West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon in Ballina. ‘The Girls Squad’ are said to have ran fantastically and demonstrated great team spirit, and they were led home by the youngest member of the group, Amber McHale, who was the first St Joseph’s runner home when finishing the 10k in under an hour.
A trio of baptisms have taken place at St Michael’s Church in Foxford over the past couple of weeks. Two of them were held on Sunday week last, May 5, where Amber Marie Byrne travelled from New York with her parents Martina and James, to be baptised in Foxford, while the baptism of Eoin Patrick Ruane also took place. Eoin is son of Lauren and Michael, Churchpark. The week previous, on Saturday, April 27, Daichi McHugh, son of Emma and Kevin, was also baptised in St Michael’s Church.
The senior footballers of Moy Davitts picked up their first win of the new Mayo Senior Football League season last Saturday evening, May 11. Having lost their opening round game to Mayo Gaels, they bounced back to see off East Mayo rivals Aghamore in Division 1B. The game in Foxford ended 1-13 to 0-13 in favour of Moy Davitts who led the contest by two points, 1-4 to 0-5, at half-time.
Next Sunday they’ll have an opportunity to avenge last year’s defeat in the Mayo IFC semi-final when they travel to play Kilmeena in Round 3 of the league. Throw-in is at 2pm.
Meanwhile, the Moy Davitts minor footballers also enjoyed a significant win last week when making the most of home advantage to secure both points from their Division 3 league clash with Ballintubber. Leading by six points at half-time, 1-8 to 0-5, Moy Davitts grew their advantage throughout the second-half to end up as 2-13 to 0-8 winners.
Mary Moylett, Foxford, was the winner of a very tidy jackpot of €516 in the Moy Davitts GAA 50/50 draw last week. The club wishes to thank all its 50-50 supporters. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by playing through the Club App.
Meanwhile, tickets are currently being sold by Moy Davitts members for the Mayo GAA Club Development Draw, which offers some tremendous prizes. The club is tasked with selling over 100 of these tickets. The top prize for draws 1 and 6 is €10,000 and €5,000 for draws 2 through to 5.
Tickets are available from club officers or online at www.foireann.com.
The mild weather has lowered the River Moy to very fishable levels, with a nice fish of 10lbs taken on the old reliable worm to the week ending Sunday, May 5. Overall catch numbers had been small but the past week has seen an increase in visiting anglers so figures are expected to improve.
A memorial gathering for the late Damian Broe, Foxford, and formerly of Aclare, will take place this Thursday, May 16, in Swinford Cultural Centre at 3.30pm. Damian sadly passed away on Tuesday last, May 7, at Mayo University Hospital, where he was surrounded by his family.
Deeply loved and forever cherished by his son Oissíne, daughter Sonachú, brother Dmitri and lifelong friend and partner Eibhlín O'Callaghan, Damian donated his body to the Royal College of Surgeons.
Following on from last year’s hugely successful Summer Camp organised and hosted by Knockmore Foxford Boxing Club, pre-registration for KFC Summer Camp ’24 is now open. The camp will take place one day a week over six weeks across July and August, between the hours of 10am and 3pm. The precise dates are to be clarified this week. Numbers will be strictly limited so early registration is advisable. To pre-register, forward names to 086-8373646.
Connacht Pioneers are running a 5-night full board pilgrimage to Lourdes on July 18 from Knock, staying at the Hotel Agenda. Contact Fr Joe Delaney for further details at 087-6660408.
It was another busy week for S&F United teams with no game probably as nail-biting as the top-flight U15 clash against Westport United at Green Road last Tuesday evening, May 7. A goal apiece from Mounir Soufan and Sean Walsh were enough to secure S&F all three points as they beat the visitors 2-1. 24 hours later, S&F’s U15 Division 4B Boys team were also in action against Westport United, but this time the game was taking place in Westport, but that bother the S&F lads none as they also won 2-1, with their goals coming from Joseph Elstone and Dara Gaughan.
It was a tougher week however, for a couple of the club’s underage girls teams as the U13s travelled to Claremorris last Tuesday and the U15s visited Ballyvary Blue Bombers on Thursday, but both league games ended in defeat for the Black and Amber.
Tony Devaney, Foxford was the winner of a €236 jackpot in last week’s S&F United 50-50 draw.
Throughout the month of May, the Rosary will be prayed at the Foxford Grotto on the Swinford Road each and every Tuesday and Friday evening at 7.30pm.
Moy Davitts GAA, as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, is to jointly host a Fun Family Day with Moy Davitts LGFA at Sraith Garbh on Sunday, June 2.
