Local Notes: Great year of financial growth for Erris Credit Union
The Erris Credit Union Board members back row L-R J. Flannery, V. Monaghan, J. Murphy, M. Murphy, A. Gaynor, N. Walsh, B. Conmy. Front row L-R C. McAndrew, G. Henry, P.J. Deane, B. Glenn, S. Carey.
At the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, on Wednesday, January 31, the Board of Erris Credit Union welcomed members to its 30th annual general meeting.
The Chairman, Paddy Joe Deane presented the report of the Board to the meeting, which included the following highlights;
Investments, Member Shares (savings) and Lending have all grown for 2023 CU year. Lending grew by 3.96%, with over €2.4 million worth of loans issued to members last year. Paddy Joe thanked Erris CU’s members for their continued loyalty and support, which is a clear indication of the trust members have in Erris CU, and equally so, the support and backing Erris CU has for the financial aspirations of its members.
The recent celebration of 30 years of Erris Credit Union was thanks to members on-going support. Paddy Joe mentioned the successful Members’ Open day held last October and acknowledged the spot prizes kindly provided by local businesses to the value of over €4,000. He noted the new Pearl Loan introduced to mark the 30th anniversary which is being currently offered to all eligible members with t & c’s applicable, and he referred to the first successful Members Cash Prize Draw, held last October with a prize fund of over €10,000, which is continuing to grow and will be run twice yearly, for the foreseeable future.
He said the CU was committed to supporting its Common Bond Area of Erris via social responsibility initiatives, including an investment in educational programmes to help strengthen the fabric of the area. To that end, he said he was delighted to formally announce the approval of a €50,000 investment by the Board of Directors for a 5-year Erris Community education fund. €10,000 per annum will be given to support 10 qualifying applicants, while they are securing a trade or professional qualification. Two applicants will be selected from each of the five parishes in Erris every year, for the next 5 years, with the first awards to take place during our next (2024) AGM.
Paddy Joe noted that it was important to point out the crucial role members play in ensuring Erris CU’s future viability, by using Erris CU for their borrowing needs. In doing so, keeps the flames of owner-controlled Credit Unions alive. He noted Erris Credit Union continues to be a strong, efficient, well-governed and transparent Credit Union, meeting the everyday financial needs of its members and he said that Erris CU is determined to continue to improve and grow, which can only be achieved with members on-going support and continued loyalty.
In concluding, Paddy Joe noted that it would not be possible for Erris CU to provide the services it does without the voluntary input of the Board and the Board Oversight Committee, who freely give up their time, and he thanked them for their service, care, and professionalism. He also thanked the Manager Mary Barrett and the Staff of Erris CU for their commitment to Erris Credit Union. Mar chríoch, dúirt sé “Smaoinigh ar Chomhar Creidmheasa Iorrais mar do chéad rogha má tá iasacht uait, táimid ar fail chun tacaíocht a thabhairt daoibh”.
Achill Fianna Fáil CC hosted the Belmullet LEA selection convention in the Achill Sound Hotel recently. There was a good turn out and everyone there was delighted that Fianna Fáil is able to put forward two councillors for re-election in the upcoming election in June, Councillor Sean Carey and Councillor Paul McNamara. ‘A tough campaign is ahead but it is made a little easier when you have two people like these to put forward’. Minister Dara Calleary TD and Senators Lisa Chambers and Niall Blaney were in attendance.
The Jimmy Ruddy Memorial Cup will be held on Saturday, February 24, with kick-off at 1.30pm in Cill Chomáin GAA ground. The parish showdown makes a comeback in what assures to be an engaging exhibition of football. All funds raised will be donated to Mayo Roscommon Hospice and your support will be appreciated.
Deepest sympathies to the family of Denis Anthony McCreesh, formerly of Culloville, Co. Armagh and Burnage, who passed away peacefully at his home in Manchester. He was the husband of Ann (née Gaughan) formerly of Tullaghan, Doohoma; Kathleen Kennedy (née Murphy), Northampton, England and formerly of Corclough East and Carne, Belmullet; Tom Niland, Kilkelly, Bangor Erris and formerly of Curraghteemore, Knock; Maureen Dixon (née Carrie), Morahan, Belmullet and formerly of Bailieborough, Co. Cavan; Michael Gerard Keane (better known as JED), Glosh, Blacksod; Martin (Martie Joe) Cleary, Crosshill, Ballycroy; AJ Reilly, Emlybeg North, Belmullet; Martin Healy, Ballinaboy, Barnatra; and Richie Heston, Emlybeg North, Belmullet. May they rest in peace.
The draw was held on February 4, and the numbers drawn were 2, 16, 21 and 24 for a jackpot of €11,900 with no winner. The house prize 1x € 100 was won by Treasa Connolly, Stonefield and the 2 x €30 offline winners were Muirreann Timlin, Muingnabo and Lorraine McLaughlin, Stonefield. The €30 online winners were Edel Ruddy/Horgan, Dublin and Mollie Doherty, Ballina.
As the town of Belmullet bid farewell to one of its own, AJ Reilly, we remembered another who was born and lived all his live in Quay St, just a short distance from A.J’s shop. Pat Tighe was born 1903, in Quay St, the only son of Pat and Annie Meenaghan. He never married, three of his sisters lived with him, Katie and Anne who were single and Margaret McGuire (she may have returned from the US). Pat had his sheds at the rear of the house, you can still see the remnants of the stalls, but his land was outside the town. He owned the land where the Industrial Estate is today and where A.J Reilly probably played football as a young lad, as that was one of the places where Belmullet GAA played their football in the early days. Pat also owned the land where Drom Caoin B&B is and the Wheelchair Centre in Logmore.
If cows were marched up Main St today it would be shared all over social media and the Garda would probably have to intervene but this is what Pat Tighe did every day, up Main St, The Square and up Church Rd. Pat was noted for his white faced Polly Cows and he would be accompanied by his dogs and sometimes the neighbours Bull Dog, Jock, would also joined in herding the cattle. Pat died in 1990 and is buried in Emlybeg with his three sisters.
The Marie Keating Mobile Information Unit will be in the car park of the Civic Centre on Thursday, February 15, from 11.30am to 3pm. The Foundation aims to raise awareness of early detection in reducing cancer risk. No appointment necessary. Contact Cara Iorrais 097 20590 / 087 0678630.
Gaeilge Iorrais offers heartiest congratulations and a huge round of applause to all the children from the Gaeltacht area that took part in Ceol an Gheimhridh on January 20. This Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Mhaigh Eo event was held in Swinford by host branch CCÉ Mhichael Davitt.
A total of five boys and nine girls took part in various competitions across different age groups at this event (sean-nós singing, recitation, storytelling and traditional music). These fourteen young members from CCÉ Craobh Chlann Lir branch in Gaeltacht Iorrais range in age from 7 to 13 years old and are currently in various classes from 1st class in Scoil Bhreandáin, Eachléim to 1st year in Coláiste Bhreandáin Naofa Béal an Mhuirthead.
Huge congratulations to all competitors from the Gaeltacht area; Caolán Ó Monacháin, Fionn Ó hIarbháin, Jamie Ó Ciaráin, Paddy Ó hIarbháin, Seán Ó Monacháin, Alyssa Ní Fhearghaill, Aoibhinn Ní Mhonacháin, Ava Ní Fháthaigh, Cara Ní Ghiollabháird, Eimear de Róiste, Lauryn Ní Fhearghaill, Máire Ní Mhaolábhaill, Méabh Ní Mhonacháin, Nora Ní Mhongáin.
Twelve of these children attend Scoil Bhreandáin na hEachléime, one boy attends SN Chorrchloch and one teenager attends Coláiste Bhreandáin Naofa in Béal an Mhuirthead (also a former student of Eachléim). All these children, together with their parents and their school, music and singing teachers, deserve due praise. Nár laga Dia iad!
The young sean-nós singers from the Gaeltacht area were very successful on the day and won a total of 6 prizes in sean-nós singing competitions;
Méabh Ní Mhonacháin, Cara Ní Ghiollabháird, Nora Ní Mhongáin (first, second and third place respectively in the U11sean-nós singing competition), Fionn Ó hIarbháin and Paddy Ó hIarbháin (shared second place in the sean-nós singing competition for 11-14 year olds), Aoibhinn Ní Mhonacháin (first place in the singing competition for 11-14 year olds).
It was truly heart-warming to listen to all the children singing local versions of renowned songs from the Gaeltacht area (songs such as Sail Óg Rua, Sadhbh Ní Mhonghaile) and other traditional songs (including songs such as Seán Ó Loinn, An Cailín Álainn, Tá Dhá Ghabhairín Bhuí Agam).
The young Irish speakers of Eachléim had a great day also. Máire Ní Mhaolábhaill secured first place in the U11 recitation category with her performance of the poem 'An Damhan Alla agus an Mhíoltóg.' Eimear de Róiste took home two medals on the day; first place in the storytelling competition (U 11) and third place in recitation.
This sean-nós singing program is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta Neartú scheme which is coordinated by Gaeilge Iorrais since 2020.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club weekly lotto jackpot of €11,300 with the two €50 winners being John and Mary Mangan, Geesala and Thomas J Cooney while Conor Lynam, Attawalla and Peter Keegan, Doohoma both won €25. The two online winners were Karen Munnelly, €50 and Marion Sweeney, Geesala €25.
Bingo will continue in the complex Bangor this Tuesday, February 13, at 8pm with a €600 jackpot in 47 calls or less.
