Local Notes: Holmes comes out on top at Derek Langan Memorial

Derek Langan Memorial 2023

The Derek Langan Memorial came to a close late on Sunday night, November 26, after the power cut across Erris meant a much later start on the second day.

After 15 hours of play it was Ed Holmes that came out on top to get his name on the cup for the first time as he defeated David Neary in the final. Ed played flawless pool on Sunday evening as he stormed to victory coming through a very tough route over the two days.

The semi-finalists were David Doocey and Sean Brogan who both played some excellent pool over the weekend.

After a three year absence due to Covid-19 it was great to see the competition return and to see 64 players enter, showed the prestige that it holds amongst pool players in Erris.

The Langan family were there to present the cup to Ed and were delighted to see the progress that pool has made in the area in recent years and thanked each and every player for entering and making the weekend such a success. PJ Langan was watching the live stream right up to the end at home and was a keen follower over the weekend.

A big thank you to Jarleath Keane and his staff in O'D's Bar, Belmullet, for their hospitality over the two days. Thanks to David Doocey for his help in the days leading up to the event and thanks to all that helped monitor the shot clocks on Sunday evening and to Gerard Coyle for reffing the final and to anyone else that helped out in anyway in preparation for the event or over the weekend.

Thanks to Ryan Gallagher Photography for the livestream and to Anthony Healy from Healy Amusements for having the tables/screens and much more ready before the event began.

Senior Citizens Christmas Party

Belmullet/Glencastle Senior Citizens Christmas Party takes place in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, Belmullet, on Sunday, December 10, with Mass at 2pm followed by dinner, music and entertainment. Give your names to Belmullet Parish Office, Maeve McDonnell, Claire O’Donahue, Carmel Gaughan and Breege McDermott Glencastle/Bunnahowen Post Office, and it promised to be a great afternoon to enjoy before Christmas.

Mayo Day 2024

It was revealed recently that Belmullet has been selected as the host town for Mayo Day 2024 which will take place on Saturday, May 4. Belmullet will celebrate its 200th anniversary in May of next year (1824-2024). The budget allocated for planned events is €50,000. Thanks to Councillor Sean Carey who nominated Belmullet Town for this special celebration. The event promises to be the biggest global celebration of Mayo yet. Plans are at an advanced stage for a big raft of celebrations throughout the year in celebrating this milestone occasion with music, arts, entertainment, culture, and fun for all the family.

Cill Chomáin GAA

Cill Chomáin GAA clothing collection takes place on December 7, and bags can be dropped off at the old clubhouse, thank you for your continuous support.

Cill Chomáin GAA annual general meeting will take place on Saturday, December 9, at 5pm in the new clubhouse upstairs. All are welcome.

Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo AGM

The annual general meeting of Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo will take place in the Seanscoil, Ceathrú Thaidhg on Wednesday, December 6, at 8pm. Tá fáilte roimh chuile dhuine freastal.

Tracey Moran Memorial darts competition

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 starting at 4pm. Entry fee is €10 on the day with a raffle on the night with all proceeds going to Cara Iorrais. The competition is confined to Erris players. Names can be entered by calling the pub or 087 1348796.

Kilcommon Community Development lotto

The draw took place on November 26, and the numbers drawn were; 4, 11, 17 and 25 for a jackpot of €10,900 with no winner. The house prize of €100 was won by Tony McGuire, Carramore and the €30 offline winners were Seamus Mills, Gorthmellia and John McDonnell, Lenarevagh. The €30 online winners were Mary O’Malley, Aughoose and Michael King, Aughoose. Next week’s jackpot will be €11,000 and the draw will take place in the Lighthouse Tavern in Inver.

Received Gaeltacht recognition

Scoil Náisiúnta Chatrú Thaidhg has received Gaeltacht recognition. They are now officially a Gaeltacht school. They are very proud of everyone in the community who participated in this process with them. This is a cause for celebration for the whole community, but especially for pupils, teachers and the Board of Management of Chatrú Taidhg National School. Special thanks to the Board of Management who have supported them on this journey.

Wonderful entertainment

The Western Strands Hotel Belmullet, open Mic competition came to a finale recently. Congratulations to the winners on the night. 1st place Eva Reilly, 2nd Brandon O’Boyle, 3rd Chloe Reilly. Runners up in no particular order are; Eimear Munnelly, Eoin Neary, Jamie Doherty and Luke Worth. Thanks for a great entertainment.

Funds presented

Mayo/Roscommon Hospice is very grateful to receive a cheque recently for €480.55 from Tír na nÓg Crèche and Montessori School, Belmullet.

Mary and her staff carried out a fancy dress fundraiser in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. Mary Maloney (owner) organised the event in memory of her good friend Anne Lynskey, who was cared for by the magnificent staff in the hospice. Anne passed away last February RIP, and this event was held also in memory of all the crèche family members who have passed away and have availed of the service.

Thank you Mary, your wonderful staff and the families attending Tír na nÓg, who contributed on the day. It is very much appreciated.

Return of Belmullet Christmas Market

The Belmullet Christmas Market makes a welcomed return. The market will take place on Friday, December 15, from 12 noon til 6pm, at Chapel Street in Belmullet. There will be over two dozen stalls of local crafts, gifts, food, local baking and hot beverages, live music and children’s attractions. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the special guests on the day. For stall enquiries email; iorrasbeo@gmail.com.

Tullaghan Bay Rowing club

There are not many clubs that can say that even the bus driver who drove them to the competition took part. In January Michael Maloney of Corduff Travel drove club members to Limerick…he was at training two weeks later and he competed for the first time for the club with 59 other club members from age 11 to over 55’s and from every corner of Erris at the recent Provincial Indoor Rowing Championships in Limerick.

There were medals and mis-haps all day long. There were hard calls and injuries that ruled some rowers out but everyone supported each other. There were some disappointments but it did seem if you wore a Tallaghan vest you were getting a medal or a personal best. The competition, company and the craic were class. The seatless row and one armed getaway were pure gold.

To the parents, the schools and the community- the youngsters who are a part of this club and who travelled are a credit. Thank you for all the support.

There’s a final tally of 15 gold medals, 1 silver and 3 bronze. Every corner of Erris was represented, literally. 10 weeks to the IIRC.

Parish Carol Service

Belmullet Parish Carol Service will take place on Sunday, December 17, at 7pm in Church of the Sacred Heart, Belmullet, with singers from Barnatra, Belmullet and Glencastle and Shraigh National Schools and the combined choirs of Belmullet and Glencastle Churches.

Pub quiz

A pub quiz will be held in Una’s in Blacksod on next Thursday evening, December 7, with all funds raised for Belmullet Community Hospital beginning at 9.30. Raffle on the night with teams of four. Please support.

Remembering Gerard McNally

Students and staff past and present came together recently to remember a dear colleague and friend, Gerard McNally, of Our Lady’s Secondary School. Gerard sadly passed away on April 7, 2020 and due to Covid-19 restrictions at the time, members of the school community were unable to attend his funeral and to pay their respects to his family. On the eve of Gerard’s 50th birthday, the school held a memorial Mass in the school with his wife Rita, and their children Caoimhe and Niamh and his brothers Ciaran and Declan, and his extended family.

Gerard began teaching music and religion in Our Lady’s in September 1999. Through his talents, his unwavering dedication to hard work and his innate ability to inspire others, he has touched the lives of all of the school community. His ability to connect with his students and his genuine commitment to their welfare are just some of the traits that will ensure that Gerard will be remembered in the Erris community as ‘a great teacher’, whom his students were very fortunate to encounter.

Thank you to Fr Kevin Hegarty, to the students and staff and to the all of the past staff and special guests for coming together to mark this special occasion.

Teach Greannai, Cornboy

Teach Greannai are now hiring a general operative with immediate start. Send your CV with cover letter to seirbhisicuram@gmail.com.

Teach Greannai Community Christmas dinner takes place on December 17, beginning with Mass at 4pm, followed by Christmas dinner and dancing the evening away to Chloe Winters.

Bangor Erris senior citizens annual Christmas party

Bangor Erris senior citizens Christmas party will be held on Sunday, December 10, commencing with Mass at 3pm in The Kiltane Tavern followed by an evening of music and entertainment. Add your name to the list in the Post Office.

Erris United Sports Genius champion

We have arrived at the end of another mammoth year in sport. Thank you to Platt Reilly and Belbridge Structures for their continued support. Congratulations to Sean McHale who is our champion for 2023. His advice is to start at the bottom of the page and work up. He finished with six of the last eight correct. The other two were both USA sports and are notoriously harder to score in. He got nine correct out of twenty two events.

If he had placed a euro on all of his predictions then he may have won some money or he may have lost. But he has won €500 just in time for Christmas. Well done.

In second place was Eamon Reilly with €150. He has taken Virat Kohli off his Christmas card list, along with Stuart Barnes the rugby ref and David Clifford. Three losing finals for Eamon that Sean won. Small margins! Third place and €50 goes to Eliza.

Erris United thank everyone for taking part, and they appreciate your support and are looking forward to you joining again for the 2024 League.

Kiltane GAA club lotto and bingo news

There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club weekly lotto jackpot of €10,300 with the two €50 winners being John McGrath, Rathmorgan and Anne Carey (Mickey), Glencullen while Amber Doherty, Springfield and Michael J Deane, Glenamoy both won €25. The two online winners were Patrick Corrigan, England €50 and Eileen Harte, Castleknock, Dublin €25.

Bingo will continue in the complex in Bangor this Tuesday, December 5, at 8pm with a €500 jackpot in 45 calls or less. For each night attending bingo up until and including December 19, patrons will be entered into a draw for prizes to the value of €1,000.

25 Card game

The Mary Gilboy Memorial Cup 25 Card Game (Partners) will be held in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel on Friday, December 8, at 8.30pm All proceeds are towards to Cara Iorrais and there will be a raffle on the night.