Local Notes: Kilmovee Shamrocks Minor Team celebrate at annual GAA dinner dance
At the Kilmovee Shamrocks GAA Dinner Dance in Julians Midfield were Kilmovee Shamrocks GAA Minor Football team with Mayo County Chairperson Seamus Touhy and Sinead Cafferkey who is a native of Kilmovee. Pic James Hunt Photography.
The 47th annual general meeting of Kiltimagh District Credit Union was held in the Park Hotel on Tuesday evening, January 31. Chairperson Aidan Staunton explained to the large attendance that this would be probably the most important meeting that Kiltimagh Credit Union has ever had.
At the end of this meeting the Board of Directors will be asking you, the members, to support a resolution that will see the Transfer of Engagement of Kiltimagh Credit Union into the First Choice Group of Credit Unions, which already comprises of Castlebar, Ballyhaunis, Swinford and Achill.
Aidan said “Before I discuss this matter, I want to acknowledge the people involved in this organisation over the last 47 years. I want to begin with the brave people who founded a study group in 1975 and opened the Credit Union to its members in 1976, little did they realise, back then, that they were creating what would become a multi-million-euro asset size organisation that would, not just sustain, but change the lives of thousands of people from within this community over almost five decades”.
He also stated that he wanted to acknowledge the many people who volunteered for Kiltimagh Credit Union over those years, as directors, supervisors (now called Board Oversight) and those who sat on the various committees, some of whom, not just dedicated a few hours now and again, but their entire lives to this great organisation. “Nothing I can say here, he continued, will show enough gratitude to you all, other than to say thank you for your time, experience, and energy”.
No matter what journey we take, Aidan said, we eventually arrive at a ‘crossroads’ and we must decide what road to take from that point. The current Board of Directors arrived at their crossroads when Bank of Ireland decided to leave Kiltimagh. The Board were acutely aware of the need to put banking services back on the main street in the town, not just for the sake of providing businesses with loans and services they need, also for the 700 young people in St Louis Community School who will need current accounts, debit cards, competitive personal loans, and mortgages who, under the current situation, would have to travel to Claremorris, Swinford or further afield for those services. This merger with First Choice, Aidan explained, will give everyone those services and much more.
Aidan said that the Board of Directors had looked at various options prior to making the decision to transfer but at the end of the day this was the only permanent solution to what the community and the members needed.
Mick Dolan, Director of Finance, explained that the Credit Union was still in a strong financial position but the margin between income and expenditure was decreasing on an annual basis and was not sustainable long term so the Transfer of Engagement was coming at the right time.
The external auditor, Ciaran Loftus, explained that the surplus of the Credit Union had reduced compared to the previous year but this was due to two factors, one factor was a once off payment to income in 2022 coming as a rebate from the Saving Protection Scheme run by the Irish League of Credit Unions and secondly increased costs in 2023 due to an asset, due diligence and legal reviews carried out relating to the transfer of engagement.
Following the remainder of the committee reports the members present voted unanimously to pass the resolution to go ahead with the transfer to First Choice Credit Unions.
Aidan Staunton thanked his fellow directors, board oversight committee and staff for their work during the year.
First Choice Credit Union branches already in operation in Mayo are located in Castlebar, Ballyhaunis, Achill Island, Swinford and Balla.
Clann Machua will present their new play Stolen Child in the Townhall Theatre, Kiltimagh, this Thursday, February 22, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 with curtain up nightly at 8pm. Admission is €15.
This is a humorous and moving play about a woman's search for her birth mother directed by Seamus Corry. The cast includes Rebecca Farrington as Angela a young business woman who starts the search for her birth mother helped by the colourful private detective played by Ethan Jordan making his debut with Clann Machua. Their search for her mother Peggy played by Finola Mellett takes us through a turbulent part of Ireland in the 1940s and the play also explores the relationship between Angela and Chris a local doctor.
The play will also be performed in the Townhall Theatre in Westport on Wednesday, February 28, before hitting the road to take part in the 2024 All Ireland Drama Festival Circuit.
Kiltimagh GAA club held its annual awards function in the Cill Aodain Court Hotel on Friday night, February 10, at which there was a good attendance.
The senior Ladies Player of the Year was Madeline O'Donnell who was presented with the Mags Regan Perpetual award by Ann Langan/Kelly, Senior Men's Player of the Year was Brian Gallagher and he was presented with the Aiden Carroll Memorial trophy by Fergal Carroll. Club Person of the Year was Aingeal Ui Mhaicin, Club Chairman Gerry King presented Aingeal with the Jimmy Byrne Memorial trophy. The Hall of Fame recipient was Eugene Lavin and he was presented with his award by Mick Higgins. Congratulations to all the recipients - worthy winners of their awards.
Mossie O’Connell was the winner of Round 4 of the Spring Poker League in Teach O’Hora on Wednesday night, beating Bart Furtak heads up. AN Other won third prize while Martin Regan was fourth. The other finalists were, 5 Michael Sheridan, 6 Tiernan Burke, 7 AN Other, 8 Dylan Coleman, 9 Annette Reynolds.
Isaac Boyle remains top of the league table with 82 points followed by Mossie O’Connell on 66. The rest of the top twelve is; Martin Regan 65, Michael Higgins 65, Tiernan Burke 59, Michael Sheridan 56, Bart Furtak 56, John Reynodls 54, AN Other 51, Pat Boyle 47, Keith Lydon 44, with Daniel Kennedy and John Borza joint twelfth on 41.
The league runs for fifteen weeks with a tournament in Teach O’Hora every Wednesday night at 8pm. Entry is €20 with one optional rebuy and late reg until 9.30pm. €5 from each entry and rebuy goes towards the league final prize pool and the rest is paid out each night. The top twelve in the league table automatically qualify for the final along with two other qualifiers from a play off for those outside the top twelve.
Entry to any round of the league is strictly for members only and no new membership will be available for the foreseeable future.
Congratulations to the Club’s 50/50 winner Jordan Henry who picked up a cheque for €707 at the draw held on Saturday night, February 10, in Teach O’Hora. Envelopes for the draw are available to purchase at most of the local outlets or you can enter on line at https://www.lottoraiser.ie/KiltimaghGAA/ Thanks to all who support the draw each week.
Velorail are looking to add to their panel of operatives and are welcoming CVs from anyone interested in a part time/seasonal work. If you would like to be part of a team charged with operating a new and exciting unique tourism project, the first of its kind in Ireland or the UK, please send your CV to recruitment@ird-kiltimagh.ie as soon as possible. There are a variety of parts to the operative positions to ensure the smooth operation of Velorail and full training will be given in these roles. Roles will include reception and check-in, guiding the tours, railbike maintenance, daily checks, etc.
Swinford is taking a break from the above event this year so Kiltimagh is delighted to take the reins and host its first ever official Darkness into Light Walk for 2024. The route is just under 5km starting at the Bocce Court. Registration is now open so sign up at www.darknessintolight.ie/ and avail of the early bird discount. Email address is kiltimaghswinford@darknessintolight. Select Mayo as your county and Kiltimagh/Swinford as your venue. Walk will be held on May 11 with a starting time of 4.14am. More details later.
The three top prizes at the 25 Drive held in Kiltimagh Parish Centre, on February 8 were divided between Joe Boyle and Tom Conroy, Manus Kilcoyne and Chris Flatley and James Walsh and Paddy Carney. Best of Last 10 were Alo Langan and Aidan Lydon and spot prize went to Tom Flatley and Francis McNicholas. Raffle winners were James Walsh, Tom Walsh, Jack Ryan and Seamus Larkin. The game starts every Thursday at 9pm in the parish centre at rear of the church.
The results from the weekly Bridge game held in the Park Hotel last Tuesday night were 1st Robert and Frances Healy, 2nd John and Hilary McCrohan, 3rd Bernie Byrne and Brenda McNicholas, 4th Tony King and Eileen Mulderrig, 5th Ray Nally and Mary Colahan, 6th Tom Grogan and Nancy Shannon.
Cumann Lúthchleas Gaedhael, Coillte Mach are providing an opportunity for exam students to brush up on their oral Irish skills. A Ciorcal Comhrá will commence shortly in the GAA Clubhouse for those interested. It is an ideal opportunity for students to improve their oral skills in a casual and relaxing environment. Interested? Contact Aingeal, Oifigeach Cultúrtha, at 087 9885165.
Craggagh NS is currently accepting enrolment applications for the 2024/25 school year. A coffee and play morning will be held at the school this coming Friday, February, 23, from 9.20 to 11am. All are welcome.
For any queries contact principal@craggaghns.ie. Enrolment forms are available to download from the school's website www.Craggaghns.ie or can be obtained by contacting the school on 094 9365177 or secretary@craggaghns.ie.
