Local notes: Musicians take Fleadh by storm

Local musicians qualify for Connacht 

Members of Admiral Brown CCÉ enjoyed considerable success at Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo which was held at St Mary’s Secondary School, Foxford on Saturday and Sunday, May 9/10. All medallists in the U12 age groups upwards go forth to represent the branch and their county at the Connacht Fleadh in Mohill.

U12 Fiddle: 2nd Olivia Bourke. U15 Fiddle: 2nd Gearóid Ó Dubhghaill.

U18 Button Accordion: 2nd Rónán Doyle.

U12 Flute: 1st Conor Ruddy. U18 Flute: 3rd Niamh Ní Dhochartaigh. O18 Flute: 2nd Peter Fox.

U12 Whistle: 3rd Ida Hennigan.

U12 Piano Accordion: 1st Áine Healy.

U15 Concertina: 2nd Eilidh Jackson. U18 Concertina: 1st Shóna Fox, 2nd Laoise Doherty.

U18 Harp: 3rd Laoise Doherty.

U15 Mouth Organ: 1st Thomas Holmes. U18 Mouth Organ: Seán Holmes.

U15 Banjo: 3rd Dezi Scahill.

U12 Piano: 2nd Liam Jackson, U15 Piano: 1st Eilidh Jackson.

U12 Melodeon: 2nd Adam Hennigan. U15 Melodeon: 1st Croídhe Doherty.

U15 Miscellaneous: 1st Dezi Scahill.

U12 Accompaniment: 3rd Liam Jackson. U18 Accompaniment: 1st Laoise Doherty.

U12 Céilí Drums: 1st James Gallagher. U15 Céilí Drums: 1st Abby Gallagher. U18 Céilí Drums: 1st Niamh Doherty.

U15 Fiddle Slow Airs: 3rd Gearóid Doyle.

U12 Flute Slow Airs: 2nd Conor Ruddy.

U12 Whistle Slow Airs: 2nd Conor Ruddy.

U18 Harp Slow Airs: 2nd Laoise Doherty.

U15 Duets: 1st Croídhe Doherty and Eilidh Jackson; 2nd Gearóid Doyle and Michael McHale.

U18 Duets: 1st Niamh and Laoise Doherty. O18 Duets: 2nd Méabh Hyland and Peter Fox.

U12 Trios: 1st Aideen McDonnell, Adam Hennigan and Eóin Hennigan. U18 Trios: 1st Niamh Doherty, Laoise Doherty and Shóna Fox.

U18 Céilí Band: 2nd Glór na Sí.

U15 Grúpaí Ceoil: 2nd Glór na Sí.

U12 Irish Singing (Men): 2nd Liam Jones.

U15 English Singing (Ladies): 1st Shreane Donoghue. U18 English Singing (Ladies): 3rd Niamh Doherty.

U12 English Singing (Men): 2nd Liam Jones.

U12 Whistling: 1st Eóin Hennigan. U15 Whistling: 1st Gearóid Doyle, 2nd Kate Moylett, CCÉ, Admiral Brown. U18 Whistling: 1st Laoise Doherty, 2nd Niamh Doherty.

Newly composed songs in English (any age): 2nd Patrick Fox.

Newly composed tunes (any age): 2nd Gearóid Doyle.

U12 Ladies 8-Hand Céilí Dancing: 1st CCÉ Admiral Brown (B), 2nd CCÉ Admiral Brown (A). U15 Ladies 8-Hand Céilí Dancing: 1st CCÉ Admiral Brown.

U18 Mixed 8-Hand Céilí Dancing: 1st CCÉ Admiral Brown. O18 Mixed 8-Hand Céilí Dancing: 1st CCÉ Admiral Brown.

U12 Ladies 4-Hand Céilí Dancing: 3rd CCÉ Admiral Brown (E). U15 Ladies 4-Hand Céilí Dancing: 1st CCÉ Admiral Brown (A). U18 Ladies 4-Hand Céilí Dancing: 1st CCÉ Admiral Brown.

O18 Mixed 4-Hand Céilí Dancing: 1st CCÉ Admiral Brown (B), 2nd CCÉ Admiral Brown (A).

U12 Storytelling: 1st Liam Jones, 3rd Julian Grufferty Hopkins.

U18 Miscellaneous Slow Air: 1st Rónán Doyle.

U10 Button Accordion: 1st Adam Hennigan, 2nd Darragh Bourke.

U10 Whistle: 1st Eoin Hennigan.

U10 English Singing (Ladies) 3rd Darcy Jones.

There was also tremendous success for members of CCÉ Admiral Brown in an array of Cuimsiú competitions which also took place at the Mayo Fleadh.

U12 Whistle: 3rd Cillian Melody. U15 Whistle: 2nd Davina O’Connell. U18 Whistle: 2nd Hannah Dunford. O18 Whistle: 1st Mya Bullard.

U12 English Singing (Men): 3rd Cillian Melody.

U12 Irish Singing (Men): 2nd Cillian Melody.

U12 Sean Nós dancing: 1st Cillian Melody.

U12 Storytelling: 1st Cillian Melody.

U12 Piano: 1st Conor Connolly. U15 Piano: 2nd Davina O’Connell.

U15 Miscellaneous: 1st Davina O’Connell.

U18 Concertina: 1st Hannah Dunford.

U18 Bodhrán: 1st Hannah Dunford. O18 Bodhrán: 1st Mya Bullard.

O18 Harp: 1st Mya Bullard.

O18 Duets: 1st Hannah Dunford and Mya Bullard.

O18 Trios: 1st Hannah Dunford, Mya Bullard and Davina Murphy.

O18 English Singing (Ladies): 2nd Mya Bullard.

Riverfest 2026 

An appeal has been made for people to join the committee of Riverfest and help make this year’s festival happen. New blood is required, leaders and organisers who will take up the baton and perhaps even help steer the festival in new directions.

A date for the festival, equipment and seed corn funds are all in place so if you would like to help make Riverfest 2026 happen, get in touch via the festival’s Facebook page.

The late Tom Fleming, Assumpta Place Fond memories of a kind hearted, caring and good humoured gentleman were shared last week at the funeral of Tom Fleming, Assumpta Place, and formerly of Corrimbla, Ballina who passed peacefully at his residence with his family by his side.

A great conversationalist and a lover of music and dancing, Tom is remembered for his outgoing and positive nature.

Sympathies are extended to his beloved wife Teresa and his family Mary, Patricia, Caroline, Noel and Kevin, all of whom will dearly and forever miss Tom, as will his grandchildren, daughters in-law, son in-law, sisters Bea, Josie and Sally, his nephews, nieces, in-laws, relatives, lifelong friend Dinny, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Tom was predeceased by his parents Tom and Sabina, his sister Mary McGill and his sister in-law Mary Mulherin, Attymass.

Tom lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home last Friday evening and his funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday at St Michael’s Church, Foxford with burial afterwards in Bonnifinglas Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.

The late Josephine Clarke, Belgarrow Many heartfelt tributes have been paid following the untimely passing last week of Josephine Clarke (née) Barrett, Belgarrow. Josephine passed peacefully with her family by her side in the gentle care of the staff of The Galway Clinic after a brief illness bravely borne.

A highly respected hairdresser, Josephine has been fondly remembered as an “absolute lady”, as someone who was always so full of chat and laughter and who was always so stylish and glamorous.

Predeceased by her father Patrick and her brothers Liam and Jack, Josephine will be dearly and forever missed by her husband PJ and daughter Emma (Shane), her mother Annie and her brother Cyril, her nieces, nephews, her in-laws, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Josephine lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home last Wednesday evening and her funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday at St Michael’s Church. Burial afterwards was in Craggagh Cemetery.

May she rest in peace.

School wins award AIB has bestowed a prestigious honour upon the Transition Year students of St Joseph’s Secondary School who have been recognised with an AIB Future Sparks Exemplary School Award 2025/26. The award celebrates their outstanding ‘Hygiene Hub’ and ‘Christmas Cheer!’ initiative, as part of their Community Involvement module.

Students created handmade Christmas cards for residents in the local Blackrock nursing home, and established a Hygiene Hub donation centre in school, collecting over 250 essential hygiene items for vulnerable families in the local community.

The judges commended the project for promoting dignity, compassion, global and communal solidarity, particularly through their Christmas shoebox appeal and Hygiene project.

In a statement, the school said: “The AIB Future Sparks Awards is a nationwide competition involving schools from all over the country. In such a competitive field, receiving an Exemplary School Award is a significant honour and reflects the compassion and dedication shown by our TY students all year long. Well done to all.” Knitting together Moy Davitts LGFA are seeking not only members of the club but members of the wider local community to become involved in a Club Community Project as part of the Lidl #SeriousSupport programme that Moy Davitts LGFA is involved in.

To highlight the importance and value of learning new skills and knowledge, the project team would love for club members and members of the community to get their knitting needles out and try their hand at a bit of crafting. The idea is that volunteers would knit a small patch which when all completed would be sewn together to form one big community patchwork.

The project is already underway and will run until May 24 by which stage it’s hoped to have a lovely community patchwork made. Anybody who wishes to get involved can send an email to moydavitts.mayo@lgfa.ie.

Championship draw Moy Davitts have discovered who they will face in the group stages of this season’s Mayo LGFA Intermediate Championship following last week’s draw. They have been drawn in Group A along with their East Mayo rivals Aghamore and Ballyhaunis, and Louisburgh. The championship is not due to get underway until August.

Table tennis A new table tennis club is opening in Foxford. The club will be open to all age groups and total beginners will be very welcome to register. To date 30 adults and a dozen under-18s have registered. Training will commence on June 2 and will be held every Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm for adults and Sunday afternoons 4pm to 6pm for under-18s. The club are in search of table tennis tables to provide suitable entertainment for the large membership expected. Professional coaching will be provided and the club intend to enter competitions in the future.

For further information please contact 086-8373646.

The late Michael Lynskey, Aghaward and UK The death has occurred in England of Michael Lynskey, formerly of Aghaward, Foxford. Although living for some 60 years in the UK where he established himself as an excellent mechanic, Michael was a regular returnee and still well remembered locally, particularly having learnt his trade in Reape’s Garage before emigrating to London in the 1960s.

He passed peacefully in Stretford, Manchester on May 1st aged 77 years.

Michael was predeceased by his parents Martin and Mary Ellen and his sister Marie.

The dearly beloved husband of Catherine, he will also be sadly missed by his sister Bridget, sister-in-law Bridget (Betty), brothers-in-law Tony and Sean, niece Caroline and nephews Anthony and Peter, great-nephews, great-niece and dear cousins.

Michael’s requiem Mass will be celebrated at St John’s Church, Chorlton, Manchester on Wednesday, May 20 prior to interment at Brooklands cemetery, Sale.

May he rest in peace.

Rosary at Grotto The Rosary is being recited at the Grotto on the Swinford Road every Friday evening in May at 7pm.

Feile champions The under-15 footballers of Moy Davitts GAA Club can start preparing for a trip to this year’s Féile Peile na nÓg after they won the right to represent Mayo by winning the Mayo Féile Division 2 final in Castlebar.

In what was a very busy 24 hours for the team, they overcame the challenges of both Knockmore and Charlestown Sarsfields on Friday, May 8 to win the East Mayo Feile and the following day they recorded a 2-6 to 1-4 county semi-final victory over Burrishoole which was followed up with a comprehensive 2-7 to 1-1 win against Kilmeena in the final on the same afternoon.

The national finals this year will take place in Co Derry on Saturday, June 27.

Davy’s delight A very welcome jackpot prize of €568 was won by Davy McHale, Foxford in last week’s Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw.

Kennedy Cup S&F United will be proudly represented at this year’s Kennedy Cup by underage players Gearóid Clarke and Aaron Boukioud who have been selected on the Mayo squad for the prestigious tournament that sees all of the country’s schoolboys leagues send their under-14 teams to take part in the week-long inter-league competition at the University of Limerick.

The pair were both members of the St Joseph’s Secondary School team that recently won the FAI Schools U15 ‘B’ Cup Final.

Jackpot joy Conor McHale Purdy, Straide (May 5) and Lilian Cunningham, Foxford (May 11) are the two most recent weekly winners of the S&F United 50-50 draw. Both collected jackpot prizes of €100.

Six shooters Well done to S&F United’s U13 girls who had a fantastic 6-1 league win over Ballina Town at Green Road last week. Lucy Durkan scored four goals while there was a brace too for Keighley McDermott.

Pedestrian crossing Submissions are being accepted up until June 5, 2026 on proposed safety improvements at the pedestrian crossing in Foxford.

The council intends to implement traffic calming measures at the junction of the N58 (Main Street), N26 (Chapel Road) and L5361 (Lower Main Street), a key element of which would be the removal of the existing right turn at O’Hara’s corner onto Chapel Road.

A public consultation process is underway whereby the proposed scheme can be inspected at https://consult.mayo.ie or through hard copies which are available from the Castlebar offices of Mayo County Council to whom observations can be made.

Linenhall concert Foxford's Stephen Doherty is teaming up with Swinford native Alannah Thornburgh for an intimate night of traditional and new music performed on harp and flute. Stephen and Alannah are two of Mayo’s most accomplished musicians and composers and have now created a freshly inspired duo performance with their combined material. They are to appear at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar this Thursday, May 21 at 8pm.

Tickets are available from www.thelinenhall.com.