Local notes: New GAA chairperson to be elected
Attending the Moy Davitts GAA Club 50th anniversary celebrations in the Great National Hotel in Ballina were, from left: Delia Gilmore, Pat Ruane, John Gilmore Snr., Paul Quinn and Lorraine Quinn. Picture: John O'Grady
Moy Davitts GAA have issued notice of an Emergency General Meeting of the club on Sunday, February 16, 2025, to ratify the appointment of a new club chairperson. The EGM will be held in Bohola Community Centre at 6.30pm and is open to all 2025 registered club members.
If you are not yet registered, please visit http://www.foireann.ie to sign up. If you need support to set-up your registration, contact Paula Ruane on 087-3226777.
A marvellous teacher, someone so well regarded by pupils and colleagues alike, a real gentleman, a generous and gentle soul, a treasure… there was an outpouring of tributes paid to the late Sean T. McLoughlin whose funeral took place on Wednesday, January 29.
Sean T., from Callow and formerly of Kilcon, Kiltimagh, was the retired principal of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford. The large crowds that attended his repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home and his funeral Mass at St Thomas’ Church, Callow, were a testament to the esteem in which he was held.
Simply known as Sean T. to pupils and teachers alike, as one former student at St Joseph’s remarked, he “imparted his knowledge with ease and gentleness and humour.”
Sean T. passed peacefully in the care of the nurses, doctors and staff of Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar.
Predeceased by son David, his brothers Anthony, Mickey and Pat and his sister Moira, Seán T. is dearly and lovingly missed by his wife Eithne, son Gerard, daughters Ann and Emer, his adored grandchildren Seán, Thomas, Ciara, Gráinne and Maeve, his daughter in-law Shirley, sons in-law Kevin and Fergie, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, former colleagues and a large circle of friends.
Sean T. was laid to rest in Craggagh Cemetery.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford has extended congratulations to their former student Bevin Maloney who has been honoured with an Entrance Exhibition award from Trinity College Dublin. Bevin attended a special ceremony on campus where she was presented her award by Provost of TCD, Ms Linda Doyle.
To mark her wonderful achievement, Bevin was also joined at the ceremony by St Joseph’s school principal, Mr Daire McManamon.
Bevin is currently studying Law and is wished continued success at Trinity College Dublin in the years ahead.
S&F United’s over-35s team has made an excellent start to the Mayo FA Westaro Masters League Division 2, winning both of their opening games. They kicked off their campaign with a 7-5 victory over Ballyglass, with Paul Moran providing four of the goals, two from Chris Downey and one from Neil Mayock.
Paul Moran scored another four as S&F United then beat Ballyvary Blue Bombers 6-4. Cormac Healy scored one while the other goal came via the boot of a Bombers player.
The team’s next game is this Wednesday, February 5 against Partry Athletic. Kick-off is at 9.30pm.
The most recent winner of the S&F United 50-50 draw was Jack Flatley, Foxford who won €100. Tickets are available in the usual local outlets and at smartlotto.ie.
The unexpected death took place at his residence last week of Anthony Coleman.
Anthony will be dearly and lovingly missed by his sons David and Gary and their mother Noreen, his adored grandchildren Emma, Dylan, Harry and Jamie, his brother Tommy, his sister Mary (McDermott, Lahardane), daughters in-law Audrey and Bláithín, nephews, nieces, in-laws, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
Anthony was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Ellie and his brothers Raymond and John. He lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home, Foxford last Friday evening and his funeral Mass was celebrated at St Michael’s Church on Saturday. Burial afterwards was at Craggagh Cemetery.
May be rest in peace.
The RISE Community Fund has announced plans to award new cash grants to small businesses, farms, social enterprises, schools, charities and community groups in County Mayo, with funding available to those who can demonstrate innovative plans to use technology to scale the positive impact of their work and benefit the local community.
FACT Social Club (Foxford Alzheimers and Community Trust) are previous recipients of grant funding from the RISE Community Fund, with grants of up to €1000 available to successful applicants from across the county.
Applications for the cash grants opened on February 3 and close on February 28, 2025.
The application process is quick and easy, and successful applicants will be notified in March with money following in quick succession.
To apply, visit riseglobalfoundation.com.
The Foxford Ramblers Walking Group meet every Sunday with new members more than welcome to join.
Guests are welcome to come along to any walk for €10 but it’s much better value to join for the year, with annual membership costing €55.
You can get in touch via the Foxford Ramblers Walking Group’s Facebook page where details of their weekly walks are posted, or just introduce yourself to the group leader on the day.
The churches in Toomore and Attymachugh will both host gate collections in aid of the Mayo Cancer Support Association on the weekend of February 15/16. Your support for this local registered charity that offers free emotional support to people affected by cancer and their families would be greatly appreciated.
If anyone can volunteer to assist with the collections, contact Orla on 087-9246875. Visit www.mayocancersupport.ie for further details.
The death has occurred in the USA of Foxford native John Roache. A resident of Brooklyn, New York and formerly of Moygrove, Foxford, John passed at his home with his loving family by his side.
John was predeceased by his parents Pakie and Molly, his brothers Pa, Vincent and Tommy, and by his daughter in-law Eleanor.
He is sadly missed and remembered with love by his wife Maureen, sons Thomas, Fr Dermot, Paddy and John Joe, daughter Maureen, by his grandchildren, his brothers Noel and Anthony, his sister Sr Mary, daughter-in-law Sheila, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.
John’s funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, January 31 in St Anselm’s Church, Brooklyn, NY and burial afterwards was in St Charles Cemetery, Long Island.
May he rest in peace.
An enormously successful 50th anniversary dinner dance was held by Moy Davitts GAA Club in the Great National Hotel on Saturday, January 25.
Special guests were former club players Niamh and Grace Kelly who play professionally in the Women’s Australian Football League. MC was Anthony Jordan and the large attendance enjoyed a great night’s entertainment.
The club would particularly like to thank the following sponsors: Jason McEvaddy, Tom Maloney, Great National Hotel, Corduff Travel, Cooney’s Hardware (Ballina), R&R Nurseries, CGQ Developments, GJ McLoughlin Builders, Clydesdale Construction, O’Hara’s of Foxford, Café Rua (Castlebar), McGloins Gala, Brian Reape, Declan O’Brien, Gerry Quinn, Joe McEvey, Peter Gannon, Cathal Hennelly.
€510 was the jackpot prize won by Peter Gannon, Foxford in the last Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw. Tickets for the weekly draw are available in the usual retail outlets or on the Moy Davitts GAA app.
This year, all Moy Davitts GAA players from U8s to U18s (boys born between 2007 and 2018) who are registered by Friday, February 14 will receive game day shorts (white and red) plus red midi socks (to the value of €30 per member) as part of their registration.
Moy Davitts will host a registration information evening and size confirmation on Monday, February 17 for parents/guardians. One parent/guardian must make every effort to attend in order to confirm sizing and to meet the manager of the various age groups for the year ahead. The club will then place orders on February 18 to have gear in time for the playing season.
Parents will also have the option of purchasing a training short sleeve t-shirt on the day, with the price yet to be confirmed.
Following a review of its 2025 membership rates, Moy Davitts GAA has more options for returning and new club members. There are also attractive packages for non-playing club members who buy 50/50 lotto and County Board tickets.
For anyone who may already have purchased membership prior to this update, they can contact Paula Ruane on 087-322677 to combine any membership.
To register, visit www.foireann.ie or the Foireann app.
All club members must be registered by March 31, 2025 if they wish to have voting rights for 2025.
The funeral Mass of co-founder and former President of the Irish Planning Institute, Foxford native Enda Patrick Conway, took place in Dublin on Monday, February 3. Late of Foxrock Avenue, Dublin 18, Enda passed away peacefully in his 90th year at Our Lady’s Hospice, Blackrock, surrounded by his loving family after a long illness bravely borne.
Predeceased by his sister Fidelma and brother Adrian, he will be sorely missed by Mary, his beloved wife of 65 years, adored children Anne, Declan, Helen, Barry, Brian and Rory and his eight treasured grandchildren. He will be fondly remembered by his sisters Rita, Ethnea and Deirdre, brothers Kieran and Finian, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, daughter-in-law Genevieve and Barry’s partner Louise, cousins, nieces, nephews, former colleagues, friends and kind neighbours.
Enda’s funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Foxrock. Cremation afterwards was at Mount Jerome, Victorian Chapel.
All engaged couples and married couples celebrating significant wedding anniversaries are invited to the cathedral in Ballaghaderreen next Sunday, February 9 for a liturgy of blessing by Bishop Kevin Doran. Refreshments will be provided in St Nathy’s College afterwards.
Set dancing classes have resumed on Sunday nights in the Brown Memorial Hall, Foxford. New beginners are most welcome to attend. The class gets underway at 7pm.
A private cremation is to take place following the death last week of Iain Bertie, Nephin View Manor, Foxford and formerly of Dundee, Scotland and Germany. Iain passed peacefully yet unexpectedly at his residence last week. He and wife Maren had resided in Germany for 19 years before moving to Foxford to reside here permanently.
Iain was at his happiest when out fishing on the rivers and lakes and surrounded by nature and fellow fishermen, chatting about the best places to fish and also about the ones that got away.
May he rest in peace.
It will no doubt be a question in Moy Davitts GAA quizzes in years to come: who was the first player from the club to score a senior inter-county goal at Croke Park?
The answer, of course, is Conor Reid who played the full 70-minutes of Mayo’s 2025 Allianz Football League Division 1 opener against Dublin on Saturday, January 25. His goal (Mayo’s only) came in the first-half of a game in which his Moy Davitts clubmate Cian McHale made his senior debut for Mayo, coming off the bench in the second-half. Congratulations to both.
