Local Notes: Night of appreciation for Sr Francis

Appreciation Night

Tickets are now on sale for a special appreciation night of music and song in St Mary’s Church, Ballinrobe, to honour Sr Francis McMyler, a woman whose remarkable work over many years was instrumental in building the town’s renowned musical tradition.

The celebration on Friday, November 17, at 7pm, will be a tribute to Sr Francis’s enormous contribution, which began when she arrived in Ballinrobe in the 1970s. Her unwavering enthusiasm for promoting the arts enriched the lives of countless individuals.

The event promises to be an unforgettable experience of music and song. Tickets, priced at €10, can be purchased in Martin Murphy’s, Centra and SuperValu.

The evening will feature a lineup of exceptional guest performers, including Sean Costello, Dave Langan, the School Band and Choir, Ballinrobe Musical Society, Daithi Ryder, Neil Conway, Catherine Conway, Brendan Sammon, Jenny Mulvey, the Adult Choir, Bernadine O’Grady and John Lane. Many of the performers had their talents nurtured by Sr Francis.

Sr Francis left an indelible mark on Ballinrobe’s musical heritage. She introduced music into the hearts of local residents through school operatic and musical productions, establishing the school band, leading both adult and children’s choirs, and reviving St Mary’s Choral Society, which is now known as Ballinrobe Musical Society.

Sr Francis’s ability to inspire young talent has been one of her most enduring legacies. She provided a platform for young children to step onto the stage and instilled in them a love for music, confidence and the skills needed to excel.

The event will be compered by Liam Horan and will be live streamed on the Ballinrobe parish Facebook page. For more information, including updates and testimonials, you can visit the official Facebook page dedicated to the Sr Francis Appreciation Night, where you can also connect with others who share in the appreciation for Sr Francis, who currently resides in Castlebar.

AGM

The annual general meeting of Ballinrobe Civic, Art and Amenity Centre (BCAAC) will be held on Wednesday, December 6, at 8pm in the Café room of the Town Hall. All are welcome to attend.

The late Billy O’Carroll

A pall of gloom was cast over Ballinrobe last week with the death after a short illness of Billy O’Carroll, a native of Kilshanny, Co. Clare, who became an integral and popular member of the Ballinrobe community since moving to the locality many years ago. He passed away peacefully at University College Hospital, Galway, surrounded by his loving family.

Billy was the manager of Ballinrobe Credit Union for many years and was highly regarded for the discretion and professionalism with which he went about his work.

Ballinrobe Musical Society joined in the tributes by extending their sympathies “to the family and friends of the late Billy O’Carroll.” They added: “Billy gave many days and nights of service to the society as our stage manager and set builder and was fondly regarded by everyone in the society who knew him. May he rest in peace.” The Wilde River Drama Group, of which Billy was a valued member, said: “We are absolutely devastated today as we try to come to terms with the loss of our dear friend Billy.

“Billy was one of life’s true gentlemen with a heart of gold and a wonderful laugh. He made friends the length and breadth of the country as we travelled to different venues on our circuit journeys. We will miss him terribly and our hearts today are truly broken. To all his family our deepest condolences.

“Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.” Billy is survived by his wife Anne, son Niall, daughter Elaine, grandchildren Risteárd and Gearóid, sisters Mary-Carmel and Angela, brother JJ, Niall’s partner Anna, Elaine’s fiancé Andrew, brothers-in-law Gerard, Declan, Gabriel, Colm and Mick (partner to Mary-Carmel), sisters-in-law Phyl, Maria and Biddy, nieces Noreen, Jean and Laura, nephews Noel, Patrick, David, Colm, Rory, Cathal and Stephen, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Christmas tractor parade

Ballinrobe’s annual Christmas Lights Tractor Parade takes place on Sunday, December 3, at 5pm. The event will also feature a kiddies tractor parade. Registration for both parades will open in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates on the Christmas Tractor Parade Facebook page and be sure to mark your calendars for this popular festive event.

Team manager

Local man Norman O’Brien managed the Kilconly team in the Galway Intermediate Football Championship final last Saturday. The final clash with Monivea-Abbeyknockmoy was a thrilling encounter, ultimately ending in a loss for Kilconly.

Norman’s sons Evan and Conor were part of the Ballinrobe intermediate team, which suffered a defeat in the Mayo championship final a week earlier. Norman is a former Ballinrobe intermediate team manager.

Dinner-dance

The Ballinrobe GAA and LGFA dinner dance is just around the corner, with tickets now available for purchase. The event will take place on Saturday, November 25, starting at 7pm at the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport.

Tickets, priced at €50, can be obtained through the Ballinrobe GAA App or by contacting Martina McCormack, Declan Corcoran or Gerry Donnelly.

Town Parks AGM

Ballinrobe Town Park hold their annual general meeting on Thursday, November 30, in the parish centre at 8pm. All are welcome to attend. The Town Park – aka The Green – is an important local facility that hosts a variety of sports and activities.

Santa in Roxboro

There is strong local speculation that Santa Claus will visit the Roxboro area of Ballinrobe on the afternoon of Saturday, December 9. Santa, who has many connections in Roxboro over many decades, has graced the Roxboro area with a whistlestop tour in the run-up to the last few Christmases.

While locals are hoping he will do so again this year, they are conscious that petty jealousies and political rivalries could result in a hijack effort by another townland. In fact, a spokesperson for the Roxboro community specifically asked this publication not to highlight the possibility of a visit.

However, as a paper of record, we felt compelled to publish the news, just as we will report the event if it actually goes ahead.

Ballinrobe Bridge news

Results: 1, Michael McTigue and Nancy Hughes; 2, Lena Lowery and Maura McHugh; 3, Paul Waldron and Mar O’Connor; 4, Mary Feerick and Mary Cahalan; 5, Mary Kelly and Kathleen Nally; 6, Vincent Connell and John Mullin; 7, William Enright and Angela Murphy; 8, Irene Walkin and Emer Canny. The President’s Prize will take place on November 23 and 30.

Cup tie

Ballinrobe Town AFC will once again be on their travels on Sunday next in round two of the Connacht Junior Cup with an away tie against Castlerea Celtic, at 2pm.

Ballinrobe Rugby Club

The Ballinrobe junior men’s team will be in Connacht Junior One (A) league action on Saturday week, November 25, when they face Tuam, at Tuam RFC, at 7.30pm.

Musical stars

Ballinrobe Musical Society has congratulated Marian Choral Society on their fantastic staging of Evita in St Jarlath’s College. Society members Niall Conway and Eimear McGovern were involved in the production, which was well attended and extremely well-received. The society also extends its best wishes to their director Alan Greaney, who will be directing 9 Arch Musical Society’s production of Kinky Boots: The Musical, which runs from November 15-18 in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre.

Golf results

Results of the Sunday mixed scramble sponsored by Noel and Ann Galvin: 1, Chris Mellott, Mary Hughes, Margaret McHugh, Ann Galvin; 2, Liam Thornton, Max Humphreys, Noreen Hession, Rita Kearney; 3, Seamus McHugh, Angela Murphy, Catherine Burke; 4, Denis Harrington, Paddy Murphy, Mary Farragher, Ger Loughlin.

Ballinrobe Bridge club

Results of the game held last week; 1st Kathleen and Phil Walsh, 2nd Nancy Hughes and Michael McTigue, 3rd Paul Waldron and Mar O’Connor, 4th Mary Keane and Mary Dalton, 5th Claire Mitchell and Marian Sheridan, 6th Joan Tighe and Anieta O’Neill.

Kilmaine/Shrule/Glencorrib

Church gate collection

The annual senior citizens Church gate collection will be held in Kilmaine on Sunday, November 19, and in Gortjordan on Friday, December 1. All donations will be gratefully appreciated.

Kilmaine GAA lotto

The numbers drawn on November 6 were 6, 7, 15 and 24. The jackpot was not won. The names drawn for other prizes were Gearoid O’Dea, Gary Burke and Mike Chrisom. The jackpot is now at €12,500 and you can enter locally or online at www.kilmainegaa.com/draws. Thanks for your support.

Free Office Skills course

There are places available on the office skills training course at the South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe. Subjects include word processing, spreadsheets, database and internet. The course, is free and open to adults of all ages. A weekly allowance may be payable to those in receipt of social welfare and each participant is given the use of a laptop computer. The course leads to a QQI Major Award. For further details phone 094 9541214 or call to the South Mayo Family Research Centre, Main Street, Ballinrobe.

Bereavement Support meetings

Life after a bereavement can feel very lonely. Trained facilitators conduct a weekly Bereavement Support Meeting at the Family Centre, Knock Shrine, each Wednesday at 11am. There is also a special meeting for bereaved partners / spouses on the First Thursday of each month at 11am. No appointment needed. Further information from Monica Morley on 094-9375320.

Lions Club Diabetes Awareness Day

Claremorris and District Lions Cub in conjunction with Claremorris Red Cross are having a free diabetes check and awareness day in the The Square, Claremorris, on Saturday, November 18, from 12 noon to 3pm. The event will be part of World Diabetes Day.

Fundraising concert at Knock Basilica

A Christmas Spectacular takes place at Knock Basilica on Friday, December 1, with ‘An Evening of Songs of Faith, Hope, Love and Christmas’ featuring Margo, Philomena Begley, Donna Taggart, John McNicholl and Marc Roberts. Also featuring Una Nolan and Schola Cantorum Basilicae. Tickets cost €30 and are available from Mary McNicholas in Victim Assistance Head Office. This event will raise funds for Victim Assistance, supporting victims of crime and trauma victims in Ireland. Door open at 6.30pm and the show begins at 8pm. Information from Victim Assistance head office, Kiltimagh. Tel 094 9000 251/1800 277 477.