Local notes: Planning for pedestrians in Foxford
In fine form after competing in the West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon in Ballina were Jennifer Ginty and her daughters Ella (left) and Holly (right). 14-year-old Ella, a 2nd Year student at St Joseph's, Foxford was seventh overall in the Teen 10k while 12-year-old Holly, a 6th class pupil at Foxford NS, placed third.
A public consultation process is underway as of last Thursday whereby observations on proposed safety improvements at the pedestrian crossing in Foxford can be made to Mayo County Council.
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.
The proposed measures also include the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing pedestrian crossing on the N26, and footpath and kerbline alterations for junction tightening to all vehicular movements along with additional signage and road markings.
The proposed scheme may be inspected at https://consult.mayo.ie while hard copies are available from Mayo County Council offices in Castlebar. Submissions must be made by June 5, 2026.
Three properties in the town centre have been painted thanks to the efforts of Foxford Enhancement Group who have simultaneously thanked Michael Tolan for his sponsorship which has enabled them to have the work carried out. The Foxford Enhancement Group has also expressed its appreciation to painter Michael Ruane for the fantastic job done, saying that the quality of the work and the generous support of Michael Tolan has helped to greatly enhance the appearance of the town.
Foxford will be well represented at this year’s Connacht Fleadh Cheoil after some tremendous results for sean nós dancers from Admiral Brown CCÉ at Ballina Arts Centre on Bank Holiday Monday. Competing in Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo, the Doherty sisters Niamh and Cróidhe won the 15-18 and 12-15 competitions respectively, while Peter Fox took second place in the senior sean nós dancing competition, Also qualifying for Connacht is Ida Hennigan who finished third in the U12s while congratulations is also extended to Rowan Toolan who won silver in the U10s.
The music and singing competitions were held last Saturday and Sunday with branch results to appear in next week’s edition.
Last Saturday, May 9 was a special day for 27 young girls and boys from Foxford National School as they received First Holy Communion at St Michael’s Church. Congratulations are extended to Ava Antley, Eimhin Burke, Donnacha Burke, Daithi Carey, Lilac Casserley, Liam Conway, Ava Gilmore, Paige Gilnagh, Rory Gilroy, Roisin Glennon, Odhran Holland, Patrick Lawrence, Sophia Lawrence, Evan Maloney, Daniel McDermott, Rylee-Mae McLaughlin, Bobby Moore, James Murphy, Alan Reape, Aoibheann Gaughan-Reape, Nell Rowland, Alicia Sereda, Sean Timlin, Matthew Walsh, Dominik Wolski, Adam Wynne and Noah Wynne.
Foxford Salmon Anglers reported three fish as caught for the week-ending Sunday, May 3, among which was a lovely springer of 13lb. With the onset of some settled weather came good conditions on the River Moy and the numbers of anglers on the river is expected to increase this week as the forecast is generally mild.
Meanwhile, a new three-day ticket for anglers is available from Tiernan’s Tackle Shop or from the waterkeepers on the river at a price of €65.
St Joseph’s of Foxford is one of four secondary schools in the county that have come together to work collectively on a project to produce a large-scale and meaningful artwork, which has been gifted to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation in Castlebar.
The project, entitled ‘Felt Connections’, saw the Foxford students join with their counterparts from Scoil Muire agus Padraig in Swinford, St Louis Community School in Kiltimagh and Ballyhaunis Community School, in a display of creativity, collaboration and community spirit.
Students each created a 7-inch felt square inspired by native Irish plants and animals. These individual pieces were combined into three large-scale artworks symbolising collaboration, connection and shared effort.
A cohort of 5th-year art students from each of the four schools, accompanied by their teachers, had the privilege of visiting the Hospice last week to present their artwork in person.
Mary Nash of Mayo Roscommon Hospice warmly welcomed the students and teachers, thanking them for their thoughtful gift and describing the artwork as beautiful. She expressed excitement at the prospect of displaying it within the Hospice before giving the group a tour of the facility and sharing insight into the incredible and compassionate work carried out there every day.
Also in attendance were Mayo Education Centre director Michael McKenzie, art therapist manager Joan Bolt, and visual artist Cas McCarthy.
The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Straide is to host a special Mass for Healing this coming Friday, May 15 at 8pm. All are welcome, especially those who are in need of emotional, spiritual, physical or mental healing.
It was a week of mixed results for the underage teams of S&F United.
On Bank Holiday Monday, the club’s two U17 boys teams were both in action. At Green Road in the Mayo U17 Premier Division, United had to come from three goals down at half-time against neighbours Conn Rangers to secure a 3-3 draw thanks to a brace of goals form Calum Costello and one from Sean Walsh, in what was a commanding second-half display by the home side.
S&F United were away to Manulla in Mayo U17 Division 4 and despite two goals from Dara Gaughan and one from Patrick O’Hara, they narrowly lost 4-3.
Manulla also edged out S&F United in the Mayo Women’s Premier Division, winning 2-1. Fiona Doherty scored the home side’s only goal.
There was a fine performance by S&F in the Mayo U13 Girls League when they recorded a 6-1 win away to Ballyglass. Lucy Durkan and Anna Clarke scored two goals apieces and there was one each by Sophia Jordan and Laoise Carey.
Ballyglass were also the opponents in Division 1 of the Mayo U17 Girls League and it was they who recorded a 3-0 win at Green Road.
However, S&F’s under-15 girls enjoyed a superb win on the road last Thursday evening when beating Snugboro United 2-1 thanks to goals by Amber Gilnagh and Lucy Durkan.
Next Sunday, May 17 will see the athletics competitions of Foxford Community Games take place at Swinford Athletics Track, getting underway at 1pm. Entries close on Wednesday, May 13 and must be completed online. There will be no registration on the day.
The entry fee is €5 per child or €10 per family and check in and payment on the day will be from 12.30pm.
For further details you can contact Lisa on WhatsApp at 0867332982.
The Rosary is being recited at the Grotto on the Swinford Road every Friday evening in May at 7pm.
Congratulations to Katie Mae Doocey and parents Eimear and David, Rooskey, on the baptising of Katie Mae at St Michael’s Church on Saturday, April 25.
There was a large entry of 1st Year students from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford who took part in the Mayo.ie West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon in Ballina on Sunday, May 3. For most of the girls it was the furthest distance (10 kilometres) they had ever run, which required incredible grit and determination.
Jemma Jordan led the way for the first year squad, crossing the finish line with an impressive time of 56.42. But the entries from St Joseph’s weren’t confined only to 1st Years and it was 2nd Year student Ella Ginty who was the first from the school to cross the line, doing so in a superb time of 44.34 to secure seventh place overall in the Teen 10k category. Well done to all.
Mahony Montessori School in Foxford has limited places available for children aged from two and a half to five and a half years old. The morning class runs from 9.15am to 12.15pm and the afternoon from 1pm to 4pm. A free pre-school year is available. Call Rachel on 087-9125372.
The Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw last week was won by the Byrne Grandkids from Bohola who collected a fine jackpot prize of €586.
Moy Davitts got their campaign in Group 2 of the Mayo Premier Junior ‘A’ Football Championship underway with a 3-13 to 1-15 win away to Ballaghaderreen. There was also club wins for the U14 and U16 teams, with Moy Davitts beating Knockmore by seven points in Homeland U14 Division 3, 8-7 to 5-9, and the same margin separating the teams when Moy Davitts travelled to Ballaghaderreen-Kilmovee and won 3-16 to 2-10 in Homeland U16 Division 3.
Less fortunate were the Moy Davitts minors who lost 3-13 to 1-15 to a visiting Naomh Padraig side.
Foxford's Stephen Doherty is to team 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 on May 21 at 8pm.
Stephen is a multi-award winning musician, composer and producer and has toured with many of Ireland’s major artists including Sean Keane, Lunasa, Niall McCabe and many more along with performances with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Alannah Thornburgh meanwhile is fresh from the success of her debut solo album and she has gained massive momentum through her various residencies and festival performances over the past number of years. She is constantly pushing the boundaries of the Irish harp through her technical compositions and collaborations and was awarded 'Best Folk Instrumentalist of the year' at the RTÉ folk awards last year.
Tickets for the pair’s May 21 gig are available from www.thelinenhall.com.
An opportunity to offload unwanted scrap metal continues as Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club accepts scrap metal on Saturdays, May 16th, 23rd and 30th, with the collection point being beside Applegreen Filling Station on the Ballina road.
The proceeds are to be put towards the completion of the club’s new gym on the Swinford road.
Unwanted bikes, galvanise, gates/sheets, barrows, buckets, radiators, copper, aluminium, lead, cast iron, oil ranges etc. will all be accepted. There will be a small fee to collect scrap metal. You can WhatsApp 086-8373646.
Items and materials that will not be accepted include glass, timber, tyres, rubber, washing machines, fridges and cookers.
