Local Notes: The story of Maria Marren included in exhibition at the Museum of Country Life, Turlough
Aidan and Pauline Marren pictured with the story of Aidan’s mother Maria Marren, taken at an event hosted by the Mayo Genealogy Group on the Revolutionary Women of East Mayo and South Sligo from 1918-1923 in the Museum of Country Life, Turlough.
Items for inclusion in the notes can be submitted by email to ryankneafsey@gmail.com or call/text/WhatsApp 087 7694781 (after 6pm). Deadline for receipt of items is 6.30pm Wednesday evening.
Coolegrane Lights will be switched on Friday, December 8, at 7pm. All proceeds this year will go to Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Palliative Care Service.
A Christmas Spectacular in Knock Basilica on Friday, December 1, with an evening of songs of faith, hope and love, and Christmas. It will feature Margo, Philomena Begley, Donna Taggart, John McNicholl and Marc Roberts. Also featuring Una Nolan and Schola Cantorum Basilicae. Tickets costing €30 are available from ticketmaster.ie handling fee may apply. A limited number of tickets are available from Mary McNicholas in Victim Assistance Head Office. This special event will raise funds for victim assistance, supporting victims of crime and trauma victims in Ireland. Doors open at 6.30pm and the show begins at 8pm. More information from Victim Assistance Head Office, Kiltimagh. Tel: 094 9000 251/ 1800 277 477.
The Butterfly Garden is organising the Light of Love this year in the lead up to Christmas. It will be possible to sponsor a Light of Love in memory of someone who has passed away or in honour of someone going through a tough time due to illness, bereavement etc. All names for which lights are sponsored are entered into a special register and will be remembered at the Light of Love Mass on December 22, at 10am in Swinford Church. The Light of Love Christmas Tree will be lit up in early December on a date to be confirmed. All proceeds in aid of The Butterfly Garden Maintenance Fund.
Payment for a Light of Love can be made via Revolut, PayPal or cash on delivery for local deliveries. To order a light, you can private message The Butterfly Garden Facebook page or call/text Anita McNicholas O'Sullivan 087 9794338, Natasha Durkan Ginty 086 3622522 or Emma Kirrane 083 1229823.
Swinford Agricultural Show fundraising table quiz will be held on Friday, December 1, at 8pm in Boland’s Bar Swinford. €40 per team of 4. Fabulous spot prizes to be won on the night. All support is welcome.
Join Salvador Ryan, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, for a festive journey exploring the origins of Christmas traditions. This talk takes place at 3pm on Saturday, December 2, at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar. People are so familiar with elements of the Christmas story and the traditions which developed from it, that we can almost take them for granted. But where did these traditions come from? Some are very ancient while others are relatively recent. Find out more at this interactive event. Admission is free but booking is required. Telephone the bookings office on (094) 90 31751 or email educationtph@museum.ie.
Western Alzheimer’s Christmas Cards are available to buy in Lavins, Market Street Swinford. Pack of eight cards €5. Swinford Church Christmas Cards are available from the Parish Office during opening hours and also from Lavins, Market Street. Pack of nine cards €5.
Killasser 2024 calendars are now available from any Killasser Community Centre committee member for €10. It is a perfect Christmas gift for family or friends at home or away.
The annual 25 card drive takes place on Monday, December 18, in Killasser Community Centre at 8.30pm with a prizefund of €1,000. Admission is €10, and proceeds are in aid of Killasser Community Care and Killasser Community Centre.
The annual general meeting of Swinford Athletic Club will take place on Wednesday, December 8, upstairs in Swinford Amenity Park. All members are welcome to attend to reflect on 2023 and plan for the running of Swinford AC in 2024.
Results of the card games played in Swinford Golf Club on Thursday, November 16, card winners: 1st and 2nd prize was shared by Carmel Timoney, Ronan Monaghan, John Gallagher and Brian McNulty, 3rd prize was won by Esther Munnelly and Annie McNeela. Raffle prizes were won by Geraldine Turbitt, Maureen Morley (x 2) and Francie Rowley. The game continues every Thursday night at 9pm.
The numbers drawn in the Swinford Community lotto draw held on November 20, were were: 6, 9, 28 and 29. There was no jackpot winner. €70 vouchers were won by John Carter, Market Street and Marian and Lisa Molloy, c/o Eurospar; €35 was won by Aine Doyle and James Coffey, Tumgesh. The jackpot is now €8,800.
The final Swinford Indoor Market of 2023 will be the Christmas Market which will run on the first weekend in December, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd, from 10.30am until 4pm each day. There will be lots of family fun on both days including a free raffle to win a hamper full of lovely crafters creations (receive a ticket with every purchase made), best decorated stall competition, live music, seasonal food and Santa Claus has promised to pop in for a visit.
Come see Santa at the Foxford Christmas Craft Fair from 12 noon until 4pm on Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3. It is hosted by the Foxford Brass & Reed Band, admission €10 per child with family rates available.
Congratulations to Trish Doherty who was last week’s winner of the Swinford GAA Club 50/50 draw which was held in The Sheepwalk winning €404. The next draw will be held in Melletts.
For anyone who would like to receive their silver or gold pioneer pin or wish to become a member email achonrypioneers@gmail.com or contact Thomas at 087 2344338 before December 31.
A representative of An Garda Síochána will provide information on crime prevention and home security on Tuesday, December 5, at 8pm in Killasser Community Centre.
Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of James Justin Duffy, No 7. Áit Aoibhínn, Mayo Community Living, Aras Attracta and formerly of Magheraboy, Kilmovee; Edward ‘Eddie’ Ditchburn, Midfield, Swinford and Middlesbrough, Yorkshire; Sally McHugh (née Tuohy), Market Street, Swinford; Seamus Campbell, Glebe House, Kiltoom, Athlone, Co. Roscommon and formerly of Newpark, Swinford. May they rest in peace.
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Christmas Market will be held on Sunday, December 3, in The Sheridan Memorial Community Centre from 6-8pm. Stallholders are asked to email sheridanmccbohola@gmail.com for further details.
The Martin Sweeney Weather Station in the village of Straide records climatological data on a daily basis. We are now seeking volunteers to train on how to use the instruments and to be available on occasional weekends to record and register climatological data. For further information, contact John on 087 9371827.
Moy Davitts LGFA annual general meeting will be held on Friday, December 1, at 7pm in Foxford Leisure centre. All are welcome.
Congratulations to Adrian Gaughan, Foxford, who won a jackpot of €400 in the Moy Davitts 50/50 draw on Saturday, November 18. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the draw, it is greatly appreciated. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by clicking https://smartlotto.ie/Bohola-moy-davitts.
Social bingo takes place every Monday in The Sheridan Memorial Community Centre, Bohola. Doors open at 8.30pm. Come along and enjoy some community fun and a cup of tea is included.
The Mayo Genealogy Group hosted an event on the Revolutionary Women of East Mayo and South Sligo from 1918-1923 in the Museum of Country Life, Turlough.
This research follows on from the award winning project of St Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown, Co. Mayo in the Decade of Centenaries All-Ireland Schools’ History Competition in 2022, run in conjunction with UCC and the Department of Education.
The speakers included special guest Sinead McCoole, a historian and broadcaster and an expert on the history of women during the Irish Revolutionary Period; the students at St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown, Cadhla O’Grady, Louise Horkan, D’arcy McCudden and their history teacher, Ann Leyden; Seamus Bermingham, Chairperson of the Mayo Genealogy Group; Patricia Conway and Cllr. Gerry Murray.
Tom Doyle, Education Officer of the National Museum facilitated the event which also featured a talk in the afternoon by Dr Michael O’Connor on Michael Collin’s visit to Castlebar in April 1922. The project is on temporary display at the Museum of Country Life, Turlough and will be displayed in Charlestown, date to be announced anon.
The information centre in Bohernasup, Ballina, is open to everyone in the community. They provide options, supports and guidance for individuals and their families experiencing mental health difficulties. The information centre provides a confidential sign posting and the drop-in service is open Monday to Wednesday from 9.30am to 4pm. Call 096 71492 for more information.
Mayo Cancer Support offer a range of emotional supports to people with cancer and their families. For more information call 094 9038407.
The weekly Bereavement Support Group meet every Wednesday at 11am in the Family Centre Knock. These meetings aim to help those who are grieving to find healing, hope and comfort. All are welcome. Contact Monica Morley on 094-9375320 for more information.
Grow Grow is a mental health support program based on lived experience. This mean Grow groups are a meeting of peers, who are striving to develop and maintain good mental health.
If you would like to know more, call your local GROW office on 1800 558 268. You can also register for ‘Welcome to Grow’, the online orientation session. This will give you an introduction to how meetings work and an opportunity to ask questions. You can also search for a group close by to you by using Find a Group and just turning up. No registrations are needed.
