Local notes: Tom Moran wins the Michelle Gaughan Memorial Darts competition in Erris.
Congratulations to Tom Moran who recently won the Michelle Gaughan Memorial Darts title for the 2nd time and 12 years after first winning this title back in 2014 with a brilliant display of darts to power to victory. Tom is pictured receiving the trophy from members of the Gaughan family recently.
The 2026 Michelle Gaughan Memorial Darts event took place in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel and it was another brilliant day to kick of the darting season in Erris.
The youths Round Robin competition began the day with Alex Bielinski showing yet again the top player he is, powering through the field to take the title. Runner up Daithi McLaughlin played brilliant darts on the day. Semi finalists were Ryan Moran and Jacob Moran with Brent Kelly taking home the highest checkout with a lovely 120 finish.
The ladies event took place with Shelia Deane becoming the first ever Michelle Gaughan Ladies winner. The runner up was Rachel McBride, and semi-finalists were Jenny Camillo and Mary Bancroft. It was great to see another ladies competition added to the calendar in Erris.
The main event kicked off with 50 players all playing for the title. Round Robin groups and a couple of preliminary matches brought things down to the last 16 with some top-quality games played out into the evening.
In the end it was Tom Moran who took home the title for the 2nd time and 12 years after first winning title in 2014 with a brilliant display of darts to power to victory. Runner up was Alex Bielinski. It was a serious achievement to win the youths and go on to make the final of the main event on the same day. Semi-finalists were Pat Deane and Brendan Conway with Alex taking home the highest checkout prize with a cracking 160 finish.
The raffle and auctions raised at last count nearly €4,600 for Glencastle NS, and a massive well done and thank you to all that sponsored prizes and sold and bought tickets and supported the day in any way. Huge credit must go to the Gaughan family. A lot of work went in to the weekend and with their support and sponsorship it continues to get bigger and better each year.
The annual Sunset4Stop 5km fundraising walk was held recently with 127 people signed up and €2440 raised through registration fees and donations. It was a special community event with thanks to the help of many different people for their continued support. The walk is not alone about raising funds, but it is also about raising awareness around mental health and about the NWSTOP counselling service available locally. It is also about solidarity, support and remembering and the organisers appreciate everyone who took the time to be there with them.
It is important to thank and acknowledge the support of our kind sponsors; You’re Some Flower Events, Carrabine’s Centra, Barrett’s Wholesale, Aldi, Cuffe’s Centra, Conroy’s Fruit & Veg, Reilly’s Pharmacy, Michael Gibbons Toorcab’s, Walsh Roofing, Tom Gaughan (Painter) and Lennon’s Quarries. Thank you also to the talented local musicians for supporting the event, to the IWA for use of their centre, to all the wonderful bakers for the delicious homemade treats, to the helpers and volunteers who assisted in the organizing of the event, setup on the day, stewarding, registration, photography, refreshments, and the warm up, to Garda David Reilly for providing an escort for the walk and the local Order of Malta and their team for covering the event. The group appreciate the continued support of Rose Conway-Walsh TD and her assistance in ensuring access to supports and services locally in Erris.
The talent locally extends beyond music and the group were very impressed by the children and young people who took part in the Sunset Scene Art competition both in schools and on the evening. Art competition prizewinners were; Hannah Lavelle, Mila McLaughlin, Lily O’Boyle, Kevin McDonnell and IWA School Leavers.
A final word of thanks goes to Mayo GAA Star Seamus Howard for doing the honors and opening this year’s walk. If anyone needs to access counselling contact NWSTOP on 0818 444 000. Alternatively contact Leanne on 087 0670989/coordinator@errisfcsc.ie and they can help direct you to the support you need.
Congratulations to Gerard Garvin, Carratigue, who was the jackpot winner of €11,330, on September 20, when the numbers drawn were 3, 6, 10, and 22. The house prize €100 winner was Cuán Calpin, Porturlin and the €30 offline winners were Anna Gallagher, Fallaugh and Adam Conroy, Glenamoy. The €30 online winners were Liz Rafter, Glenamoy and Anna Barden, Kent, England and the latest jackpot reverted to €5,000 in the draw held in Belderrig Community Centre on September 27.
Gaeltacht lorrais Riding Club is now officially affiliated with the Association of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC), making us the first AIRC riding club in Erris. This is an exciting milestone for the new club and for riders in the area. What started with a shared love of horses and a wish to bring local riders together has now become something very real. The club thank everyone who helped get them here, their members, families, supporters and the local community.
Here's to new opportunities, new friendships, plenty of horsey adventures, and a very exciting future for riding in Erris.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club lotto jackpot of €6,600 with the €50 winners being Ned Coyle, Tullaghan Duff and Martin Harrington, Geesala while Oisín, Finn and Hannah Donoghue, Cloontakilla and Nelly Coyle, Tullaghan Duff both won €25. The two online winners were Edel Sweeney, Springfield, Bangor €50 and Jessica Munnelly, Geesala €25.
Erris Family and Community Support Centre was delighted when Siobhan McQuillan called in to the centre. Siobhan was visiting the area and took some time out of her trip to call in to meet everyone and hear about the work on the One Million Stars Project. Siobhan had a lovely chat about the centres work and the weaving in Erris with the schools and community groups. Siobhan told them all about the amazing work she and her team are doing with the One Million Stars project across the country and even in Europe. The One Million Stars Ireland started in FRCs in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon 5 years ago through the Community Response to Domestic Abuse, Western Regional Network. Centres and network members continue to weave stars in their communities, using the initiative as a way of bringing about connection while also raising awareness of gender-based violence.
If you would like to learn more about the One Million Stars visit the link https://onemillionstarsireland.ie/.
Gaeltacht Iorras, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Mayo Sports Partnership welcome the Connacht Wheelchair Hurling team for a wheelchair hurling training session in St. Brendan’s College at 10.30am on Saturday, October 3. Tony Watene, the National Inclusion Officer with the GAA, will also be in attendance to mark this special occasion that enables Gaeltacht Iorras and the Irish Wheelchair Association to provide accessability for all hurling in Mayo. Beidh failte roimh cách and everybody who wants to try wheelchair hurling can do so on the day. The event will finish at 12.30.
The numbers drawn on September 17, were 3, 5, 30 and 10. County Board draw winner of €1000 was Stephen McGrath. Wendy Davis Mangan (€50) and Ann Conroy, Tarmon (€25) were the lucky dip winners. Lotto is now €25,000 with the draw every Thursday night. It is with the support of the lotto players and the lotto sellers in The Corner House, Clann Lir, Gaoth Sáie, Eagle Bar and Una’s in An Fód Dubh that enables the club to train the underage players, participate in projects such as Gaelomana (with over 60 students from Erris involved this year, and which started on Wednesday, September 22, with hurling skills coaching – more anon)) and supporting the Irish Wheelchair Association to make Wheelchair Hurling available for all. Go raibh míle maith agaibh ar fad.
The Shraigh Tractor run will be held on November 7, beginning at 6pm. The entry fee is €20 and starting in Shraigh Banks, doing a loop and finishing at the Castle Inn in Glencastle with refreshments and music after.
Erris First Aid Training are now offering two new approved and certified 1 day First Aid Essentials courses - Basic First Aid and Paediatric First Aid, as well as continuing to offer the HSE/ HSA approved FAR (First Aid Responder) course and CFR (Cardiac First Responder) course.
Tusla has confirmed that the new PHECC-accredited First Aid Essentials - Paediatric First Aid course is now recognised as meeting the first aid requirement for pre-school services under Regulation 25 (1) effective from September 2026.
The aim of this 1-day FAE – Basic First Aid course is to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, confidence and capability required to provide immediate, safe, and effective first aid in a pre-hospital environment until the arrival of emergency medical services, in accordance with PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Congratulations to all 171 children from 11 Erris schools who participated in the Erris Schools XC recently. The top three in each race were: 3/4th girls - Eimear de Roiste, Nikki Shevlin, Emily Gaughan: 3/4th boys - Freddie McIntyre, Conn Howard, Louie O Connor: 5/6th girls - Mila Jay McLaughlin, Grace Conroy, Lily Barrett: 5/6th boys - Callum Brett, Michael Walsh, Danny Gibbons.
The top 12 athletes and top three teams in each race qualify for the county finals. The top 3 teams in each race are: 3/4th girls - Belmullet, Aughleam, Binghamstown; 3/4th boys - Belmullet, Corclough, Inver; 5/6th girls - Bangor, Aughalasheen, Belmullet; 5/6th Boys - Corclough, Belmullet, Bangor.
Belmullet Swimming Club is holding a fundraising table quiz in the Western Strands Hotel on Friday, October 30, to raise funds for swimming lesson equipment and instructor training. If anyone would like to sponsor some raffle prizes for the night please get in touch.
