Local notes: Trad stars book tickets to Belfast
The annual Bonnifinglas Sports Day will take place next Sunday, August 2 at 12pm sharp. The eircode for the event is F26 HR65.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is being hosted by Belfast next month, will have a very sizable group of competitors representing Admiral Brown CCÉ across an array of competitions, after a stunning amount of success for members of the Foxford branch at the Connacht Fleadh in Mohill, Co Leitrim, earlier this month. In total, more than 50 branch members have qualified for the All-Irelands, with no fewer than 13 provincial titles won and a further nine silver and seven bronze medals.
Pride of place perhaps went to Glór na Sí, who took first place in the ultra-competitive 12-15 Grúpaí Ceoil. They are under the musical direction of Stephen and Tom Doherty, as are many of the individual competitors.
Gold: Liam Jones, English Singing and Storytelling (U12); Ida Hennigan, Sean-Nós Dancing (U12); Eilidh Jackson, Piano (12-15); Abby Gallagher, Céilí Drums (12-15); Gearóid Ó Dubhghaill, Whistling (12–15); Glór na Sí, Grúpaí Ceoil (12-15); Seán Holmes, Mouth Organ (15-18); Piaras Mac Céide, English Singing (15-18); 8-Hand Mixed Céilí Team (15-18); Peadar Ó Sionnaigh, Sean-Nós Dancing (Over 18); 8-Hand Mixed Céilí Team (Over 18); 4-Hand Mixed Céilí ‘Admiral Brown B’ Team (Over 18).
Silver: Conor Ruddy, Flute and Flute Slow Airs (U12); James Gallagher, Céilí Drums (U12); Eóin Hennigan, Whistling (U12); Croídhe Ní Dhochartaigh and Eilidh Jackson, Duets (12-15); Laoise Ní Dhochartaigh, Harp Slow Airs (15-18); Niamh Ní Dhochartaigh, Whistling (15-18); Piaras Mac Céide, Lilting (15-18); Patrick Fox, Newly Composed Song in English (Over 18); 4-Hand Mixed Céilí ‘Admiral Brown A’ Team (Over 18) Bronze: Áine Healy, Piano Accordion (U12); Liam Jackson, Piano (U12); Liam Mac Seoin, Irish Singing (U12); Thomas Holmes, Mouth Organ (12-15); Croídhe Ní Dhochartaigh, Melodeon (12-15); Niamh Ní Dhochartaigh, Céilí Drums and Sean-Nós Dancing (15-18).
The very best of luck is wished to all Admiral Brown CCÉ musicians, singers, storytellers and dancers as they chase further success at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Congratulations are best wishes are extended to Foxford Alzheimer’s Community Trust who are one of three groups that Mayo County Council has nominated for the 2026 IPB Pride of Place competition. The final stages of judging took place last week, with judges visiting FACT on Thursday last, July 23.
Foxford Alzheimer’s Community Trust is nominated in the Age Friendly category while also in the running for separate awards are Clogher Environmental Group and Ballina Autism Friendly Town.
IPB Pride of Place Competition is an all-island competition held in association with Co-operation Ireland and the Local Authorities. The Pride of Place competition celebrates the efforts and endeavours of communities throughout Ireland to make their place the best place to live. The competition focus is about people coming together to shape, change and improve the daily lives of people in their communities.
The ‘Judges Visit’ was the final stage of the Pride of Place application, with a comprehensive submission form already completed by Foxford Alzheimer’s Community Trust.
The results of the competition are eagerly awaited.
There are reports of “huge numbers of salmon” in the River Moy at present, the only problem for anglers – locals and visitors alike – being that the fish are inclined to refuse all forms of bait because of the low levels and warm conditions of the water.
Foxford Salmon Anglers recorded just six salmon caught for the week-ending Sunday, July 19 but have hopes that a change of weather and a big flood will help to cool the river and entice the fish upstream, which would give improved prospects for anglers over the next few weeks.
The organising committee of Foxford Riverfest have announced with a “heavy heart” that the festival will not go ahead in its usual format this year “due to circumstances beyond our control”.
They stress, however, that this is not a permanent cancellation of the festival and that their plan is for Foxford Riverfest to “come back bigger and better in 2027!” They have also confirmed that because of its “sentimental importance within the community”, Candles to the Sea will go ahead as planned this year on Friday, August 21 – the that is the only Foxford Riverfest event to take place.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the hardworking committee who do so much planning behind the scenes that no one sees and we thank especially our new members who we have no doubt will be a mighty asset in 2027 and beyond. It's not a goodbye from us but it is a bye for now!” read a statement from the festival organisers, adding that anyone who has made a donation and would like a refund can get in touch via the festival’s social media platforms.
This year’s Foxford Traditional Weekend is taking place from October 15 to 18 and the organisers are seeking offers of accommodation for the increasing number of visitors from across Ireland and beyond that the festival is attracting.
If you are you a local accommodation provider with rooms, self-catering accommodation, a B&B, holiday home, Airbnb, or other visitor accommodation, the festival committee would love if you could help them showcase everything that Foxford and the surrounding area has to offer, by making it easier for visitors to plan their trip.
If you would like your accommodation to be featured free of charge on the Foxford Traditional Weekend website, you can email foxfordtraditionalweekend@gmail.com and include a few good quality photos, a short description of your accommodation, contact details, website or booking link (if applicable) and any social media links.
Cemetery Masses will take place at St Martin’s, Glanduff on Friday, July 31 at 7pm, Toomore at 6pm on Saturday, August 1 and in Craggagh at 11am on Sunday, August 2.
The funeral Mass took place in St Michael’s Church, Foxford last Thursday, July 23 of Concepta O'Hanlon (née Kelly), Moyview, Foxford and formerly of Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Concepta passed peacefully in the gentle care of the staff at Blackrocks Nursing Home, Foxford.
Predeceased by her parents Delia and James and her siblings Sylvester, Teresa, Imelda and Marie, Concepta will be dearly and forever missed by her family Peter, Fergal, Martina and Aisling, her grandchildren Rebecca, Conor, Ruairi, Frances, Marron, Daragh, Eleanor and Saoirse, her nieces, nephews, in-laws, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Concepta lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home last Wednesday and following the celebration of her funeral Mass, burial on Thursday was in Craggagh cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
€702 was the jackpot prize won by Catriona O’Gorman in the Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 weekly draw.
The best wishes of an entire community were with Moy Davitts footballer Cian McHale last weekend as he had the honour of representing his club, his parish and his county on the grandest stage of all, the All-Ireland SFC Final at Croke Park where he was part of the Mayo squad to take on Kerry. Cian is a past pupil of Straide NS and St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford.
The minor footballers of Moy Davitts are set to continue their Homeland Mayo Minor ‘D’ Football Championship Group 2 campaign this Tuesday evening (July 28) with an away game against Kilmeena. And it is against the same opposition, also in Kilmeena, that Moy Davitts are also in action on Thursday, July 30 in Group 1 of the Homeland Mayo U16 ‘C’ Football Championship. Meanwhile, next Monday, August 3, Moy Davitts will have home advantage against Seamróga Iorrais in Group 1 of the Homeland Mayo U14 ‘C’ Football Championship. That game comes on the back of the U14 team’s excellent 7-14 to 8-06 win away to Knockmore last Monday evening.
All games throw in at 7pm.
The members of Admiral Brown CCÉ and the Admiral William Brown Society came together last Wednesday to host a special lunchtime performance at Foxford Woollen Mills by Pamela Schweblin, an internationally renowned uilleann piper from Argentina. Pamela was joined by local musicians Patrick Doocey, David Doocey, Maria Lynn, Tom Doherty, Stephen Doherty and John McHugh, along with Glór na Sí, who recently won the U12 to U15 Grúpaí Ceoil at the Connacht Fleadh.
The performance celebrated the unique friendship between Foxford and Argentina through music.
It was a tale of the narrowest of defeats for S&F United teams in league action last week.
In the Mayo U12 Girls League, Partry Athletic were the visitors to Green Road and escaped with a 1-0 win. In the Mayo U16 Boys Premier Division, S&F were beaten 4-3 away to Westport United. Their goals were scored by Calum Costello (two) and Jamie Loughney.
Meanwhile, in the Mayo FA Castlecourt Hotel Premier Division, Michael Guilfoyle scored S&F’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat at home to Ballina Town ‘B’.
Gary Malee from Kiltimagh and Maire Daly from Foxford have both won €100 in the two most recent draws of the S&F United 50-50 weekly lotto. The club is appreciative of the continued support and reminds that season tickets are always available from committee members where you can enter 52 draws for €50.
Sympathy is extended to the family of Sean Ruane, Glanduff, Foxford whose peaceful death occurred earlier this month at Mayo University Hospital, with his family by his side.
Seán, who was was predeceased by his parents John and Mary and his brother Michael, will be dearly and forever missed by his wife Kathleen, his sons and daughters John Paul, Karen, Declan, Padraic, Christina and Noel, his grandchildren, in laws, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Seán’s funeral Mass was celebrated at St Michael’s Church, Foxford on Friday, July 10 and burial afterwards was in St Martin’s Cemetery, Glanduff.
May he rest in peace.
The annual summer Seisiún of Bofield CCÉ has returned for a six night run at the Great National Hotel in Ballina. The very best in traditional music, song, dance and storytelling is guaranteed each and every Thursday night between now and August 20. The shows commence at 8.30pm.
