Local Notes: Two Erris postal employees retire after 40 years.
Pat Birian and Patrick Deane being wished good health on their recent retirement from the postal service.
A happy retirement and good health to two postal employees, Postman Patrick Deane and Pat Birian. Pat was an ambassador for Erris and nothing was ever a problem and his attitude was when you wanted something he would reply with a smile and no problem when operating the mail car service from Ballina for over 40 years. Former and present colleagues made a presentation to Patrick and Pat at the mail sorting office in Barnatra recently.
This November, Bryan Deane from Corclough will be travelling to South Africa to volunteer with Mellon Educate. Over a week, he will be working with over 340 volunteers to build/renovate two schools in the poorest neighbourhoods in Cape Town. Between the schools almost 2,800 learners will benefit from the work that will be carried out this year. In total the plan is to build 18 classrooms, 2 kitchens, 2 toilet blocks, 2 play parks and 4 covered shelters, which will transform these schools not just for the current pupils but for thousands more over the coming decades. For more information, go to https://melloneducate.com/ to see the fantastic work this charity has done over the last 20 years.
In order to raise funds for the Building Blitz, Bryan is taking on the infamous 4x4x48 Challenge. This involves running 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours (48 miles in total, just over 77km). The first leg will start at 4pm on Friday, July 26, and all going well the last will conclude shortly before 1pm on Sunday, July 28. The runs will mostly take place in and around Belmullet town over the weekend.
Bryan would very much appreciate any donations or support you might be able to give, or even just shout/wave if you see him passing. Buckets will be available at a number of locations in the town over the weekend, and there is also an online fundraiser "Bryan's 4x4x48 Challenge for Mellon Educate" on gofundme.com.
Very enjoyable trip to Cavan Erris tours trip to Slieve Russell Hotel Cavan for 2024 was a great success again this year. They thank the management and staff of the hotel for making the trip so enjoyable; the musicians each night for providing such great music; the Percy French Hotel for breakfast on Monday and dinner on Thursday, it was delicious; the sponsors for the raffle; McGraths Transport Glenamoy and the bus drivers for all their help; last but not least all the people that travelled with them.
The draw was held on July 7, and the numbers drawn were; 4, 16, 17, and 26, with no winner for the jackpot of €6,400. The house prize of €100 was won by Shauna McAndrew, Pullathomas and €30 offline winners were Emma McGrath, Glenamoy and Donal and Lexi Deane, Glenamoy. The €30 online winners were Kathleen Deane, Gorthbrack and Martin Coyle, Maynooth. The latest jackpot was €6,500 and the draw was held in Denny’s Ferry Bar.
The annual 10/5k walk/run/jog in aid of Cill Chomain GAA and The Help Mags Find Relief Fund will take place on next Sunday, July 21, at 2pm starting at Ballinaboy, finishing at Anglers Rest. Sponsor cards are available by contacting Michelle on 086 4075057. T The cost is adults €10 and children are free.
Traditional Irish music, song, dance and storytelling is held every Wednesday from July 17 to August 21, at 8.30pm, in Áras Inis Gluaire (The Arts Centre), Belmullet. Bring an instrument/your dancing shoes/your voice and join in. Information at 097 81079.
Update on Sports Genius. Looking back it had to be Madrid for the Champions League. ‘Who Else?’ GAA proves difficult to get them all right in the football, Ulster is notoriously hard and Connaught is too emotional for you. You just can't find it in yourself to write down Galway. You might be sorry yet you didn't write Galway for Sam winners. The hurling was more straightforward but many of you did go for Galway in that. Wrong way round. Many of you knew it was going to be Boston for the NBA, Robert Barrett even predicted the starting five, last January, impressive. Nobody had even heard of the Dallas Mavericks who were runners up. We did tell you last year that Kohli is a superstar and India is magnificent. They beat South Africa in the final. Well done Billy O’Connor who takes the lead but Katie Keane is threatening with her special formula and thinks she has beaten the system. The tennis has started; I hope you didn't have Andy. Cav broke the record for stage wins but Pogacar is in yellow already and looking unbeatable. The Euros are down to the last eight, England are in the easy side of the draw (because they are in it) but if you couldn't write Galway for GAA you definitely couldn't bring yourself to write England coming home. There is a lot of support for France, Germany, Spain and Portugal but only one of them can make it to the final. Will it be Face mask, Old man Kroos, Infant Yamal or Crybaby 7. We love them all. Thank you to our sponsors Belbridge Structures and Platt Reilly.
If you have any information or interest in stories or folklore from Co Mayo - a major audit of oral heritage recordings is currently taking place at Mayo County Council 'The Audit of Oral Heritage Recordings in County Mayo' led by the Dr Tómas Mac Conmara (Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting) and Deirdre Cunningham (Heritage Officer, CCME). If you have any information on oral heritage recordings or collections of subjects, people or places in Co Mayo, contact Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting on 087 916073 or email macconmaraheritage@gmail.com. The audit will be completed in October 2024 and will be available to the public online.
Is your family interested in attending the big Gaelic festival this year? Gaeilge Iorrais hopes to support a few full-Irish families from the Irish Gaeltacht to attend this festival together. Oireachtas na Samhna 2024 in Killarney, Co. Kerry is taking place on Wednesday, October 30. To express your interest and to receive more information send an email to oifig.gi@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Niamh Walsh from Belmullet on winning silver in the U15 girls Javelin competition at the National Track and Field Championships in Tullamore recently plus a personal best of 37.16m.
The Anthony Deane and Brendan Maloney Memorial Cup, followed by the Jimmy Ruddy Memorial Cup will take place on Saturday, July 27, in Páirc Cill Chomáín.
The Tour De Cill Chomáin Charity Cycle is an 80km cycle throughout the parish of Cill Chomáin. The aim of the cycle is to raise funds for Cill Chomáin GAA, the Dillion Quirke Foundation and the Help Mags Find Relief from 20 Years of Spinal Deformity Pain Fund. www.gofundme.com/f/the-tour-de-cill-chomain-charity-cycle
If you visit the Leonard Exhibition which is in Aras Inis Gluaire for the next two months you will see an image of a two storey house and the inscription says Curlew House but for those of us of a ‘certain age’ it was known as Studderts, but who were the Studderts?
Dr Augustine Studdert was born in Kilrush, Co Clare in 1871, he qualified as a doctor in 1899 and in 1900 he married Mary Bruce Massy. He worked for a while in England but sometime before 1904 he came to Belmullet as medical officer to the coastguards. He was a medical officer in the British Army in WW1. After 1918 he became medical officer for the Knocknalower Dispensary and he was known for travelling around to see his patients on his bicycle. He also served as medical officer to the Irish Lights Commission looking after the lighthouse keepers and their families.
Dr Studdert had two daughters but they did not remain in the area. Mrs Studdert died in Curlew Hill, Church Rd in 1935 and Dr Studdert died in Castlebar Hospital. They are buried in the COFI Cemetery, Church Rd. across from where they lived. The imposing two story house was demolished in the last century to make way for a housing development but that area is still today known as Studderts.
The MFitness Erris 5k and 10k run is open to all abilities. Starting from the Broadhaven Bay Hotel at 9am for those doing the 10k, and 10am for those taking on the 5k. Lace up your sneakers and join in on Saturday, August 10, as they come together to celebrate health, wellness, and the vibrant spirit of Erris.
Ballyglass RNLI will be hosting their annual Erris coffee event on Heritage Day in Belmullet Town on August 17. All favourites will be available, Innocent Coffee, Irish/Baileys Coffee, and Erris Coffee. For anyone inquiring about donating a bottle of whiskey, yes please, you can drop a bottle off at their Inshore Station on Monday-Friday morning around 10am, or to any member of the team. Label your bottle with name or company name you wish to have on the sponsor’s board.
