International coach shares his expertise with local paddlers and receives signed Mayo jersey as a mark of appreciation

A most enjoyable evening of nostalgia, reminiscing, tributes, awards and an entertaining prize draw was had at the 50th anniversary of Mayo & District Motorsport Club celebrations at the Park Hotel, Kiltimagh last month.

The Ballina man had success earlier this year in the Irish national jujitsu competition, and following that he advanced to compete against athletes from around the world at the annual international tournament.

The Mayo boxer will fight again in December

The Mayo boxer moved to 9-0 with the win. 

In a time when Irish boxers are trying to make their mark on the sport, one man from Mayo has grabbed the headlines at the start of his professional career.

With big winds, massive waves, incredible performances and an international crew, Mayo Mayhem delivered a windsurfing weekend to remember on Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast.

The swim is a total of 23.11 miles (37.19km)

As the Katie Taylor era of women’s boxing has ended, a boxer from Mayo has her sights on becoming the next world champion from Ireland.

Motorsport: John Warren underlined his growing stature in Irish Rallying with a standout display at last weekend's Wexford Stages Rally, recording a dozen top four times with the highlight coming with his maiden stage win on stage 10.

It was a landmark weekend for Mayo archery as local competitors returned from Wexford with an impressive haul of silverware from the IFAF National Bowhunter Championship, confirming the sport's rapid growth across the county.

Inside St Mary's Catholic Church in Partry, where coloured saints and biblical scenes sit solemnly along the walls, one window catches the eye.

Paddy Mehigan was talking to people he could not see.

Croke Park has staged some unique occasions during its long and storied history, but the biggest and best yet might just have been last Saturday night.

Yes, Mayo have won Sam; I think the majority of Mayo people are still in shock, walking around, pinching themselves trying to take it all in.

I’m back with a bang, haven’t come back down to level ground and have full intentions of staying up high. What a high to come back to; Mayo are into an All-Ireland final. When I left, they were through to an All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.

Athletes from the Mayo Karate Academy returned from the recent North East International Karate Open in Sunderland with an impressive haul of 11 medals after competing against more than 700 athletes from across the UK and Ireland.

Castlebar Tennis Club is celebrating the arrival of its new state-of-the-art tennis dome, marking the beginning of an exciting new era for the club and the wider community.

Ballyhaunis Cricket Club has reached two Connacht finals

The club suffered the loss of their previous dome in a 2024 storm

Badminton: The Ardagh community recently came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of local badminton player James Gough following his success at the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games.

At a recent Mayo Sports Partnership Committee meeting, €32,400 was allocated to 48 clubs and community organisations in Mayo through the Partnership’s 2026 Club Development small grant scheme.

Geesala Boxing Club welcomed a team from Italy to the ‘Land of the Salty Breeze’ on Sunday, June 14. Together with the Mayo Boxing Board, Geesala BC were hosts of a Bergamo Italy selection who fought a team of boxers representing Mayo and Galway.

The original Ballina Motor Club is preparing to mark a remarkable milestone in Irish motorsport history with a special 50th reunion celebration taking place over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5.

Boxing: Róisín Sheerin of Swinford Boxing Club recently represented Ireland at Under-15 level at the Four Nations Championships in Scotland, returning home with a silver medal.

Showjumping: Rebecca McGrath, riding out of Ballyjennings Stables in Ballinrobe, recently made her international debut for Ireland competing at the Wellington International Dressage Show in the UK.

Showjumping: Ciaran Nallon had what was surely one of the most lucrative shows of his nascent career with two five-star victories at the Longines Global Champions Tour leg in Ramatuelle, St Tropez.

Westport’s Ian Dennany came closest to bringing a title back to Mayo in what proved to be a tough week overall for Mayo Pool at the All-Ireland Championships in Killarney.

Boxing: Rachel Lally remains undefeated as a professional following her second round stoppage of Virpal Kaur in Dubai.

Snooker: In what is surely one of the most meteoric rises in Irish sport, a Mayo teenager has gone from playing his first competitive game less than two years ago to winning the All-Ireland U18 Snooker Championship and becoming the number one ranked ...

Motorsport: Two weeks exactly after producing a stunning late charge to secure 10th place overall on the Carlow Stages Rally, John Warren and Ruthann O’Connor secured the same result on the Circuit of Munster which was based around Annacotty in ...

A fantastic day of sport, fun and community spirit is promised as Ballina Community Games hosts their Family Fun Day and Community Games Athletics Events on Bank Holiday Monday, June 1, at Ballina Athletic Track.

The old champion did not see the end coming. Neither, for that matter, did anyone else inside the Polo Grounds that afternoon.

Cycling: The Wild Mayo Ultra delivered exactly what was expected, with relentless north-easterly winds making every kilometre hard-earned.

Up to 50 young swimmers from Castlebar Swimming Club will take on an extraordinary challenge this coming Saturday, May 16 when they aim to swim the full equivalent of the River Shannon's 360 kilometres length in a single day.

The death has taken place of a Mayo man who made his name as coach to an array of boxers who would compete for world and Olympic titles. Pat Benson, a native of Ballyhaunis, was a legendary figure in boxing circles in Birmingham and throughout the UK.

Great sporting spectacles can be ordinary quality There’s always an air of giddiness on the Friday evening of a bank holiday weekend, as the great and good get set for an extended weekend’s break away from the job and a chance to chill out.

Mayo Volleyball Club continued their impressive run of form with a thrilling 3–2 victory over Dalkey, pulling clear in the standings and strengthening their push for promotion.

Darts fans are in for a treat this Saturday night, April 18, as there are not one, but two League Finals night are taking place across Mayo.

Badminton returns to centre stage in Mayo this week as the Grade H League Finals take place on Wednesday, April 8 in Crossmolina GAA Hall, marking the return of the league for the first time since 2020.

Foxford Leisure Centre was transformed into a hub of energy, discipline, and community spirit on March 21 last as Mayo Karate Academy hosted its largest and most impressive Inter-Club event to date.

Badminton: Mayo was well represented at the Connacht inter-counties badminton tournament, with players drawn from five clubs across the county competing in both juvenile and adult grades in what proved to be a positive and competitive weekend.

Mayo boxer and reigning Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) International Super Middleweight champion Rachel Lally will step into the ring in Dubai to fight for the UBO World Super Middleweight Title next week.

In the mid-noughties, Tommy Tiernan took to a stage and proposed something wonderfully unhinged, as is his wont: the Olympic Games in Galway.

A number of triathlon clubs across County Mayo have joined forces to launch an exciting Duathlon Series for 2026, creating a strong early-season racing calendar for athletes across the county and beyond.

David Kelly and Patrick McCrudden secured a clinical debut victory for their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 at a rain-soaked Mayo Stages Rally on Sunday, as deteriorating weather conditions forced a premature end to the opening round of the Triton Showers ...

It was a hugely successful weekend for Mayo handball with a number of players producing outstanding performances to progress in their respective championship competitions.

Motorsport: The last nuts and bolts are being tightened on rally cars and race suits and helmets are being dusted down, as the days count down to next weekend’s West Tyre/Westport Woods Hotel and Spa Mayo Stages Rally.

The countdown to the 2026 West Tyre Westport Woods Hotel & Spa Mayo Stages Rally is firmly on following a successful launch for the March 1 event.

Volleyball: Mayo Volleyball Club produced a superb away performance to defeat a previously unbeaten Longford side in a dramatic five-set league encounter on Sunday, handing the home team their first loss — and first dropped sets — of the season.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort. We like to think it takes something special to win a Mayo Sports Stars Award. To win a second is exceptional.

The cap was tattered and grubby, soaked through by river water and sweat and the dull heat of a long Belgian afternoon. Cotton holds everything – moisture and smell and effort. Jack Kelly Sr.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort.

Badminton: Ballina native Jack O’Brien has geared up for next month’s National Badminton Championships in the best possible fashion, with overall victory at the Ulster Badminton Premier Open Singles Tournament.

European champion in 2024 loses out in 51kg National Elite semi-final

2024 European champion Shannon Sweeney of St.

Ireland has a special place in its culture for motorsport, especially stage rallying. The choice, variety and quality of events is remarkable for a country of its size.

After several years without local representation in the Community Games, both Ballina and The Quay are preparing for an exciting comeback.

Team Ireland’s Natalia Fasciszewska will come home from the European U23 Championship with silver following a thrilling final against Paris Olympics silver medalist, Poland’s Julia Szeremeta.

Team Ireland’s Natalia Fasciszewska will contest for European U23 Championship gold in tomorrow’s final in Budapest, Hungary – and she’ll take on Paris Olympics silver medalist, Poland’s Julia Szeremeta.

Mayo and Irish boxing has lost a true heavyweight following the passing of Joe Hennigan. The Killala native gave over 60 years of service to boxing at club, county, provincial and national level.

Gary McDonnell, a member of Claremorris Ultimate Kickboxing Club, will fly to Abu Dhabi this Friday to represent Ireland at the WACO World Championships, the top level of international kickboxing.

Yotoshinkai Karate Club, Castlebar reached a significant milestone last weekend when club instructor Eddie Doyle successfully graded for his 5th Dan Black Belt. Eddie is the first club member to grade to 5th Dan in the organisation.

Westport Sea 2 Summit, one of Ireland’s longest-running adventure races, returned at the weekend for its 14th year with a field of more than 2,300 competitors.

A young Co. Mayo woman will bid to make her mark on world boxing this Sunday when she takes on one of the top 10 boxers on the planet in her weight division.

Every empire has its rituals. Rome had its legions, Austria its symphonies. Ballydoyle has its mornings – and the ritual doesn’t change, no matter where in the world it finds itself.

Form is a great deceiver when it comes to finals. We've seen it all before in Gaelic football: Meath in 2001, Mayo in 2006, Cork in 2009, Donegal in 2014, Galway in 2024.

The hugely successful Mayo Mayhem Windsurfing event is set to return this week depending on favourable weather conditions. Mayo Mayhem, powered by RWE, is Ireland’s premier windsurfing event.

In what undoubtedly was a landmark victory in the burgeoning career of Mayo tennis player Eoghan Jennings, the 16-year-old produced a sensational performance at the prestigious J200 tournament in Pretoria, South Africa.

The 59th Newport Sea Angling Festival was held on August Bank Holiday weekend, August 2/3. Thomas Moran was the proud recipient of the Tom Moran Memorial Cup as the festival’s overall winner.

Ballina Boxing Club has launched the first-ever Wild Atlantic International Box Cup, which gets underway in Ballina today.

These are exciting times for Castlebar Tennis Club but in particular, for two of the club’s junior members who have been making waves on the national circuit.

Ballinrobe will come alive this Sunday morning as cyclists from every corner of Ireland descend on the town for a one-of-a-kind gravel cycling challenge.

All roads will lead to Westport on the weekend of March 1, 2026, as plans are in gear for the Mayo Stages Rally to roll back into the Adventure Capital of Ireland.

Cricket: It was a bright and blustery Bank Holiday Monday as Ballina welcomed Ballyhaunis 1st XI for the latest round of the Connacht Cricket Union First Division league at the Ballina Oval. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first.

Ballyhaunis were the visitors on Saturday to the Ballina Oval for the latest round in the Connacht Cricket Union Division 1 League.  Ballina won the toss and skipper Chris O’Neill elected to bat first.

Some men walk into the ring carrying towels. Some men carry demons only they can see. Oleksandr Usyk carries a sense of immortality, all the world title belts and the ghost of Rocky Marciano.

It began without fuss. Without fanfare. Without boisterous crowds lining narrow roads. There were no epic ascents into the Alps, just the quiet undulations of the French countryside.

Local showjumper Paddy Reape was part of a magnificent victory for Ireland at the FEI Jumping European Championships in Riesenbeck last Thursday.

A new and significant chapter in the history of Ballina Cricket Club was written on Saturday when they played a first competitive match at their new home ground in Belleek.

Cycling: Westport played host to the Wild Mayo Ultra recently, and true to its name the event delivered punishing winds, unforgiving terrain and unforgettable memories.

Mayo has a fairly new sport being played on the local fields – softball!Softball is similar to rounders and Mayo’s first ever co-ed, adult softball team started playing in 2024, the Mayo Madres, and they competed last Saturday in “The Galway Blitz” ...

Belmullet native Rachel Lally is set to face UAE National Champion Ganat Sayed in Dubai today (Saturday) at 3pm Irish time.

The table tennis players of Castlebar Special Olympics were at the headquarters of the National Wheelchair Association in Clontarf, Dublin recently where they took part in the Special Olympics National Games over the course of two days.

Motorsport: The scenic landscape of Ballina will transform into a high-octane playground for motorsport enthusiasts this coming weekend, as the Mayo and District Motorsport Club prepares to host its first forest rally since 2015.

County Mayo will play a pivotal role in the 70th edition of Ireland’s premier stage race, Rás Tailteann, by hosting the starts of both Stage Two and Stage Three of this week’s race.

Mayo Motorsport Club once again proved itself as a hub of adrenaline and excitement for motorsport enthusiasts when hosting yet another thrilling Autocross event at Harrington’s Quarry near Swinford on Sunday, April 27.

Many winners of the Martin Sheridan Bursary have shown great potential and have achieved success at an early age, but not many would have won the bursary in their first year of competing competitively in their chosen sport.

The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship headed north for its second round of the season and the McHale Rally Team crew of John Warren and Ruthann O’Connor were among the over 100 strong entry list for the two-day event.

Mayo Roscommon Local Area Employment Service have announced their popular fitness and wellness programme will be returning next month.