Local Notes: All-Ireland success for Claremorris native
Claremorris native Barry Walsh celebrating St Clare’s (Cavan) success in the All-Ireland Intermediate Rounders final last week.
Congratulations to former Mayfield man Barry Walsh, now living in Cavan, who played a major part in St Clare’s success in the All-Ireland Intermediate Rounders final last week.
The Cavan side overcame St Senan’s of Limerick in an excellent final at the Offaly Centre of Excellence to claim the All-Ireland title.
Barry has a strong sporting background from his younger days in Claremorris where he was involved with both Claremorris Swimming Club and Claremorris Waterpolo Club. Congratulations to Barry and all involved with St Clare’s on a memorable All-Ireland victory.
Helen Keane was the winner of the Claremorris GAA Club 50/50 draw last week, taking home a jackpot of €1,512. Helen bought her winning ticket in her family’s butcher shop on the Ballyhaunis Road.
The club congratulated Helen on her win and thanked everyone who continues to support the weekly draw. Tickets are available online and from local shops and pubs, with the proceeds contributing to the club’s activities and development.
A remarkable journey which took Claremorris man Eamonn Keaveney barefoot across ten countries and more than 6,800 kilometres has now been officially recognised by Guinness World Records.
Eamonn completed his extraordinary trek from Istanbul to Ireland last March, 369 days after setting out from the Turkish city. At the time, his 6,805.83-kilometre journey was expected to establish a new world record, but the achievement still had to go through the detailed Guinness World Records verification process. That process has now been completed and Eamonn received confirmation last week that his achievement has been officially recognised as the longest barefoot journey.
The recognition brings a fitting conclusion to an adventure which began on March 4, 2025 and eventually took him through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, England, Wales and Ireland.
Eamonn had already held a Guinness World Record following a 2,000-kilometre barefoot walk around Ireland in 2016. Almost a decade later, he decided to take the idea considerably further, crossing a continent on foot without shoes.
The scale of the challenge was enormous. He averaged around 24 kilometres a day while dealing with temperatures approaching 40 degrees, winter cold, difficult road surfaces and the everyday practicalities of finding food and accommodation while continuously moving across Europe. There was a dog bite which required medical treatment and rabies vaccinations, challenging border crossings and countless rough surfaces underfoot. Eamonn camped extensively during the earlier part of the journey before worsening weather eventually forced a change of approach.
Yet the walk also brought memorable encounters with strangers, offers of accommodation and assistance, spectacular scenery and, eventually, the experience of arriving back in Ireland before completing the journey and receiving a huge welcome home in Claremorris.
The challenge also raised more than €20,000 for Jigsaw and Friends of the Earth, twice Eamonn’s original fundraising target.
While completing 6,805.83 kilometres barefoot was the physical challenge, proving every part of it to the satisfaction of Guinness World Records presented another task. Evidence had to be gathered throughout the journey so the record attempt could subsequently be verified. That work has now paid off. Announcing the news last week, Eamonn reflected on both the achievement and the effort involved in securing official recognition.
“It feels like a really long time since March when I finished walking barefoot from Istanbul to Ireland,” he said. “But I just recently got word from Guinness World Records that they have officially recognised my walk as the longest barefoot journey. So that's pretty cool, I would say. I had the certificate sent to Mayo, but I'm not actually there at the minute. I haven't seen it myself, but I have seen a picture of it. I don't know if I'll make it into the book because they can't squeeze every record in, but I will definitely be checking if I see it on the shelf, I'm not going to lie.
“Obviously, even if they hadn't confirmed the record, I still did the walk, but it feels pretty good to have gotten the recognition. The walk itself was really tough, but gathering all of the evidence for Guinness World Records was like an extra challenge on top of things. I never would have managed it without all of the help that I got, so I would, once again, like to thank all of the people who supported me along the way.”
The official confirmation adds another chapter to a story which captured considerable attention as Eamonn made his way steadily westwards across Europe.
His approach throughout was remarkably straightforward. Faced with thousands of kilometres still ahead, he concentrated on manageable targets rather than the full scale of what remained. As he explained after arriving home, looking too far ahead could become overwhelming, so the journey was broken down into individual days and weeks.
There was no special protection for his feet either. Every kilometre which counted towards his progress was completed barefoot, with Eamonn carrying no shoes during the walk. Road conditions dictated his pace, with smooth asphalt allowing rapid progress while rough and stony surfaces could reduce him to a crawl. After more than a year on the road, the return to Ireland provided the first real sense that the finish was within reach. The eventual homecoming in Claremorris brought family, friends and members of the community onto the streets to welcome him back after an absence of more than a year.
At that stage, however, one piece of unfinished business remained. Eamonn knew he had completed the distance, but Guinness World Records still had to examine the evidence before formally accepting the achievement. That confirmation means the Claremorris man's name is now officially attached to the longest barefoot journey on record. Whether his achievement also earns a place in a future edition of the Guinness World Records book remains to be seen - and, as Eamonn readily admits, he will be checking the shelves.
Book or no book, the record itself is now official: 6,805.83 kilometres, ten countries and 369 days, from Istanbul all the way home to Claremorris - without a pair of shoes.
Claremorris will have home advantage in the Mayo Senior Football Championship quarter-finals following an impressive group campaign. They will welcome Belmullet to Claremorris on Sunday next, September 20, with throw-in at 3.30pm.
Niall Hurley remains the leading scorer in the Senior Championship, having accumulated an impressive 3-23 during the group stages, across three matches.
Garrymore are also through to the quarter-finals in strong form after victories over Ballina Stephenites, Balla and Castlebar Mitchels saw them top their group. They will have home advantage against Crossmolina on Saturday next, September 19, at 7.30pm.
At the other end of the Senior Championship, old rivals Mayo Gaels and Balla will meet in a relegation play-off semi-final on this Friday evening at 8pm in Hollymount.
In the Intermediate Championship, Davitts face a trip to Ballyhaunis for their quarter-final on Sunday, with throw-in at 1pm. Hollymount/Carramore finished third in their group, bringing their championship campaign to an end for this season.
The death has occurred of Padraig Reaney of Gortnara, and formerly of Togher, Tuam. Padraig died peacefully, with his family by his side, in the care of the staff of St Enda’s, University Hospital Galway.
Padraig was predeceased by his parents and baby son Michael John. He will be sadly missed by his devoted wife Carmel, children Patrick, Peter and Mary (Regan), cherished grandchildren Mary Louise, Kaytlyn, Racheal, Christopher, Louise, Daniel, Padraic, Joe, Elisha, Danielius and May, daughters-in-law Breda and Teresa, son-in-law Seosamh, Peter’s partner Elizabeth, sister Teasai (Teresa Dunne, Athenry and London), brother Joe (Togher), best friend and brother-in-law Michael Fahy (Milltown), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, his cousins the Treacy family, Spiddal, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Padraig’s remains reposed in Gilligan’s Funeral Home on September 7 last. Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday in the Church of Our Lady, Barnacarroll, followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Kathleen Joyce of Coggeshall, Essex, UK. Kathleen died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on July 26.
Kathleen was predeceased by her husband Frank, formerly of Hollymount. She will be sadly missed by her children Angela, Michael, Kathleen, Kevin, Helen and Frances, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister Josie, extended family and friends.
Kathleen’s Funeral Mass was held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Roundfort, on Monday, September 7, followed by burial afterwards in Roundfort Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
Claremorris Historical Society will celebrate Culture Night on Friday, September 18, with two events tracing more than half a century of life in the town through photographs and local stories.
The first, ‘Through the Streets of Claremorris 1900-1925’, will run in the Town Hall from 4.15pm to 7.15pm. The photographic exhibition, particularly timely following the publication of the 1926 Census, offers a glimpse of the town, its streets and its people during the opening decades of the twentieth century.
At 7.45pm, attention turns to the main hall for the bilingual illustrated talk, ‘Images of Claremorris 1926-1960’. Dozens of photographs of local people, businesses and streetscapes from the ‘Main Street Gathering’ archives have been restored in full colour by Andrew Newman.
Local historian Colmán Ó Raghallaigh will tell the stories behind the photographs, taking the audience through the changing face of Claremorris over more than three decades.
There will be a refreshment break during the evening event. Admission to both events is free and everyone is welcome.
Preparations are already underway for the annual Brickens Christmas Market, which will take place in the Community Centre on Sunday, December 13, from 10am to 3pm.
Organisers are currently looking for traders interested in taking a space at the market and showcasing their products in the run-up to Christmas.
Anyone interested in booking a space or seeking further information can contact 094-9380910 or 087-6505260. The market will be held in aid of Brickens Meals on Wheels.
The Claremorris Fine Gael District Executive will meet in the Western Hotel on Monday, September 28, at 8.30pm.
Among the business on the agenda will be motions for the party’s Ard Fheis, which takes place in Cork on November 7th and 8th. All are welcome to attend.
The death has occurred of Muriel O'Riordan (née White) of Farran, Co Cork, and formerly of Claremorris. Muriel died unexpectedly at her home on September 6.
Predeceased by her parents Jack and Una White, and brothers Johnny and Pat, Muriel will be sadly missed by her loving husband Denis, children Denis, Susan, Alec and Mike, daughters-in-law Mary, Anne Marie and Niamh, grandchildren Caoimhe, Cáitlin and Donnacha, sisters Irene and Nancy, brothers-in-law John and Mike, sisters-in-law Joan and Mary, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Funeral and burial took place in Cork.
May she rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Maudette Heaney (née Gill) of Ballyglass, Scardaune, Claremorris, and formerly of Ivy House, Scardaune. Maudette died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family, on September 4.
Maudette was predeceased by her loving husband Frank, parents Jim and Delia Gill, and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. She will be deeply missed by her loving family, daughters Edel, Elaine and Rosario, sons-in-law Damian Gleeson, John Gildea and John McGreal, adored grandchildren Katie, Cian, Niamh, Sean, Cathal, Cliona and Eoin, brother Andy Gill, sister-in-law Mary Heaney, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, extended family, neighbours and friends.
Maudette’s remains reposed at her residence in Ballyglass on Monday evening. Removal took place on Tuesday morning to St Patrick’s Church, Ballyglass, for Funeral Mass, followed by burial afterwards in Ballyglass Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
