Local Notes: All of the latest news from Kiltimagh
Some of the huge attendance at the St Patrick's Day Parade in Kiltimagh last month. Picture: John Corless
Clann Machua will perform Roddy Doyle’s on Wednesday, April 30th, in All-Ireland Drama Finals in Claremorris.
The group will be joined in the finals by St Patrick’s Drama Group from Westport and Upstage Players from Claremorris, bringing to three the number of qualifiers from Mayo. Another two groups, Glenamaddy Payers and Phoenix Players from Tubbercurry, bring to five the number of finalists from Connacht. In total, nine groups will contest the final. The draw for the running order was made in Claremorris last week.
The group will also perform the play in the same venue this Friday night, April 18th (Good Friday), at 8pm, giving audiences a chance to see the production before the appearance in the final. Tickets for both shows are available from Claremorris Town Hall.
This multi-award-winning production won the festivals in Rossmore (West Cork) and Tipperary and finished with 29 points on the league table. Clann Machua won many production and performance awards across the eight festivals that the group entered. Irrespective of how any group performed on the circuit, the final is a new contest with all groups starting on an equal basis.
The final will be adjudicated by Anna Walker, who has an M.A. in Theatre Studies and a diploma of Association and Licentiate from the Royal Irish Academy. Her working life embraces a wide range of Drama disciplines and activities. She is the Senior Drama Examiner with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, tutors Drama students, adjudicates festivals and feiseanna, and directs for a number of acting companies.
After amateur success with The Olivian Players in Dublin, where she won a host of best acting awards, Anna relished the opportunity to work on stage, screen and television. Her favourite stage roles include Hedda in , Bessie Burgess from , and Dr Martha Livingtone in .
The next meeting of Kiltimagh Writers takes place in Kiltimagh Library at 7pm on Wednesday, April 16th.
The writers look forward to seeing some new members. No writing experience is necessary to join, but anyone attending is advised to bring a big smile, a biro and spectacles if required.
The 2025 Race2Glory will be held in Kiltimagh on July 12th. As in other years, there are two events – a 20k and a 40k challenge.
If you love the thrill of the race and a good adventurous challenge, this is the event you have been waiting for. There are several prize categories for top finishers, age categories, and more.
The organisers also promise a day for the whole family to enjoy, with a finish line fully equipped with coffee, ice cream and food trailers, along with an epic BBQ and even face painting for the little ones.
The participants will be catered for too with refreshing ice baths and physios on hand to help any aches and pains.
Kiltimagh-based national organisation, the Federation for Victim Assistance, is holding a special draw for a €300 voucher to Center Parcs holiday resort in Co Longford. This is a bonus draw for anyone who buys a ticket for their main fundraising draw, which has a prize of a brand new Nissan Qashqai. The car draw will be held before Christmas.
To enter the draw for the Center Parcs voucher, simply buy a ticket for the car draw before June 1st. Tickets are €20 each or three for €50. Two draws for the price of one!
Tickets are available from the Federation offices in Aiden Street, Kiltimagh, and online.
At last week’s 25 card games, held in the Parish centre, first, second and third prizes were shared between James Walsh and Paddy Carney, Mary and Jimmy Doyle and Danny Doherty and Martin Regan.
The Last 10 was shared by Flor Higgins and Colette Lavelle, Hugh Forde and Tom Walsh and Michael Costello and Michael Carney.
Spot prizes went to Teresa Coleman and Alo Langan, while James Walsh, Francis McNicholas and Pius Forde enjoyed success in the raffle.
The next social meeting for Kiltimagh Women’s Group will take place in the Park Hotel on Easter Monday evening, April 21st, at 6pm. All ladies are very welcome to attend.
A very informative and enjoyable meeting was held on April 7th and the group would like to thank John Brennan for his presentation on bedding plants, window boxes and hanging baskets.
Kiltimagh Knock United has qualified for the Oliver Kelleher Masters Cup Final where they will meet Partry Athletic.
Two goals from Brian Gallagher and a goal from Gavin Groarke were enough to see off Snugboro United in the semi-final last Wednesday.
Another large field of 23 players took to the tables for Round 10 of the Spring Poker League in Teach O’Hora on Wednesday night last.
Michael Sheridan came out on top with Derry O’Sullivan second, Thomas MacDonagh was third and Martin Regan fourth. The other finalists were: 5th, Keith Lydon; 6th, Enda Ruane; 7th, AN Other; 8th, John Reynolds; 9th, Kevin Burke.
Isaac Boyle still leads the way at the top of the league table with 188 points, followed by Martin Regan (159) and Michael Higgins (151). The rest of the top twelve is: Enda Ruane 142, Michael Sheridan 133, Derry O’Sullivan 131, Nicky Cunnane 124, Pat Boyle 120, AN Other 117, Paul Walsh 115, Keith Lydon 112, Gerry Groarke 95.
The league runs for 15 weeks with tournaments every Wednesday night at 8pm. Entry is €20 with one rebuy OR add-on allowed, also €20. €5 from each entry and rebuy goes towards the league final prize pool with the rest paid out on the night. At the end of the league, the top 12 players qualify for the Grand Final and they will be joined by two others from a last chance play-off to play for an estimated prize pool of over €2,000.
Cill Aodáin Choral Society presents Spring into Song at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on Thursday, April 24th, at 8pm.
The society had two sold-out nights at the venue last year and is hoping for a full house for this event.
This year the society is privileged to have the very talented Alannah Thornburgh - an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer with a focus on traditional Irish harp - join the society on stage. Alannah's music explores her family's musical heritage, reimagining ancient airs and tunes from the Irish harping and American folk and jazz traditions. The musical director is Finola Higgins.
Tickets for the concert cost €20 and are available online at Linenhall Arts Centre or by phone on 094-902 3733.
Bryana Jennings, from Knock, was the winner of last week’s Kiltimagh Knock United 50/50 jackpot. Bryana won €295 in the draw on an online ticket.
John and Patria Tierney won the Kiltimagh GAA club 50/50 draw last week. John and Patria won €570 in the draw.
The Tidy Towns volunteers were busy in last week’s sunshine. Well done to Chris Glynn and Henry Kelly who have erected and painted a new seated shelter adjacent to the Emigrant Park and the Sculpture Park.
The seating and flower boxes on the Knock Road and Oxford Cross have also been painted and will be ready for planting flowers. Also, the embankment at the Railway Station has been weeded. Well done everyone.
Bridge is held every Tuesday at 7.30pm. The club is open to new members joining at any time. Casual pairs are also welcome.
Bridge classes are available for beginners and anybody interested can contact John McCrohan on 087-2422945.
The death has occurred of Seamus Brennan of Cleragh, Kiltimagh. Seamus died unexpectedly but peacefully at Mayo University Hospital. He was predeceased by his parents Jimmy and Bridie (nee Burke) and his baby brother Hubert.
Seamus is survived by his wife Karen (nee Morris), father to Darren (Sheila), Gary (Michelle), Stephen, Emma (TJ) and Liam, grandchildren Hazel, Darren jnr, Jacob, Elisha and Nathan and sisters Eileen Forkan and Winifred Wimsey.
Seamus’ remains reposed at O’Hora’s Funeral Home on Saturday evening with his funeral cortège arrived at Kilkinure Cemetery on Sunday for burial at 1pm.
In celebration of Seamus’ vibrant spirit and his love for the beauty of life, he requested that those attending his funeral wear bright colours, creating a rainbow of remembrance.
May he rest in peace.
Noel Burke, who died on April 7th, was the Mayo Co Council District Executive Engineer for Kiltimagh between 1989 and 1993. His wife Mary recently retired from Kiltimagh Credit Union.
Noel, of Cloughboley, Manulla and formerly of Greeve, Breaffy, died peacefully in the wonderful care of the staff in Mayo Hospice, Castlebar, surrounded by his loving family. Noel was pre-deceased by his parents Paul and Tess, brother Liam, sister-in-law Catherine, brother-in-law Eamonn and niece Aoife.
Noel is deeply regretted by his heartbroken wife Mary, children Brian, Naoise, Dierdre and Rìona, sisters Mary (Mongan) and Breege (Griffin), sons-in-law Denis (Gallagher) and Jon (Rodgers), daughter-in-law Sara (Armstrong), brother-in-law Michael (Mongan), grandchildren Ailbhe, Den, Joe and step-grandchild Alex, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Noel’s remains reposed at Coady’s Funeral Home, Castlebar, on Wednesday, April 9th, from 5.30pm, with removal from his residence on Thursday morning for Requiem Mass in St Joseph’s Church, Keelogues, Ballyvary.
Noel was laid to rest in Keelogues Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
