Local Notes: All the latest news from Erris.
Enjoying the recent Sam Maguire home coming in Belmullet is back row; Rachael and Tom Ruddy (UK), Ailish Barrett and Lena Hurst. Front row; Lauren McHale, Rachael (Barrett) Rabbitt, Annie Lynskey and Shea O'Donoghue.
The Sweeney family and the Blacksod Weather Station – a story that began long before D-Day with the release of the movie ‘Pressure’ bringing the remarkable story of the D-Day weather forecast to cinema screens this September, we thought it was a good opportunity to look back at how the Sweeney family's connection with weather observing at Blacksod actually began.
Margaret Sweeney became Postmistress at Blacksod in 1913. (Mother of Ted Sweeney). At that time, weather observations from Blacksod Point were being carried out by a coastguard watcher under the British Admiralty. Blacksod's position on the extreme western edge of Ireland made these observations particularly valuable, providing an early warning of weather systems approaching from the Atlantic.
Following the withdrawal of the British Coastguard after Irish independence, there was a clear determination that these important observations from Blacksod should continue. Correspondence from Downing Street even suggested that the lighthouse keeper at Blacksod might take responsibility for the observations.
That, however, is not what happened.
The work was instead placed in the hands of Margaret Sweeney, Postmistress at Blacksod. A remarkable newspaper report published in 1923 records:
"A coastguard watcher under the Admiralty formerly took observations at this remote spot. On his withdrawal by the Admiralty the work was put into the hands of the sub-postmistress at Blacksod Point." And so began the Sweeney family's long association with the Blacksod weather station.
Some twenty years later, a young Maureen Flavin arrived in Blacksod to work at the Post Office. There she met Margaret's son, Ted Sweeney, and became involved in taking the regular weather observations.
Then came June 1944. As the Allied forces prepared for the invasion of Normandy, observations from Blacksod became critically important to the meteorologists trying to forecast conditions over the English Channel. Reports from Blacksod helped identify the approaching Atlantic weather that contributed to the decision to postpone the invasion originally planned for 5 June. The weather improved sufficiently for General Eisenhower to give the order to proceed, and on the morning of 6 June 1944, D-Day began.
Maureen would later marry Ted, becoming Maureen Sweeney, but the family's connection with weather observing at Blacksod did not end with the war.
In the years that followed, the old Coastguard property was eventually disposed of by the Office of Public Works. Ted and Maureen relocated the Post Office and weather station to Blacksod Lighthouse, continuing the observations from there.
That arrangement continued until 1956, when a new purpose-built meteorological station was established closer to Belmullet, bringing to an end more than three decades of weather observations associated with the Sweeney family at Blacksod.
From the Admiralty Coastguard watcher, to Margaret Sweeney, and then to Ted and Maureen Sweeney, the story of the Blacksod weather station stretches far beyond those famous days in June 1944.
More than a century after Margaret took on that responsibility, and over 80 years after the D-Day forecast, it is wonderful to see this extraordinary piece of Blacksod history once again reaching a wider audience through Pressure.
Members of the Sweeney family, staff of Blacksod Lighthouse and SOLAS - Scéalta an Atlantaigh were recently treated to an advance screening of the new movie Pressure at Mayo Movie World in Castlebar.
It’s a fantastic film that depicts the almost impossible task of the weather forecasting for D-day in June 1944 and yes Maureen Sweeney and Blacksod get a mention.
There is a Fair in Glenamoy on Saturday, September 19, and all buyers and sellers welcome.
The draw was held on September 6, and the numbers drawn were; 3, 4, 16 and 30 for a jackpot €11,000 with no winner of jackpot. The house prize of €100 was won by Tommy McGuire, Fallaugh and the 2 x €30 offline winners were Sean Eoin Keenaghan, Gorthmellia and Michael Tighe, Kilgalligan. The 2 x €30 online winners were Alicia Shevlin, Portacloy and Michelle McGuire, Gorthbrack. The jackpot in the latest draw held in Denny’s Ferry Bar, on September 13, was €11,200.
Gaeilge Iorrais, the language-planning steering committee in north-west Mayo, is responsible for gradually promoting the use of Irish in this Gaeltacht area. The committee is now in its seventh year of implementing the Language Plan, and significant progress is being made, thanks to the support and participation of the community, the dedication of the committee, and the language-planning team. Gaeilge Iorrais is funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the language-planning process in the Gaeltacht.
The email addresses of the language-planning officers are: Laoise at laoise@gaeilgeiorrais.ie; Éimear at eimear@gaeilgeiorrais.ie; Seoirsín at seoirsin@gaeilgeiorrais.ie. Gaeilge Iorrais produces a digital newsletter as a means of communicating with the public and to spread the word about Irish language events in the Iorras Gaeltacht. You can e-mail the language planning officers if you would like to receive a copy online.
The Dún Chaocháin oral history collection was first identified by MacConmara Heritage Consulting during the Mayo audit of Oral Heritage Collections as one of the county's highest-priority collections for preservation. The collection originated through a Euroform project in the early 1990s (undertaken by Donnacha Ó Dúlaing, Bríd Ní Sheighin and the late Bairbre Uí Thaidhg). This impressive archive captures the voices of Dún Chaocháin natives and preserves a unique record of Irish-language life, folklore, local traditions and community memory. For more than thirty years, these recordings have remained on fragile analogue tapes. Today, through the Recovering Voices digitisation project, delivered by Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting, they are being professionally preserved for future generations.
Recently as part of National Heritage Week, Dr Tomás Mac Conmara (Director of Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting) gave a presentation in the Seanscoil Community Centre, Ceathrú Thaidhg on the digitisation of the Dún Chaocháin archive. This event offered a behind-the-scenes look at the project, showcasing selected recordings, photographs and archival material while demonstrating how ageing audio tapes are assessed, digitised, catalogued and prepared for long-term preservation. The professional standards behind the work were explained including the creation of searchable metadata and digital catalogues, and the plans to ensure the collection remains accessible for education, research and the local community for generations to come.
Tomás introduced a selection of local voices that had not been publicly heard for decades, discovering the stories they preserve, and exploring how today's digitisation work is safeguarding one of Mayo's most significant oral heritage collections and an irreplaceable part of the county's Irish-language heritage for the future. This event is part of a project supported under the Heritage Council's grants programme in 2026 which granted €24,509 to Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo to collaborate with Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting on the digitization and preservation of the Dún Chaocháin oral history collection.
This November, businesses from across County Mayo will gather together in the Erris Coast Hotel for the Mayo Business Awards Gala. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase everything Erris has to offer but the Chamber of Commerce want to see local businesses represented on the night too! Whether you are running a shop, B&B or hotel, café or restaurant, farm, local business or trade, growing start-up, community or social enterprise there could be a category for you. Entries are free and close on Friday, September 25. Do not miss your chance to put your business forward. Enter now: www.mayobusinessawards.com.
The Belmullet Cycling Club Sportive in aid of Croí takes place on Saturday, September 19 from 9.30am-4pm beginning at Saint Brendan's College F27C782, Logmore with 60 and 90km routes along scenic coastal roads with excellent surface, free parking, hospitality and shower facilities at finish.
Another team of IWDG responders, this time drawn from across the west and north-west, has completed Rescue 3 Europe - Mud Safety training, in Belmullet with Lagan Search and Rescue. The course focused on recognising hazards, assessing conditions and making safe decisions before any response onto mud is considered. Responders also learned practical self-rescue and conditional co-worker rescue techniques. The final course in this training programme will take place in the south-west in the coming weeks.
Erris Family and Community Support Centre will be setting up Rainbows Peer Support Groups this autumn/winter. The groups are for children and young people 7 years and up who have experienced loss or separation. Groups are free, confidential, and provide a safe and compassionate space to help cope with difficult feelings and connect with others who have had similar experiences. Expressions of interest are now open; groups will be formed based on demand. Registering your interest places you under no obligation. To request an Expression of Interest form or for more information contact Leanne on 087 0670989 or email coordinator@errisfcsc.ie.
Are you parenting a neurodivergent child or young person? They invite parents and caregivers to attend the next meet-up, today, Tuesday, September 15, from 7-8.30pm. This is a supportive space to meet, chat, connect, encourage and be with others who get it. As a new group they are still exploring what would be most helpful for the group going forward and they encourage you to be part of this. They meet at the IWA Centre, F26VY42 and for more information or to register your interest contact Leanne, Erris Family and Community Support Centre on 0870670989.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club lotto jackpot of €6,400 with the two €50 winners being Linda Conway, Corner House and John Paul Carey, Cloontakilla while Ann McKenzie, Attawalla and Frank McGinty, Ballycroy both won €25. The two online winners were Michael Lally, Roy €50 and Angeline Turver, Roy East €25.
Bingo will take place in the GAA complex Bangor this Tuesday, September 15 at 8pm. The jackpot will be €700 in 49 calls or less.
