Local Notes: All the news from Ballyhaunis
Wrong Direction, winners of the Lip Sync competition which raised €160,000 for Aghamore GAA and LGFA.
There are no vestments, no incense and not much ritual at the Agape per Nation church. It’s nearly 10pm on a Thursday night and the congregation is jumping and singing to the guitar and vocals of Douglas Carvalho who belts out half an hour of songs.
With the looks and voice of a popstar, Carvalho brings the crowd to their dancing, jumping feet in the function room of Ballyhaunis Rugby Club. Outside a moonless night sky, inside one of the congregants talks about light, the light of Christ which, she says, liberates and saves us.
Before the end of the service, several others have come up and offered their own experiences of God in their lives. Children pour in to jump around and dance to Carvalho’s heavy strumming of Christian folk-rock songs.
When they’re not waving them in sway to the music, most of the congregants’ hands hold a Bible. The Agape after all follows in an evangelical Protestant tradition of inviting believers to explore the Bible themselves rather than have it interpreted for them by a clergyman.
There are two pastors here, both of whom have day jobs. Neither wears clerical robes. Bearded and neatly barbered, Pastor Alexandro Carvalho works in Dawn Meats. He interjects frequently with ‘alleluia!’ when other congregants take the mic to preach.
Three hours after commencing the service, the congregation finally trickles away to the carpark. Most of them have a 7am start at local factories.
The church is a recent breakaway from the longer-established Assembly of God Church which still meets on Barrack Street.
“We are here for everyone, not just Brazilians,” the pastor is keen to stress.
Indeed all of the service is translated by a Brazilian teenager, who this year sat her Leaving Cert, for the benefit of one of the congregants, a young Latvian woman.
The church’s name Agape is drawn from a Greek term in the New Testament referring to the love of God for humans and vice versa while per Nation is an invitation to all nationalities to join, the pastor explains.
Pastor Alejandro says his church has also been helping Ukrainians in Castlebar and is keen to bring comfort and support to anyone contemplating suicide.
Most of the current Brazilian community intends to stay long-term in Ballyhaunis, explains the night’s musician Douglas Carvalho – also a Dawn Meats worker - who is keen for Ireland to give a chance to immigrants who are willing to help build the country.
As they stay in Ireland longer they’re moving to other jobs: one congregant explains how she’s now working at the Harmac medical devices plant in Castlerea, having previously worked in meat packing.
The congregants at the Agape find much that’s positive about Ballyhaunis: the schools are very good, explains Douglas Carvalho. But the community is struggling to afford life in Ballyhaunis.
“It’s now €1,200 for a two-bedroomed house,” explains Douglas. “That’s too high. We are on minimum wage, €12.70 and after rent, there’s no extra money left to travel or to buy things for the kids.”
Hired to come here on work permits, Brazilians don’t have access to the housing assistance payment (HAP).
Another major gripe is the healthcare costs associated with spousal visas: G1 visas allow them to work but they’re required to pay €40 per month in health insurance on top of the €300 fee for an IRP [Irish Residency Permit] card.
“We all have medical cards or insurance but now we have to pay this extra insurance for our partners or wives,” Douglas explains.
Aside from the pastor -who’s been in Ireland 16 years – three other members of the congregation have secured citizenship, explains Douglas. Another dozen are applying.
As the community sets down roots, the church is its central meeting hub. Agape per Nation hopes to be able to move in soon to the Credit Union – it has rented the upstairs.
is the 47th issue of the annual magazine for, by and about the people of Ballyhaunis and the parish of Annagh.
This year’s magazine runs to 208 pages of articles, reports, photographs and poetry, and retails at the usual price of €12.
The Annagh Magazine Society wishes to thank all its contributors and patrons.
Congratulations to Frances Grogan, Knockbrack who won €540 in the Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw on November 17th.
Jamie Nolan, Brackloon won €530 in the November 24th draw with the next draw in Delaney's on December 8th..
Brickens-based Eastern Gaels GAA Club will launch a history of the club, 'A Club of Our Own', at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence on Friday, December 6th.
Getting underway at 8pm, the event features two panel discussions featuring past and current players and club organisers. The official launch will be performed by Minister of State Alan Dillon and former Mayo footballer Keith Higgins.
Researched and written by Luke Murray and Michael Kelly, the book will be on sale on the night.
A new barber shop on Clare Street is doing a roaring trade, according to the proprietor.
Faithful Barber was opened in recent weeks by Telmo Esteves, a Lisbon native who moved to Ballyhaunis to open the shop.
“My mother lived in Ballyhaunis before so I was familiar with the town,” he explained. "Business has been great, I’ve been busy right up to seven o’clock closing time,” he explained.
Ballyhaunis Cricket Club is keen to find a new playing ground that will allow the club to keep pace with growing competition from other clubs across the region. The club raised the issue with candidates canvassing for the general election including Minister of State Alan Dillon who met the club board on a visit to Ballyhaunis.
Member Zia Shafique said: “We badly need a ground facility in order to compete with senior leagues and cups... we are behind on ground field work - fielding is lacking, as well as fitness. It can only start if there is better ground available.”
Previously one of the top teams in Connacht, Ballyhaunis has been losing ground to better-resourced clubs, explained Mr Shafique.
“The likes of Galway and other major cities have improved so much over the years.”
The club is now waiting on local politicians to lobby the board of Cricket Ireland and other bodies to secure funding to purchase land, added Mr Shafique.
Despite being offered to the market for €100,000, the old post office building on Bridge Street is now fetching €170,000 in the latest bidding, according to one of the bidding parties.
The battle for the building reveals the strong appetite for investment in residential projects in the town. This week the Galway-based Conneally Group building company has been working on the conversion of the former Epic niteclub on Main Street into several apartments.
Rochford Motors, Main Opel Dealer in Ballyhaunis, has been awarded the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year 2024 accolade.
Dealer Principal, Liam Rochford, was presented with the trophy to much applaud at the annual Opel Dealer Conference, held this year in Frankfurt, Germany. The three-day conference took in a visit to the Opel Classic Collection in celebration of Opel's 125-year milestone in 2024, together with an exciting future product reveal, at Opel's headquarters in Russelsheim.
First established in 1981 by the late Billy Rochford, Rochford Motors was appointed to the Opel Dealer Network in early 2022. In less than three years, Liam Rochford, Billy's son, has grown Opel's market share in the county exponentially and cultivated a loyal Opel customer base, serviced by his team of experienced personnel.
Rochford Motors topped the polls across set criteria to win the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year 2024 title, to include retail sales achievement and growth, New Vehicle customer satisfaction, and marketing actions.
Liam Rochford, Dealer Principal, said at the Opel Dealer Conference: "I am absolutely delighted to bring the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year trophy home to Mayo. I am equally thrilled to know that our team's continued efforts are recognised by Opel and Gowan Auto, and I personally thank all my team for their absolute dedication to our company and to Opel.
"With new Grandland set to arrive in a matter of weeks, and new Frontera in 2025, we look forward in confidence to more years to come."
He added: "I cannot accept this award without acknowledging our very valued customers. We thank them sincerely for all their support throughout the years and we very much look forward to seeing everyone in 2025 at Rochford Motors."
A much-publicised dispute encounter between the Taoiseach and a healthcare worker has helped highlight a long-running pay dispute involving workers in the community and charity sector, including staff at Western Care in Ballyhaunis.
“Yes, it was good to put it back on the agenda,” said Catherine Morley, local representative for the SIPTU union at Western Care, who like the woman who confronted Simon Harris is paid less than Health Service Executive staff for similar work. These workers are seeking full pay parity with staff of the HSE doing similar work.
In the wake of the controversy, SIPTU was contacted by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to say that negotiations on the issue would be dealt with once a new government is appointed.
“They said there’s nothing we can do for you until there’s a new government.”
The various parties to the dispute agreed at the WRC in October, which ruled that the workers deserve pay equality.
A registered charity, Western Care is a 'Section 39' organisation, contracted to provide services on behalf of the HSE for a funding grant in accordance with Section 39 of the 2004 Health Act, meaning 99% of the organisation’s funding comes from the HSE and one percent from donations.
“We want pay parity,” explained Ms Morley. “It’s very frustrating. Every time the public sector gets an increase we are behind. We had pay parity between 2002 and 2008. With the recession, our pay was cut but the public sector later had its pay restored.”
While Section 39 workers have received a pay rise their pay remains below that of HSE workers, explained Ms Morley.
The local SIPTU representative is worried that the pay dispute is making it more difficult for organisations like Western Care to hire and retain staff with a staff shortage putting more stress on existing employees.
“Organisations are unable to hold onto staff and it’s difficult to get staff. Some people are working around the clock because the organisations are trying to get staff. When you have HSE seeking staff also but at higher pay for the same work people will naturally go to the HSE.”
Lisbon barber sets up shop on Clare Street A new barber shop on Clare Street is doing a roaring trade according to the proprietor. Faithful Barber was opened in recent weeks by Telmo Esteves, a Lisbon native who moved to Ballyhaunis to open a barber shop. “My mother lived in Ballyhaunis before so I was familiar with the town,” he explained. Business has been great, I’ve been busy right up to seven o’clock closing time,” he explained.
Cricket club seeks new ground Ballyhaunis Cricket Club is keen to find a new playing ground which will allow the club to keep pace with growing competition from others clubs across the region. The club raised the issue with polticians canvassing for the election with minister of state Alan Dillon meeting the club board on a visit to Ballyhaunis.
Member Zia Shafique said “We badly need a ground facility in order to compete with senior leagues and cups... we are behind on ground field work - fielding is lacking, as well as fitness. It can only start if there is better ground available.” Previously one of the top teams in Connacht, Ballyhaunis has been losing ground to better resourced club, explained Mr Shafique. “The likes of Galway and other major cities have improved so much over the years.” The club is now waiting on local politicians to lobby the board of Cricket Ireland and other bodies to secure funding to purchase land, added Mr Shafique.
Old Post office making EUR170,000 Despite being offered to the market for EUR100,000 the old post office building on Bridge Street is now fetching EUR170,000 in the latest bidding, according to one of the bidding parties. The battle for the building reveals the strong appetite for investment in residential projects in the town. This week the Galway-based Conneally Group building company has been working on the conversion of the former Epic nite club on Main Street into several apartments.
