Local Notes: Belmullet students star at Enterprise Finals
Students from Belmullet won the “One to Watch” award at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals. The Finals of the Local Enterprise Office initiative took place on Thursday last in Mullingar. Supported by Local Enterprise Office Mayo, three student enterprises represented Mayo in the National Finals: Senior: Fly Fitness, (Ballinrobe Community School); Intermediate: (Owen's landscaping, St Louis', Kiltimagh) and Junior: (Easy Carrier, Our Lady's, Belmullet). The students from Our Lady’s School, Belmullet, won the “One to Watch” award in the junior category. Their student enterprise was called: ‘Easy Carrier, which sells portable handholds to relieve discomfort when carrying heavy plastic shopping bags. The products can be stylised to suit the customer’s needs or desires.
On next Sunday night, June 2, in the Erris Coast Hotel, the Erris Pool League final from 1984 will be replayed 40 years after the original final failed to reach a conclusion. Most of the players that played back then for The Kiltane Tavern and Flannery's Barnatra will be taking up a cue once again to raise money for two local charities - Western Care Belmullet and Mayo Roscommon Hospice. Back in 1984 pool was as popular as it is now in Erris and crowds came from all over to watch the finals. These two teams couldn't be separated after a few replays and in the end the match was called off due to a dispute over a game.
Most of the players involved in the final back in 1984 have been invited to play including Tony McKenzie, Paul Murphy, Martin John Carey, Tony Murphy, Sean Conway, Anthony Cafferkey and Peter Winters for the Kiltane Tavern while Tony Monaghan, John Joe Monaghan, Pat Conway, Thomas Maher, James Monaghan, John Healy, JT McGuire and Tommy McGuire were part of the Flannery's team that played in the original final.
This is a great chance to see the players from a previous generation back in action playing the rules they played back then and all for a good cause.
Come to Blacksod on June 6 and remember D-day and the Irish involvement both at home and on the front-line. D-Day 80 years on at Blacksod, it begins at 5am with a dawn remembrance ceremony then at 10am there will be exhibits open to the public from Met Éireann, An Post, Military archives, Irish Lights and display of movie props from Saving Private Ryan.
At 11am guest speaker Ron Howko, Veteran US army will speak on United States forces on D-Day. Then at 12 noon Donal Buckley, retired Irish Army, will speak on Irish Neutrality then and now. From 1 until 2pm there is 1940’s music with Bridget McMahon and there will also be an Aircraft flyover dedicated to the men LOP’S (lookout posts)
Ballyglass RNLI's inshore lifeboat was requested to launch one day last week to assist a calf at the docks in Belmullet. It was at risk of being lost as the tide was flowing in. The owner of the calf raised the alarm. The volunteer crew were paged at 14.14 and the boat was underway by 14.19 after launching at the docks. The ILB launched with a crew of 4 on board, assisted by a shore crew of 3. A local pleasure boat owner assisted. The calf (which was just 2 days old!) was recovered from the sea, put into the local pleasure craft and returned ashore to the farmer at 14.35. The calf was fine and well and reunited with its mother.
The Lifeboat was made ready for service by 15.15. Thanks to all involved.
Ní neart go cur le chéile (we're stronger when we work together). Remember, call the Coast Guard if you see a person/animal in difficulty on/in the water.
Ballycroy Naíonra official opening and blessing will be held on Saturday, June 1, at 12 noon and all are welcome.
Cllr Gerry Coyle said a number of weeks ago that our beautiful beaches should be experienced by everyone and should not be prohibited by access issues, and he is delighted to confirm that as a result of funding he has provided, works commenced to improve the access road and car park at the spectacular Doohoma Beach. These works follow on from the works he had completed over the past number of years, on the Roy to Doohoma Graveyard Road.
‘We are blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, here in North Mayo and I’m hopeful that works at another local beach, to which I have also allocated funding, will commence shortly - stay tuned for further information!
I look forward to the prompt completion of the works by the Council, in time for the summer months and hopefully the summer weather’ concluded Cllr Coyle.
Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Sunflower Day will be held on Friday, June 7, in Belmullet. If you would like to help out contact Linda on 086 0564544.
Congratulations to the children and teachers of St Brendàin na hEchlèime School after winning the Irish prize in the National Drama School Festival in Dublin recently.
Congratulations to the 2nd year boys basketball team on their victory over Rice College in the North West regional final recently. A special word of thanks to the senior students and All Ireland winners who have helped to mentor and train these lads during lunchtime/after school.
Congratulations to Niamh Breathnach achieving gold in the Connaught Schools Athletics in the Junior Girls javelin recently. A fantastic result which is a first for the school.
An event was held recently which was celebrated by the Irish and T1 committee for the great work they have done to promote the Irish language in Coláiste Breandáin Naofa. ‘Not enough to put together’. Congratulations to them for achieving the second Gaelic flag as well.
There was a great morning at Áras Inis Gluaire, for HelloHowAreYou coffee morning with Flourish Social Prescribing Mayo. The Erris Family and Community Support Centre was glad to be part of this event, bringing people together, encouraging people to speak openly about mental health and to have an opportunity to connect with others in their community.
A big thank you to the staff at Arás Inis Gluaire for their hospitality; to the wonderful students from Saint Brendan's College who baked some delicious treats, and also to the services who attended and hosted a stand. A very special word of thanks and appreciation to board member, Dervilia Cullotty who spoke so powerfully, openly and inspiringly about her own mental health journey and the importance of support both from her family and her community in getting and staying well; and to her sister Marie for sharing her experience with us also.
It is very hard to travel any path alone so please ask for help, accept the support, link in with friends, family, services whoever it may be so that you are not isolated. Sometimes it can be the hardest and the last thing we want to do when feeling low or unwell but connection and belonging are the cornerstones of positive mental health.
Well done to all of the cyclists who recently completed the journey from Cavan to Belmullet, in memory of Felix Prior and Vincent Walsh with all donations/sponsorship going to Inis Aoibhinn. A total so far-to date (at the time of writing) is €10,730 and there’s still a small bit of time to sponsor on the gofundme me and there is also a chance to win a load of logs. Everyone has been so generous and supportive. This amount of money goes a long way in supporting someone going through cancer treatment and unfortunately there aren’t many homes unaffected by cancer. Thank you all so much, there will be a further update of the grand total when all monies are in. Many thanks to all the sponsors of the event.
Cill Chomáin GAA county draw tickets are now on sale. Tickets are €100 each or can be bought online or through club members. Club members will be selling locally over the next few weeks. This draw is very important with the running of the club. There is €97,000 to be won across the 6 draws with top prizes of €10,000. There will also be a club confined draw later on in the year. When purchasing a ticket online the user has the option to select which club they would like the ticket revenue to go towards. The on-line facility is again available this year at: https://bit.ly/cairde-mhaigheo-draw-2024.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club weekly lotto jackpot of €12,800 with the two €50 winners being Aishling Barrett, Geesala and Pat Talbot, Geesala while Mary Sweeney, Doohoma Head and John Keane, Ballycroy both won €25. The two online winners were Martin McManamon, Bangor €50 and Packie Sweeney, Geesala €25.
Bingo will continue in the Bangor Complex this evening Tuesday, May 28, at 8pm with a €850 jackpot in 52 calls or less.
Congratulations to Our Lady’s Secondary School Irish committee for achieving Gaelbratach. The committee attended the ceremony in Limerick recently and they had a great day, they have achieved this year. Many thanks to the team in Gaelbratach for providing an excellent day for all the students. Praise the Youth and She Will Come! Run by Gael Linn, ‘Gaelbhratach' is a national initiative that encourages primary and secondary students to speak Irish outside of the formal classroom setting. Students from Our Lady’s and Coláiste Bhreandáin Naofa attended the ceremony which marked the 10th year of the scheme in post-primary schools.
Gaelbhratach is an Irish language scheme focused on promoting Irish in primary and secondary schools around the country. Each year, Gaelbhratach organises the post-primary Gaelbhratach Awards Ceremony to celebrate the significant contributions made by teachers and students around the country towards the promotion of the Irish language in their schools.
On August 10, the first Mfitness Erris 5 and 10km will take place. This event is open to competitive runners, recreational runners and people that wish to walk the event. The minimum age to participate is 18 years. The early bird rate will expire on next Saturday, June 1, at midnight. Please help to make this a successful community event for Erris by registering or by tagging friends and sharing this post. Register using this link:
https://www.popupraces.ie/.../mfitness-erris-5k-10km-run.../.
