Local notes: Birdwatch Ireland to host Foxford event
Transition Year students from St Joseph's Secondary School in Foxford at the University of Galway where they travelled to experience the 'Taster Day'. They got to explore a variety of sessions across a wide range of subject areas and attended lectures from the Arts, Business, Law and Computer Science departments. They were accompanied on the trip by accompanied by Mr Merchant and Mrs Doyle.
A fantastic event is in store for all the family next Sunday, April 21 as the Mayo branch of Birdwatch Ireland holds an outing in Foxford.
Meeting at the car park by the Admiral Brown Promenade at 11am, the outing will commence with a gentle stroll down to the bend in the River Moy where sand martins excavate their nest holes. They should be repairing their nest sites and feeding after their long journey from Central Africa. Other Hirundinidae may be feeding over the river and swifts may have returned to their nest holes in the town buildings.
On return, the depending on the preferences of the group, some who wish for more exercise can proceed to the number of loop walks that radiate from the car park or after a short drive on the road to Pontoon, explore the Drummin Wood trail. Alternatively, there’s lunch and a chat!
Everyone is welcome to attend the membership of Birdwatch Ireland is not necessary. However, it is requested that children are accompanied and that appropriate clothing is worn depending on the forecast weather.
Birdwatch Ireland will also hold its Dawn Chorus Walk in Enniscoe on Saturday, May 4 with an early 6am start.
Congratulations to the members of Mayo Karate Academy who train out of Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre every Tuesday evening, particularly to those who were among the Academy’s 10 medallists at the IKKU Open in Dublin.
It was an excellent competition where the Mayo Karate Academy students competed against international and national level athletes in their respective categories, winning two gold, two silver and six bronze medals in the process.
Well done to all the athletes.
How poignant that in this week where Moy Davitts GAA Club is preparing to celebrate its 50th Anniversary Mass at St Michael’s Church in Foxford, that it has bade farewell to one of its founding fathers.
The funeral Mass took place yesterday (Monday) in The Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Bohola of Micksey Clarke, a driving force behind the club since its inception in 1974.
Micksey sadly passed away last Saturday after a short illness.
The well-known former publican was the heart and soul of his village and enjoyed a distinguished career as a footballer for college, club and county.
Micksey represented Mayo at both minor and senior championship level in the 1950s and 1960s and also played in a Hogan Cup Final for St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen where they were beaten by St Joseph’s of Fairview.
He was also one of the most decorated players in Mayo club football, winning five Mayo SFC titles, including four with Castlebar Mitchels (1962, ’63, ’69 and ’70) and one with East Mayo (1967), the same year in which he also landed the Mayo JFC in the colours of Kiltimagh. Mickey also lost a Mayo JFC Final with his native Bohola in 1974 but in ’78 won the Mayo IFL with Moy Davitts, the club he had been instrumental in forming only four years earlier.
“Micksey will be greatly missed in his home parish of Bohola, he was a great community man and a central character in the village. There will be many Gaels who will be saddened to hear of his passing,” said Moy Davitts GAA in a statement, adding that he held a “great fondness” for the club.
Both Mickey’s sons, Pat and Brendan, also enjoyed excellent playing careers while his grandson Ronan was joint captain of the Mayo team that contested the 2022 All-Ireland Minor Final.
Micksey, who was also predeceased by his brother PJ, will be sadly missed by Pat and Brendan, and his daughters Susan Heneghan (Breaffy) and Caroline (Dublin), brothers Fr Harry (Canada) and Brendan (Tenerife), sister Mary Flanagan (Roscommon), son-in-law Tom, daughters-in-laws Annette and Colleen, his grandchildren, brother-in law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Burial on Monday was at St Joseph's Cemetery, Bohola.
May he rest in peace.
Members of Admiral Brown CCÉ will be among the musicians taking part in a fundraising traditional music session which is being held in aid of Children’s Health Ireland in The White House Bar, Swinford this Friday, April 19. A junior session takes place from 6 to 8pm followed by an open session between 8 and 9.30pm.
CHI support sick children and their families in hospitals in Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght, and Connolly and this local event is being organised by Breege Gleeson.
All support would be greatly appreciated.
A woman renowned for her love of animals and for her kindness and humour is how Rosemary Carrabine has been remembered since her passing last Thursday, April 11.
Rosemary (née Caulfield) of Foxford and formerly of Lifford, Co. Donegal, died peacefully at St John’s, Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar.
A dearly loved sister, auntie, grand auntie and a friend to so many, Rosemary was predeceased by her husband Padraig, her father and mother Paddy and Elizabeth Caulfield, her sister Jacinta Kelly and her grandniece Holly.
She will be sorely missed by her many dear neighbours and those who called to visit her.
Rosemary lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home, Foxford last Saturday and Sunday and her funeral Mass was celebrated yesterday (Monday) at St Michael’s Church, Foxford. Burial afterwards was at Craggagh Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
There’ll be lots of excitement at Moy Davitts GAA Club in Foxford this week as many budding young players get their first real taste of Gaelic football. The club’s Nursery and U6 programmes start for 2024 this Friday, April 19 at 6pm.
The Nursery is for children born in 2019 and 2020 while U6 training is for children born in 2018.
Boys and girls train together at U6 level but from U8 up, girls train and play with Moy Davitts LGFA.
There was an excellent win for Moy Davitts in last Tuesday’s County MFL fixture against Breaffy who they beat 3-7 to 0-13 in Foxford. Moy Davitts laid the foundations in the opening half when scoring all their goals to lead 3-01 to 0-8. However, Moy Davitts’ U16s lost 2-14 to 2-8 at home to Louisburgh in difficult conditions last Thursday evening. The game had been all square at half-time, 0-7 to 1-4, but Moy Davitts paid the price for not adding to their first-half goal as they had several other chances.
In the U14 league, Moy Davitts enjoyed a great victory, 4-11 to 3-06, over St Jarlath’s in Foxford. They led by four points at half-time, 1-10 to 2-03, having played with the wind, and they fought hard in the second-half to push out their lead.
Someone who was a great friend to many, a respected former employee of Coillte and a lover and supporter of traditional music and dance, are just some of the memories left by Michael Howley from Curradrish, Foxford whose passed recently in the loving care of the staff at the Mayo Hospice in Castlebar.
Better known as Mickey, he was predeceased by his parents Martin and Agnes, his sisters Roisin and Mary, his brother Martin, nephew Aidan and the mother of their children Claire.
He will be dearly missed by his children Martin, Vincent, Eamon, Catherine, Stephen and Paul, his sisters Agie, Kathleen and Joan, his brother Noel, his grandchildren Roisin, Caoimhe, Erin, Blaithin, Molly, Aimee Rose, Jack and Eimear, his many nephews and nieces, daughters in-law Mary and Mary, sister in-law Martina, brothers in-law Michael and Pat, extended family neighbours and friends.
Mickey’s funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, April 8 at The Church of The Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Attymass with burial taking place afterwards at Bonnifinglas Cemetery.
A host of local players have been selected for the Mayo Football League’s U21 Development squad.
Dylan Coleman from S&F United and his former teammates at St Joseph’s, Foxford, Tuan O’Horo, Adam Gallagher and Colm Rutledge, along with their Conn Rangers clubmates Cian McHale and Brian Durkan, have all have been picked in Joe Kelly’s 33-strong squad.
The aim is that the squad will play three to four high quality games with three squad sessions prior to each game.
Ian McHugh from the Riverbank Bar, Foxford is the latest winner of S&F United’s 50-50 jackpot, scooping €165. The previous week’s jackpot of €100 was won by Vincent McDonnell from Killasser. Well done to both.
A commemorative Mass to celebrate 50 years of Moy Davitts GAA Club will take place at 7.30pm this Friday, April 19 in St Michael’s Church, Foxford. All club members invited.
If you would like to be involved in the Mass itself, please contact Teresa at 087-2069083.
Congratulations to Fran Henry, Foxford who was the winner of the Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw, earning a jackpot prize of €344. The winning ticket was sold online.
Anyone wishing to avail of the Foxford Meals on Wheels can do so by contacting Geraldine at 087-9040463 or 094-92-56614. The service offers dinners from Monday to Saturday at a cost of €5 per meal.
Registration for this month’s Fox-trot is online at www.njuko.net/foxtrot-10km-5km.
Fox-trot is a 5k and 10k run that replaces the former Run for Boylo and will take place in Foxford on Sunday, April 28.
The 10k event will offer cash prizes to the winners while both that and the 5k will be held over a flat, chip-timed course. It is planned to get the racing underway at 12.30pm.
