Local notes: Brian bows out after 25 years
Musicians from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford who participated in the Mass celebrated recently by school patron Bishop Kevin Doran, to mark the start of the school year. Bishop Kevin afterwards met with groups of the school’s student body to discuss their experiences of school, their locality and their faith in today’s world.
A church gate collection is to be held in aid of Foxford Brass and Reed Band this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14. The collection is for the purpose of raising funds for band training and the repairing of instruments and will be held at all Masses at the churches in Toomore, Callow, Attymachugh and Foxford. Your contribution to the local band would be very much appreciated.
A Harvest Thanksgiving Service is to be held at the Church of Ireland in Foxford on Sunday, October 20. The guest preacher will be Fr Joseph Gavigan and everyone is most welcome to attend. The service will commence at 4pm.
A quarter century of dedicated service as the waterkeeper on the Rinnaney beat of the River Moy was marked recently when Foxford Salmon Anglers Association made a presentation of an engraved bronze coloured timepiece to Brian McGrath.
Brian’s 25 years came to an end with the conclusion of the 2024 season at the end of September and in grateful thanks from Foxford Salmon Anglers, club secretary Mary Moylett presented Brian with his timepiece. He will be missed by all and is wished a happy and healthy retirement.
Landing three salmon saw Patrick Morgan lift the Waterkeepers Trophy at the fishing competition hosted by Foxford Salmon Anglers on Saturday, September 28. Patrick’s catch included 8.5lb, 6.5lb and 4.5lb fish, with the bigger two both released.
There was delight too for Liam Ruddy who, catching his first ever salmon (3lb), saw him win the junior section.
The presentations to both were made by club secretary Mary Moylett in the company of club treasurer Harry Feeney.
Eight’s great
There was a terrific victory for S&F United’s under-14 boys team in the opening round of the SFAI Cup as they smashed eight goals past Athenry of Galway. The rout included a hattrick by AJ McKeown while there was a goal apiece for Mounir Soufan, Sean Walsh, Ronnie Deacy, Ronan Healy and Calum Costello.
The club’s under-16 boys were also in action last week, playing not one but two games. They were on the road in Round 1 of the SFAI Cup and despite a pair of goals by Jason Walsh and one by James Duffy, they suffered a 5-3 defeat to Arrow Harps in what was described as a competitive game against a strong side. However, United’s U16s were also playing in the Mayo Shield and won 4-0 away to Ballyhaunis Town. James Duffy was on the scoresheet again while the other three goals were all provided by Donnacha Timlin.
The €101 jackpot in last week’s S&F United 50-50 draw was won by Carol Naughton. Tickets for the weekly draw are available in all local outlets while online sales can be purchased at smartlotto.ie. Alternatively, season tickets (52 draws for €50) are always available from all committee members and online.
The countdown is on to this month’s Foxford Traditional Weekend which takes place from October 16 to 20. Some of the country’s top names in Irish traditional music have been confirmed to perform, including Steve Cooney, Dermot Byrne, Bríd Harper, Don Stiffe, The Hernon Family, Micheál Rooney and June McCormack. For full details of workshops, masterclasses, concerts and other events, visit the festival website at www.foxfordtraditionalweekend.com.
A reunion of the class of 1966 to ’71 at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford will be held later this month in The Moy Hotel. The event will take place on the Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday, October 26. The organisers are hoping the word can be spread around to as many former pupils as possible, whether they are living locally or away. For further details contact Michael McDonagh on 087-2474593.
Moy Davitts were involved in the semi-finals of the Mayo Intermediate Football Championship last Saturday, October 5 (see sports section for full coverage), after they qualified via a home win against Hollymount-Carramore in the quarter-final played in Foxford the weekend before. They were made work extremely hard for their 1-11 to 0-12 victory, with a late goal by substitute Liam Byrne making all the difference.
The visitors had led for much of this game and looked like they might hold on for the win before Byrne hit the net in the 55th minute, turning in a rebound after Niall Campbell had brilliantly saved a shot from Cathal Clarke.
Hollymount-Carramore had kept the hosts at bay with a brilliant defensive structure when playing against a strong wind in the second-half and Moy Davitts only led the game for a total of eight minutes – but six of those were at the most important time.
Moy Davitts: Chris McGlynn; Neil Murphy, Colm McHale, Jack Dunleavy; Stephen Clarke, Jamie Clarke, Sean Kelly (0-1); Oisin Quinn, Anthony Jordan; Cathal Clarke (0-1), Conor Reid, Ronan Clarke (0-2f); Cian McHale (0-5, 3f), Brian Heneghan, Brian Reape (0-2). Subs: Liam Byrne (1-0) for Reape, Padraig Ruane for S Clarke, Conall Quinn for Dunleavy, Alan Bourke for J Clarke, Ryan Kenny for Colm McHale.
Next time you are sorting through your wardrobe and planning to throw out some clothes, why not consider donating them locally to Straide Davitt Community Hall? There is a blue container situated at the rear of the grounds when you can donate your unwanted clothes, with each full container worth in the region of €50 to €70 to SCDG which will be used to help with the running of the facility and hosting of events.
80 salmon were reported caught on Foxford Salmon Anglers waters during the final week of the 2024 fishing season on the River Moy, ending Monday, September 30. Many of the fish were returned. In an overall sense, it has been said to be a “quiet year” with regard to the number of visiting fishermen despite “strong” stocks of salmon and sea trout in the river.
Well done – and happy spending – to Michael Greene, Bohola who won a jackpot of €390 in the Moy Davitts 50-50 draw on Sunday, September 29. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by playing on the Moy Davitts GAA app.
The organisers of the ever popular Foxford Crafts Fair have confirmed that this year’s event will be held over three days at the Leisure Centre, from Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8.
Anyone who would like to express their interest in applying for a table should email foxfordcraftsfair@gmail.com with details of what your craft is and you will be sent an application in the few weeks.
The senior footballers of Moy Davitts LGFA bowed out of the county intermediate championship on Sunday, September 30 when beaten away to Castlebar Mitchels. Weather conditions were particularly poor for the game that saw Mitchels win by six points, 1-08 to 1-02. The half-time score was 0-5 to 0-2.
The Foxford Bridge Club has resumed for the winter. It meets in the Social Services Centre every Wednesday night from 6 to 9pm and will continue until next May.
Everyone is very welcome regardless of whether a beginner or not.
If you want to join the club or if you want to learn to play Bridge, please contact Richard at 085-1095471 or email Foxfordbridgesec@gmail.com.
Foxford Parish Pastoral Council are inviting parents of children who were baptised in 2021 to bring their child to St Michael’s Church on Sunday, October 13 for the annual blessing of children – a short prayer service to which other family members will also be most welcome. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Admiral Brown Hall.
The Moy Davitts 50th Anniversary dinner dance is taking place at the Great National Hotel in Ballina on Saturday, November 2. There will be a drinks reception with dinner at 7.30pm.
Music on the night is by the Brian McDermott Band who will be followed by a DJ until late.
Special accommodation rates are available from the hotel.
Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA, will attend the dinner dance as special guest. Burns took up his role in February this year and as a footballer, debuted with the Armagh senior team in 1987 and captained the Orchard County to an Ulster title in 1999. A fluent Irish speaker, his son Jarly Óg was a member of this year’s All-Ireland winning Armagh team.
Tickets for the dinner dance are available by contacting Annette at 087-6781500 but there is also going to be a special sale night at the clubhouse in Sraith Garbh on October 11 at 8pm. Don’t miss out.
