Local Notes: Brian to accept prestigious league award
Stephen Walsh, Moy Davitts GAA's Healthy Club Officer, presenting Orla Gillespie, manager at Mayo Cancer Support, a cheque for €825 which was the proceeds from the club's hugely successful St Stephen’s Day Charity Match. All proceeds will support the delivery of vital emotional support services to people in the Mayo area who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis or bereavement.
The unstinting dedicated service of one Foxford man to his local soccer club has been recognised by an announcement from the Mayo Football League last week that Brian Wallace is to receive its ‘Henry Downes Service To Football Award’ at their annual presentation dinner later this month.
Brian, who is chairman of S&F United FC, has been involved with the club since he was a schoolboy player. Going on to feature for United at adult level, he would also fulfil roles as coach and manager of various teams and as well as his current role as chairman, is also the man responsible for keeping the pitch and facilities in such good condition as groundskeeper.
Brian’s dedication, loyalty and service to S&F United is second to none and he is a very deserving recipient of the Henry Downes Service to Football Award, which honours the memory of the man who served as Mayo League chairman from 1959 to 1989 and left a lasting legacy in the county.
Brian Wallace will receive his award at the Mayo Football League’s annual awards dinner in the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport on Saturday, January 20. He will be joined by three other clubmen in receiving awards, as David Timlin, Michael Prendergast and Anthony Hennigan are recognised for being selected on the Westaro Masters Division Three Team of the Year.
Admiral Brown Comhaltas has had a group of musicians accepted to attend the hugely popular Music at Mount Leinster Festival this year. Suitable for musicians of secondary school age (12 to 18 years), the festival takes place over the February midterm break in Carlow from February 12-15. The festival comes highly recommended and is something Admiral Brown CCÉ has tried to get involved in for a number of years. It is a great way for the participants to immerse themselves in music while making new friends and bonding with the group.
The festival involves three days of tutoring and a full programme of events.
Mass will be celebrated at midday in St Michael’s Church, Foxford on Saturday next, January 13, in memory of Foxford native Maura Murphy (née Duffy) whose death has occurred in Brisbane, Australia.
Originally from Duffy’s Corner House, Foxford, Maura was predeceased by her parents Bridie and John and just last April, by her brother John.
Survived in Foxford by her sister Evelyn Staunton and her aunt Emma Sherry, Maura will also be dearly missed by her husband Michael and their son Conor, her grandchildren, nephews, nieces, in-laws, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
May she rest in peace.
Many tributes have been paid following the death of Foxford native Frances Ruane (née Noone) at the Mayo Hospice on Tuesday, January 2.
From Dispensary Road and daughter of Mary and the late Michael Noone, Frances and her husband Kevin ran The Harp public house on Rush Street, Castlebar and was last week remembered for her popularity among fellow publicans and customers alike, particularly her kind and affable nature.
Late of Kilkenny Cross, Castlebar, it was recounted how Frances brought joy into the lives of so many and was not just blessed with beauty and wit but possessed enormous strength of character, courage and selflessness. Her passing, aged just 50 years, leaves a massive void in the Castlebar and Foxford communities.
Frances is deeply regretted by her husband Kevin, son Luke and mother Mary, along with brothers Kevin (Dublin) and Stephen (Foxford), sister Angela Noone-Faul (Castlebar), brothers-in-law John, Pat, Robert and Declan Ruane and John Faul, sisters-in-law Ann and Linda, nieces and nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and her many close friends.
Frances reposed in Kilcoyne’s Funeral Home, Castlebar, last Friday with her funeral Mass on Saturday at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar. Burial afterwards was at the New Cemetery, Newport Road, Castlebar.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dhílis.
A memorial Mass was held in St Michael’s Church, Foxford last Saturday morning, for the repose of the soul of Amanda Ann Moran, Foxford and Bohola, whose death occurred, peacefully, in Birmingham, UK on New Year’s Eve. Amanda was 49-years-old.
Amanda is sadly missed by her loving daughter Grace, her parents Michael (Mickey) Moran and Maureen Moran and a wide circle of relatives and friends in Birmingham, Bohola and Foxford.
Following the memorial Mass, interment of Amanda’s ashes was at Bohola Cemetery.
Well done to Moy Davitts’ players Conor Reid and Sean Mulroy who represented the Mayo senior football and hurling teams respectively. Conor made his first appearance for the county senior football team – and scored a couple of points – when selected for a Charity Challenge match against the 2023 Mayo Club All-Stars at the Connacht GAA Air Dome. Reid, who played the entire match, and his Mayo teammates ran out comfortable winners.
Sean Mulroy started at wing-forward for Mayo in their Connacht Senior Hurling League semi-final win against Roscommon last Wednesday, January 3. The game was also played at the Connacht GAA Air Dome.
The festive period in Foxford was marked by two local weddings. Emer Maloney, Green Road, and Cian Quinn, Pontoon Road, were married in the Convent Chapel while at St Michael’s Church, Caroline Whitty, Station Road, married Sean Conway, Swinford. Congratulations to both couples who are wished all the very best for the future.
An introductory free karate class is being offered this week to children by the Mayo Karate Academy.
The free classes, which are suitable for new beginners aged 6-years-old and above, take place at Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre tonight, Tuesday, January 9 (6pm) and at Bohola Community Centre on Wednesday, January 10 (6pm).
This Wednesday, January 10 will see the resumption of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St Michael’s Church, Foxford from 6 to 7pm.
The first gathering of 2024 for the Foxford Board Games group will take place at Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre this coming Thursday, January 11.
The sessions run from 7pm until 9.30pm and are open to anyone from the age of 14 upwards.
The participants play a large variety of Euro-style board, card and dice games. All the games are provided and taught. New games are also welcome. The games are based on strategy, challenge and socialisation.
It’s a free event, so why not join an amazing group for a fun evening of interesting board games.
An inaugural Careers Fair has been arranged to take place for the students of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford. The event is to take place at Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre this Wednesday, January 10 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. The aim is to allow students meet with representatives of different professions who work locally.
A number of shops in Foxford have been topped up recently with copies of the 2023 Moy Davitts GAA Annual, Christmas sales of which were brisk. It’s the third year in succession that the club has published its brilliant yearbook which documents all men’s and ladies activities of the past twelve months at both underage and adult level, whilst delving into the archives to relive some of the club’s past glories as well.
The publication runs to well in excess of 100 pages and is on sale for just €10. It is available to purchase in the following outlets: Reape’s Foxford, McGloin’s Gala, Foxford; O’Haras Centra, Foxford; Gannon’s Foxford, Clive’s Butchers, Clarke’s Bohola and Ballyvary Post Office.
With Foxford among the areas badly affected by the pyrite and mica defective concrete blocks scandal, an appeal remains in place for anyone who may have an available property, for example a holiday home or vacant house, to rent to those people whose homes have been affected.
Caroline Wilson, Mayo North East Partnership, Community Facilitator is reaching out to anyone who may have such a property in Foxford, or indeed other impacted areas in Ballina, Ballycastle, Belmullet, Crossmolina, Killala, Westport and surrounding areas, to contact her at 087-4828261 or email carolinewilson@mayonortheast.com.
Anyone wishing to listen to masses from St Michael’s Church, Foxford may do so by tuning into 108FM. Alternatively, all services are also available to view online at www.churchtv.ie/foxford.
