Local notes: Budding singers and karate kids
James Duffy winds up for a kick at the posts for Moy Davitts during last Thursday's Mayo U16 'D' football championship final against Louisburgh at MacHale Park.
A lady who ‘lit up many a party with her sweet voice’ and whose life with her husband was ‘built around academic and professional pursuits’ was remembered on Sunday last, September 7 was remembered on Sunday last, September 7, as the funeral Mass of Elizabeth O’Neil (née Noone) was celebrated at St Michael’s Church, Foxford.
Elizabeth, or Betty as she was known, passed away peacefully in her sleep last month, at her home in Glenview, Illinois, USA and returned to her native Foxford for burial in the family grave at Craggagh Cemetery.
Betty, who had turned 87 this year, was the first of seven childrenborn of Bill and Bridget (Babe) NooneNoone’s seven children. A former nurse by profession, she had fought valiantly for a 12-year period with Parkinson’s Disease before her passing on August 5 last.
Born on March 26, 1937, Betty was educated locally and regionally through secondary school and achieved placement in nursing at Sir Patrick Duns Hospital in Dublin. Upon completion, Betty successfully pursued training as a certified midwife at the Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow.
A talented harpist, guitar player and singer with a love for art, literature, music and theatre, Betty paid a visit to relations in the US in 1962 and while there, was recruited for a one-year contract at a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Within weeks of her arrival she met Bostonian Danny O’Neil whom she married on November 14, 1964. Thus began an odyssey built around academic and professional pursuits but with the pinnacle being the births of their three children Eliesh, Danny and Dara.
The couple had resided in Connecticut and Southern California before a seven-year period in Dublin, where she supported her husband’s PhD degree at Trinity College and played a major role in facilitating the assimilation of international faculty at the creation of the University of Limerick. They returned to the US and moved to Atlanta (Tucker) where Betty lectured at the High Museum of Art and later at Emory University’s Carlos Museum. The family return temporarily to Limerick, Ireland in 1981 before Betty retired from nursing as case manager for the Wesley Woods geriatric centre for Emory University in Atlanta.
She and Dan left their home in Atlanta in 2019 and established themselves permanently in Glenview, Il.
Betty is survived by her husband Dan, her daughter Eliesh Lane (James) and Dara O’Neil (Kyle Knight), her grandchildren Eoin, Graeme, Niamh, and twins Cadhla and Aodhan Lane as well as her siblings in Ireland, William, Mary (Kelly), Martin, Terence, Thomas, and Margaret (Conneely) Noone. She was predeceased by her parents, her son Danny Jr., her brothers-in-law Christy Kelly and Tom Conneely, sister-in-law Sheila Noone, and nephew Justin Noone.
May she rest in peace.
Vacancies have arisen for relief Early Years Educators and relief School Aged Childcare staff at the The Growing Tree, Admiral Brown Road, Foxford.
Early Year Educator applicants must have a minimum Level 5 qualification in early childhood education.
Applications and CVs should be sent to thegrowingtreefoxford@gmail.com by Friday, September 13.
An exciting six-week Singing Club designed especially for primary school-aged children is starting on Thursday, September 12 at the Foxford Leisure Centre. The program offers a fantastic opportunity for young singers to explore the joy of music in a fun and supportive environment. Whether your child is just starting out or already loves to sing, the club is the perfect place for them to learn new songs, make friends, and build confidence.
With two tailored sessions, children will be placed in a group that best suits their age and experience. The ‘Little Larks’ group, for Junior Infants to 2nd Class, meets from 5pm to 5:45pm, providing younger children with an engaging introduction to singing. The ‘Silver Sparrows’, for 3rd to 6th Class, meet from 6pm to 6.45pm, offering more advanced singers a chance to refine their skills and enjoy more challenging songs.
The program is free for all Comhaltas members, with an annual junior membership available for just €6.
Don't miss this wonderful chance to inspire a love of music in your child. Places are limited and this will be on a first come first serve basis. Contact cceadmiralbrown@gmail.com.
Disappointment and pride were rolled into one at MacHale Park in Castlebar last Thursday evening, as Moy Davitts took to the pitch in the final of the Mayo U16 ‘D’ Football Championship. Unfortunately, the result didn’t go their way, with Louisburgh proving the old adage true that goals win games, by winning the match 3-9 to 0-9. But to have contested both the league and championship finals is a wonderful achievement for the Moy Davitts team, who are grateful to Gary Smyth (Foxford Pharmacy) for his generous contribution towards training tops.
Some of the players will be back in action this Thursday, September 12 as Moy Davitts travel to play Aghamore in Group 2 of the Homeland U15 Grading League Division 2. Throw-in is at 7pm and the referee is Ternan Burke.
The men of Moy Davitts will seek to make it three wins from three in the Mayo Intermediate Football Championship and secure home advantage for the quarter-finals, when they play their final game of Group 1 this coming Saturday, September 14. They are to face a Lahardane side that has already given good games to both Crossmolina and Louisburgh, but that has come out on the wrong side of the scoreboard on both occasions, whereas Moy Davitts beat the same two opponents.
Saturday’s game is at James Stephens Park in Ballina and throws in at 5.45pm. The referee is Sean Tolan.
The club would appreciate a large turnout of supporters for the team.
The latest winner of the Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw is Billy McCann from Bohola who won €460. Tickets are available in the usual outlets or via the club App.
The funeral Mass was held yesterday (Monday, September 9) at St Michael’s Church in Foxford of Ann Loftus, Ballina Road, Foxford.
Ann, a former employee of Eircom, passed peacefully on Friday last in the gentle care of the staff of Swinford District Hospital.
Described as a ‘wonderful work colleague with a strong work ethic and who was always so conscientious and helpful’, Ann was also remembered as “a kind and gracious lady with a keen wit and a great sense of humour.” Predeceased by her parents Paddy and Mary, her infant sister Bridget and her nephew Gerald, Ann will be dearly and lovingly missed by her brothers John and Pat and her sister Mary, her nieces Lorna and Siobhain, her nephew Ciaran and her godson David, grand-nephews, sister in-law Pauline, brother in-law Bernard, relatives, neighbours and her former colleagues in Eircom.
Ann lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home on Sunday evening and following funeral Mass on Monday, a private family cremation was held in Shannon Crematorium.
May she rest in peace.
The countdown is on to Foxford Salmon Anglers’ final fishing competition of the season which will be the Waterkeepers Trophy, to be held on Saturday, September 28.
Conditions for fishing the River Moy have been challenging of late to say the least, but with the persistent rain having ceased last week and the water level slowly dropping, it was expected that more anglers would return and that catch numbers would increase.
For the week-ending Sunday, September 1, there were only 12 salmon reported caught but the water has cleared somewhat and while the heavy spinners are recommended due to the reasonably quick flow, prawn and worm will also work.
Foxford Meals on Wheels Service are looking for a person to help out in the preparation of dinners in their kitchen five mornings per week. In addition to food preparation, successful applicants will be required to carry out cleaning duties in the kitchen area. Email applications to socialservicesfoxford@gmail.com.
There was another busy week of underage activity at Straide and Foxford United.
On Saturday last, S&F’s under-16 boys had a very impressive win against visitors Ballyhaunis Town in the Mayo League Division 2B. It finished 8-1 with Brady Guilfoyle bagging a hat-trick, Senan Tolan netting twice and goals apiece by Michael McCreedy, Donnacha Timlin and Brendan O’Boyle.
Perhaps the most significant match was last Wednesday’s Mayo U14 Premier Division match at Green Road where S&F entertained a Ballina Town side that had won the corresponding fixture 2-1 just the previous week.
S&F needed to win in order to stay in title contention but it was Ballina who won 4-2 to confirm themselves as league champions. Sean Walsh and Calum Costello scored United’s goals.
There was disappointment for the U14 ‘B’ team also as they exited the Mayo Shield when losing 7-1 to Claremorris. Yarik Yaroslav scored the home side’s goal.
S&F’s U14 girls enjoyed better fortunes however, when they welcomed Newport Mulranny Wanderers to Green Road. A great team effort and goals by Kasia Berkowski, Milena Domagala and Crìodh Doherty, saw them progress to the next round of the Mayo Shield with a 3-1 win. They backed that win up against when recording a solid 1-1 draw against Ballyglass in the final league game of the season last Thursday. Milena Domagala hit the net for S&F.
At U12 level, S&F United’s boys bounced back from a 3-0 home loss to top-of-the-table Kilmurry in Division 1 when hitting neighbours Conn Rangers for six goals last Friday evening. Heath Byrne and Oisin McHale hit a brace each and there was a goal apiece by Oisin Ruddy and Eoghan Jordan.
The U12 girls visited Conn Rangers too, turning in a hugely impressive performance despite Conn’s 7-4 victory. The S&F goal-scorers were Amber Gilnagh, two, Grainne McLoughlin and Lucy Durkan.
In the Helen Johnson Mayo U18 League Division 2, S&F United travelled to play Westport United and lost 6-3, with Sean Reid netting a brace and Cian Fahy scoring the other goal.
€100 was the jackpot prize won by Kieran Reilly, Foxford in this week’s S&F United 50-50 draw.
Adam William Quinn has been welcomed to the Christian community following his baptism at St Michael’s Church in Foxford on Saturday, August 31. Adam is the son of Emer and Cian, Cluain Aoibhinn, Station Road. Congratulations to all.
FACT Social Club is an independent community-based service in Foxford that supports people living with Dementia or in rural isolation. The club is open Mondays to Friday and provides social interaction, activities and much more in a safe and supported environment. If you would like more information on the services offered, you can contact them at factsocialclub1@gmail.com or telephone 094-92-56662.
An exciting opportunity is presenting itself for any young children in the locality who may be interested in taking up the martial art of karate. The Mayo Karate Academy has announced that it is to offer a free two-week trial to newcomers, with the first class to take place at Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre at 6pm this Tuesday, September 10. The academy is enrolling children from 5 years and over. There will also be an introductory class at the Sheridan Memorial Community Centre, Bohola on Wednesday, September 11 at 6pm.
