Local Notes: Castle Gate Stud, Swinford, had winning 2 year old Irish Draft Filly at Louisburgh Show.
Mary Murphy, Castle Gate Stud, Swinford, with her beautiful 2year old Irish Draft filly 'Molly' who took 1st prize at the Louisburgh Horse Show 2025. Photo Connie cullen.
Items for inclusion in the notes can be submitted to Julie Ryan as follows: email ryankneafsey@gmail.com or call/text/WhatsApp 087 7694781 (after 6pm). Deadline for receipt of items is 6.30pm Wednesday.
The finals of the annual Time to Shine Talent Show take place this Friday, August 1, in Julian’s of Midfield. Doors open at 7pm and the show begins at 8pm. With really great entertaining acts in both junior and senior sections, this will be a great family show, well worth attending. Admission €10/€5.
Michael Davitt CCE, Swinford Comhaltas, and friends have a very busy schedule during Siamsa this year which is already taking place in Swinford National School. The tutors would be delighted to welcome you if you would like to join even at this stage. The annual pageant/stage show takes place in the Cultural Centre at 8.30pm on Monday next, August 4. Featuring so many local and visiting artists “The Swinford Connections: le ceol agus le croí” is a show not to be missed.
Other events include the annual Siamsa Seisiún na nÓg in Campbell’s White House at 1pm on Sunday, August 3, a Trad Trail – sessions through all the pubs in town – on Sunday evening, kicking off from 7pm, music at the Swinford GAA family fun day on Saturday, August 2, in McCallion pitch and music on the street on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 5. All local and visiting musicians, singers and dancers welcome to join. Bígí linn.
Players wanted for Swinford FC U21 men’s team, players born 2005 or after. Contact Aiden on 083 4032653.
Congratulations to Joe McNulty who won €635 in the June Killasser Community Centre 50/50 draw with Colin Cronolly and Mikey Durkan winning €20 spot prize each. The next draw takes place on Sunday, August 3.
Weather permitting, Mass will be celebrated in Meelick Cemetery on Sunday, August 3, at 9am, in Kilconduff Cemetery on Monday, August 4, at 6.30pm, in Midfield Cemetery on Friday, August 15, at 7pm and in the Workhouse Cemetery on Friday, August 22, at 6.30pm.
The Síamsa Vintage Car and Tractor Run will take place on Sunday, August 3, at 2pm from Swinford Amenity Park. €20 per vehicle entered, €300 cash prizes and trophies up for grabs. Registration from 1pm, for bookings and further information contact Brendan 087 7420617.
If weather permits, Mass will be celebrated at Killseascnaun Killasser on August 3, at 12 noon. This is for Holy Year. There will be no Saturday evening Mass on August 2.
Killasser Community Care Group is organising a one-day retreat to visit Lough Derg on September 9. Let any member of the Community Care Group know if you would like to go on this pilgrimage as soon as possible, by contacting Vera 087 635 4880, Nancy 087 672 0705 or Kathleen 087 617 9317.
The numbers drawn in the Swinford Community lotto draw held on July 21, were 1, 15, 17 and 23. €70 vouchers were won by Amanda O'Brien, Kiltimagh and David Rowley, Culmore; €35 was won by Will and Hill, c/o Horkans. The jackpot is now €6,200.
Swinford Agricultural Show has moved to a new location for this year's 35th Annual Show on Sunday, August 24, located at the Tony Gleeson Farm on the Cuillaun Road F12 NX86 just on the outskirts of Swinford town. With ample onsite parking, this year's show promises to be bigger and better than ever. Lots of competition classes in cattle, sheep, equine, poultry and home industries. Entertainment for all the family. Show schedule and contact details will be available at www.swinfordagrishow.net. The official launch of Swinford Show will take place on Sunday, August 3, at 2pm in Swinford Amenity Park.
Swinford Indoor Market takes place on Saturday, August 2, as part of the Siamsa Sráide Festival weekend. Doors open at 10.30am until 3pm. Visitors can expect a wide selection of handcrafted items, local produce, and artisan food from the fantastic traders. Treat yourself to a delicious coffee or tea with something sweet (or savoury!) from Cácaí Acla in the café area.
MacFest in the West- The Big Mac Reunion is a reunion gathering of the descendants of Thomas McNicholas (Bohola/Curryaune) and Judith McDonagh (Barnacogue) taking place in Swinford on the weekend of August 8-10, in association with www.mayo.ie. Judith McDonagh was the daughter of Owen McDonagh and Nora Morris who migrated to Barnacogue at the beginning of the 19th Century. Owen and Nora had 9 children - Judith, Kitty, Maria, Nancy, Patrick, Tom, John, Bryan and Margaret. Judith McDonagh married Thomas McNicholas where they settled in Curryaune and had 8 children - Patrick, John, Mary, Michael, Bernard, Thomas, Martin and Honoria.
Over 100 members of the McNicholas family diaspora will visit Swinford for MacFest in the West for which several events have been planned. The Big Mac Reunion itself will take place in Mellets on Saturday, August 9.
Event organisers Julie Doyle, Jackie O'Rourke and Joanne Kilroy have been working on the family tree/genealogy record and are keen to hear from any of the descendants of Owen and Nora Morris or Judith and Thomas McNicholas to get in touch before the event to help fill in the gaps in the genealogy record and to come along to The Big Mac Reunion in celebration of the shared McDonagh/McNicholas Swinford heritage. Contact Julie Doyle for further details. Events planned for the weekend - Friday, August 8 Swinford FC will play host to an U10 visiting team from St. Joseph’s Harrow, London for a soccer blitz, followed later that evening by the event launch in the White House. Saturday, August 9, is an action-packed day with a trip down memory lane to Barnacogue for the visiting diaspora. A commemorative Mass for the deceased family members of the McNicholas/McDonagh descendants will be held in Midfield School following which Breege Rowley will screen her documentary “All our Yesterdays”. Saturday night will culminate with the Big Mac Reunion in Mellets Emporium. On Sunday, August 10, the visiting diaspora will visit Knock Museum to discover all about life in Ireland in 1879. Over the course of the weekend Tommy Stenson and Cathal Kelly of Swinford Chats Podcast will record a special episode of their podcast in association with Mayo.ie.
Results from play over the weekend of July 19/20; Ladies 18 Hole Stableford 1st Mona Curry 36 points, 2nd Breege Spain 35 points and 3rd Ann Moore 34 points. Gents 18 Hole V Par - 1st Peter Moore, +7, 2nd Shane Lacey, +5 and 3rd Andy Murphy +5.
A Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday, August 2, from 12 noon-4pm in McCallion Park as part of the Síamsa Sráide Street Festival Swinford. Lots of traditional fun games - tug of war, egg and spoon, welly throw, sack race and much more. Free admission, tea/coffee and refreshments available. All children from local clubs, community and visitor's welcome.
On Saturday, August 2, at 11am in Swinford Courthouse David Cooke will recite poems from his book "Finding My Footprints". This will accompany the screening of the award-winning documentary "We're not making gone with the wind" directed by his brother Paul which follows the story of their mother Noreen Cooke from her childhood in Swinford to her later life in London.
On Saturday, August 2, All Our Yesterdays, a film by Breege Rowley will be screened at The Cultural Centre at 7.30pm. The film tells the Irish story of the people who came before us, who survived enormous obstacles over the past 250 years. It is a story of resilience, fight and family ties stretched across oceans yet bound together through song, music, and literature. To pre-book your seat, contact: Breege: 087 266 0241 or Brendan: 087 742 0617.
Síamsa Sráide Street Festival Swinford presents “A Grey Wing Upon Every Tide” by Colin Carberry on Friday, August 1, at 2pm in Boland's Bar where poet, editor and reviewer Colin Carberry of Toronto will give a talk covering many topics from the Irish Diaspora to Irish History. Colin will also launch his new poetry book "Ghost Homeland".
Sympathy is extended to the families and friends of Margaret Burke (née Neary), Parkroe, Killasser, Swinford; Eddie Groarke, Ballinvoher, Swinford; Terry Woods, (father of Martin Woods, Cloonfinane) formerly of Boherbui, Ballaghadereen, London and Rathbawn Drive, Castlebar; Delia Finnegan (nee Loftus), Birmingham, formerly of Rabawn, Swinford (sister of Kathleen Jennings, Cloonaghboy and Margaret Rowley, Cloonfinish). May they rest in peace.
On Tuesday, August 5, a procession from the main stage to the Famine Grave located behind Swinford District Hospital will take place at 5.30pm. A historic talk will accompany this ceremony. Blessing of the newly installed plague at Swinford Union Burial Ground will follow.
Siamsa Fun Run U12 Siamsa Fun Run will take place on Wednesday, August 6, at 6pm. Registration at 5.30pm in Swinford Amenity Park. €2 per child.
Siamsa Rás 6km at 7pm, with registration at 6.30pm in Swinford Amenity Park. €5 per person. For further information contact Adette, Swinford AC 087 2362112.
The Michael Comer Commemorative Historic Walk and Talk of Swinford with leaders Maura Sweeney and Patricia Conway will take place on Monday, August 4, at 11am, starting at the Gateway Hotel.
Mayo Genealogy Workshop “Trace Your Ancestry” will be held in Swinford NS on Monday, August 4, at 2pm, with presentation by Moira Philbin and Seamus Birmingham.
Swinford Cruisers will host the Siamsa Family Fun Children’s Cycle on Monday, August 4, at 12.30pm starting at Swinford Garda Station and finishing at the Playground. Contact Pat on 087 1330515 for further information.
