Local Notes: Claremorris students get ready for festive Tractor Run
Students from St Colman's College in Claremorris are pictured at the launch of their Tractor Run.
St Colman’s College’s famous Tractor Run is back and it will be held on November 24th - the day Santa will be turning on the Christmas Lights in town.
The project is run by the college’s Leaving Cert Applied class.
“We’re doing it for Daisy Lodge in Cong,” Ryan Jennings of the LCA class told the . “It’s a local charity and a very worthy cause. We are doing it as a project for the LCA. We hope to have 100 tractors in the run and we’re asking them for €20 each. We’ll be doing a raffle and a bucket collection as well.”
Luke, who is from Garrymore, said that there are 18 students in the Leaving Cert Applied class.
Prizes will be given to the best-decorated tractor. Registration is from 4pm and the run commences at 5.55pm.
The route starts at St Colman's College (F12HW25) through the town out the old Ballindine Road onto the N17 and on to Ballindine. The route then turns left in Ballindine and on to Brickens and then back to Claremorris. The tractors will take the third exit at the Seamus O'Malley Roundabout (N60) and then left at the traffic lights and back to Claremorris town. Finally, the tractors will turn left at the Credit Union, finishing at the Square car park.
The run will provide a bit of colour in the town as well as raising money for a good cause. In addition, it provides a great experience of volunteering to the students.
On Saturday, November 23rd, Davitts GAA will be launching a book to mark the 50th anniversary of the club’s formation in 1974. The event begins at 7pm and will be held in the Davitts’ Clubhouse.
The committee decided at a meeting two years ago that a book on the history of the club would be a fitting way to mark this milestone. The publication has been compiled by the PRO Joe Reapy and published by Pádraig Corcoran.
While football had been played in Ballindine and Irishtown since the early 1900s, the Davitts club was officially formed in late 1973. Named after Michael Davitt, one of the organisers of the famous meeting in Irishtown on April 20th, 1879, which led to the founding of the Land League, the club has since flourished.
The book covers the club’s history, including brief accounts of pre-1974 events and reports on approximately 380 games over the past five decades, which should bring back memories for many ‘older’ readers. It will give some younger readers, and future generations, a better idea of Davitts’ proud history.
It also features contributions from club members, such as Frank Fahey, David McDonagh, Breda Waldron, Ronan Kirrane, Ronan McNamara, Liam Kearns and many more, sharing personal anecdotes and reflections. Other articles included are on Ballindine handball, Scór na nÓg winners, Mayo representatives and All-Ireland winners, alongside a wealth of photographs of teams, players, volunteers and supporters.
The book will be launched by Mayo Ladies’ great, Cora Staunton, and the event begins at 7pm on Saturday, November 23rd, in the Clubhouse. Angelina Nugent will act as MC on the night. There will be a Q&A session with a number of major figures within the club including Dr Ken Egan, Frank Hyland, Liam Nyland, Martin Connolly, Alan Roche, Eilis Ronayne, Rebecca Waldron and Colm Boyle.
Most importantly, the book can be purchased at the launch. It is priced at €30 and a big demand for it is anticipated. There will be a link on the club’s website, www.davittsgaa.com, and social media to enable online purchases. The book will also be on sale in the Spar and Centra shops and Healthcare West Pharmacy in Ballindine; and Daly’s Newsagents, Hillside Service Station and SuperValu in Claremorris.
The deadline for public input to the review of access junctions on to the N17, between Castlemagarrett and Barnacarroll, is December 10th.
The review came about following the tragic accidents on the road in 2024.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Mayo County Council conducted a full safety review and has proposed a number of recommendations which have now gone to public consultation. These can be viewed at the Mayo County Council offices in Claremorris.
Five new right-turning lanes are proposed for the following junctions with the N17: Barnycarroll/Loughaunnaman, Old Knock Road (Ballinphuill/Drumneen South,) Ballinsmaula (towards the Abbey,) Golf Course Road and the Petrol Filling Station.
The review also proposes to close-off a number of roads from access to the N17. The proposed closures are at Shanvaghera – second entrance (L29189,) top of Barnycarroll Hill/Rockfield (L15037), Ballinsmaula Road (Back road – Knock side of Abbey - L55517), road into Drumneen South (L55517), Eskerlevally Road (L5551), Castlegar Road (L55513), Boherduff Road/also known as Bog Road (L55512), and Garryduff junction (Ballindine side of the Golf Course junction - L25116).
Claremorris Soccer Club will hold their annual Kevin O’Brien Memorial Sports Quiz in the McWilliam Park Hotel on Friday, November 29th.
The quiz will kick off at 8pm and a table of four costs €50.
Curam Claremorris is offering a four-week craft-making class, starting tomorrow morning, Wednesday, November 20th.
The projects to be undertaken are a Decorated Lantern on week one, Box Christmas Card (week two,) a Hoop Table Decoration (week three,) and a Door Wreath (week four).
The classes will be held from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday, November 20th and 27th and December 4th and 11th. The cost of the course is €25 and it is supported by Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim Educational Training Board. For bookings (which are essential), telephone 094-9362096.
The Claremorris AFC 50/50 draw was won last week by Colman Warde. Colman collected €583 on his online ticket.
The annual general meeting of Garrymore GAA Club was held last week in Garrymore Hall and the following officers were elected: Patrons: Fr Flynn and Fr Murphy; President: Johnny Monaghan; Chairperson: Pat Hession; Vice-Chairperson: Mary Lydon; Secretary: Mary Lydon; Vice-Secretary: Laura Commins; Treasurer: Elaine Gildea; Assistant Treasurer: Jamie Burke; PRO: Sharon Corcoran; Registrar: Laura Commins; Oifigeach Na Gaeilge: Fintan Forde' Alcohol and Substance, Health and Wellbeing Officer: Jamie Burke; Children's Officer: Colm Walsh; County Board Delegate: John Farragher; South Board Delegate: Padraic Corcoran; Coaching Officer: Fintan Jennings; Designated Liaison Person: Mary Lydon.
Ballincollig in County Cork was the overall winner of the SuperValu Tidy Towns recently. The town is a suburb of Cork city – being five kilometres from the city centre. It has a population of 20,000.
Paddy Clarke, originally from Ballykinave, Claremorris, is vice-chair of the Ballincollig Tidy Towns committee. Paddy originally worked in Dublin before moving to Cork in 1980.
So what was Ballincollig’s secret? How did they win the overall title?
“We do what every group does, I suppose,” Paddy told the . “We clean litter. We plant and maintain flowers. We put out window boxes. We keep the grass and shrubs tidy. We clean kerbs. We work as a team and we have monthly committee meetings to decide what we are doing for the next few weeks.”
Paddy said that Ballincollig had one advantage over some other towns that entered the competition.
“One thing that’s going for us is we don’t have the problem of dereliction in Ballincollig. Property is in high demand in the town. There are a lot of jobs in the area so accommodation is scarce.”
The recent Lions Club Table Quiz raised in excess of €2,000 for the Claremorris Dance Memory Club.
Speaking to the , Lions President Melissa Walsh said the Lions was delighted with the response, and the money raised.
“We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported our Trivia Night,” Melissa said. “We would like to thank the businesses who provided sponsorship of prizes and all donations. All funds raised will support people with dementia and their families over the next year. And a huge shout out to our amazing MC, Ethan Jordan.”
Melissa said the Claremorris and District Lions Club is a non-profit organisation.
“The members are ordinary people from the community, who give their time freely to serve their community and beyond, through fundraising, support and aid. Members are always ready to help, locally and worldwide. 100% of funds raised go to worthy causes.”
Claremorris Handball Club is hosting a 25 Drive fundraiser for the club on Wednesday, December 4th, in the GAA Complex. There will be a raffle and loads of spot prizes on offer. Tickets are €10.
The club would greatly appreciate all support for their fundraiser.
The MJ Flood Group Under-16 'B' Ladies GAA Cup Final was won by Claremorris on a scoreline of 7-11 to 1-6 against Swinford Killasser last week.
The Claremorris team was: Amy Wallace; Alisha Slattery, Ella Fitzgerald (captain), Emma Heffernan; Shauna Charles, Laura McDonnell, Aoife Walsh; Rachel Murphy, Chloe Connolly; Katie McDonnell, Áine Lynn, Aisling Leydon; Alanna Kelly, Mary Ann Ward, Zainab Naeem. Subs: Ruby Jennings, Annie Killeen, Kate Hanley, Emma Murphy, Rachel Clarke, Rebecca McDonnell, Faye Walsh, Aoibhinn Cribbon, Sive Flanangan, Emma Higgins. Management: Ernie Lynn, Damien Heffernan, Naiomh Higgins, Laura Higgins and Caileen Meehan.
The Player of the Match award went to Aine Lynn. Team captain Ella Fitzgerald accepted the cup on behalf of her team.
Mayo County Council and the St Colman’s Cemetery Committee need your co-operation and assistance.
An unusual practice has been ongoing in the graveyard that the initial timber grave marking posts are reset along the right-side border of the graveyard. In addition, there are a number of trees and shrubs planted along with the crosses in memory of loved ones.
The Council and Committee kindly ask that these practices stop and seek removal of the aforementioned by the end of January 2025 please. All remaining materials will be carefully removed and stored off-site for a short period for collection.
Being aware that the cemetery is a special place, a series of enhancement works are planned, and funding is being sought for these.
"We appreciate your support, and we all aspire to have a tidy and clean graveyard in Claremorris," they said in a statement.
Claremorris Tidy Towns latest project is nearly complete. New 'Welcome' signs for the town have been erected on three approach roads so far.
They have been made and designed locally by Damien Fahey Steel Fabrication and the team at MW Design and Print.
Pauline Flynn, speaking on behalf of the Claremorris Tidy Towns Committee, expressed its sincere thanks to Cllr Richard Finn for his continued support under GMA Funding and also thanked former county councillor Tom Connolly who has been a loyal supporter of Claremorris Tidy Towns Group with GMA funding for this project and their previous projects.
Míle buíochas freisin goes to the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge for their expert guidance and generous donation to this project. Sincere thanks are also extended to Micky Nally and his team at Clár IRD for their support with the installation of these signs and for the support given by Mayo County Council.
The eighth edition of , the annual journal of Claremorris Historical Society, will be launched this Friday, November 22nd.
Well-known historian and genealogist, Gerard Delaney, will launch this year’s edition at 7.45pm in Claremorris Library and refreshments will be served. The book will also be available from the usual outlets in Claremorris.
Priced at just €10, and featuring many rare photographs, will once again make an ideal Christmas gift for Claremorris people at home and abroad.
Over 4,000 Irish students from 352 schools across the island of Ireland have demonstrated their innovation and ingenuity through 2,069 project entries submitted for the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2025.
Tackling a broad range of topics relating to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the 550 shortlisted projects will represent their schools and local communities at the BTYSTE, taking place at the RDS Dublin from January 8-11 next.
Locally, Mount St Michael students, Ema, Simona and Huria, are thrilled that their project Evolve Era has made it to the exhibition. Their project is an AI-powered app designed to track medical symptoms and aid in diagnosis using advanced machine learning.
As part of their work, they are collecting data by way of an online survey. Their goal is to gather 1,000 responses. The survey can be completed online and only takes a minute to fill out. Every survey completed will help them collect valuable data for their research and gets them closer to achieving their target.
Fiona Concannon was the winner of the GAA 50/50 last week. Fiona won €910 with a ticket bought in Gilligan’s. The draw continues weekly, with tickets on sale in pubs and at retail outlets around the town.
A meeting was held in Garrymore last October with a view to setting up a Garrymore GAA Healthy Club. A number of ideas were suggested at that meeting including a Ladies Gym Class, Couch to 5k, Rounders team, among others.
A six-week Ladies Gym programme is currently ongoing every Tuesday and Thursday evening. The club thanks everyone who signed up for this programme.
Garrymore has now formed a Rounders team. Rounders is a fun mixed sport. Anyone interested in taking part can contact the club's social media pages. A practice session takes place on Sunday evenings at 5pm. Newcomers are always welcome.
Garrymore GAA Club is now a smoke and vape-free GAA Club. The club asks all members and supporters to refrain from smoking and vaping on its grounds at all times.
November Mass for the deceased members of Garrymore GAA Club will take place on Wednesday, November 27th, at 7pm in Garrymore Hall.
Darren Forde, coordinator of the Hollymount, Carras, Robeen Parish CFR and AED Group, has set up a fundraising page to raise funds for the upkeep of the seven AEDs that are located around the area.
The group covers a 10km radius from Hollymount which takes in all of Ballinrobe town and part of Claremorris town. All funds will be used for future purchases and maintenance of the seven community defibrillators, which can cost thousands. When any AED needs replacement, they must be in a position to replace it immediately. To do so, they need your help, support and funds for this.
The seven AEDs are now all located outside in new heated boxes at Robeen Church, Roundfort Church, Carras Church, Lehinch National School, Hollymount GAA dressing room, Hollymount Hall, Garrymore GAA, plus one mobile AED (privately owned and in an EMT’s car – this will be used wherever needed).
The CFR group is currently made up of 50 CFR-trained volunteers, covering all the areas above. In addition to that, they have a specially trained team of six community CFR, consisting of five 999 emergency text response nurses and one EMT who will all receive a text from Ambulance Control simultaneously and at the same time the ambulance receives the local emergency call. They are hoping that one or more of the 999 responder volunteers will be at the patient well before the ambulance arrives to provide life-saving support.
Funds and support are very important in keeping this voluntary service on track. People can donate through the Hollymount, Carras, Robeen Parish CFR and AED Group GoFundMe page.
Noel Tierney, of Mayfield, Claremorris and formerly of Carrownageeha, Milltown, Co Galway, is widely regarded as one of the greatest full-backs in the history of Gaelic football.
He began his football career with Garrymore in South Mayo, but his exceptional talent was quickly recognised by Galway officials. Although he played with Garrymore due to his father’s connection with the club, Noel lived on the Galway side of the border, which led to him joining the Milltown club in his native parish.
While he narrowly missed out on a county minor medal with Carras, Noel went on to achieve great success with Milltown, winning a North Board medal, and later enjoyed a stellar career with the Galway senior team. In 1960, he helped Galway capture two Connacht titles and an All-Ireland title, cementing his place in the county’s football history.
As a key player in Galway's senior team, Noel won five Connacht titles and played an integral role in Galway's three-in-a-row All-Ireland victories in 1964, 1965, and 1966. In addition to his provincial and national successes, he earned a National Football League medal in 1965 and two Railway Cup titles with Connacht in 1967 and 1969, the latter of which he captained.
Noel’s individual accolades include two Cú Chulainn awards and the prestigious Texaco Footballer of the Year award in 1964. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Galway football, he was inducted into the Galway Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and was selected as full-back on the Galway Football Team of the Millennium in 1999.
Beyond his inter-county achievements, Noel also won a Galway Junior Football Championship with Milltown in 1961 and a Galway Senior Football Championship title in 1971.
Noel passed away peacefully last week, surrounded by his family, in the loving care of the team at the Cladagh Ward at University Hospital Galway. He was predeceased by his beloved son Fergal, parents Martin and Mary, brothers James, Fr Peter and Michael and sister Sr Margaret.
Noel will be sadly missed by his loving family - his wife Peggy, son Martin, daughters Aoife and Mairéad, daughter-in-law Olivia, sons-in-law Sean and Paul, nine grandchildren, brother Sean, sisters Bridie, Kathleen, Nora, Teresa and Ann, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Noel was laid to rest at Kilgevrin Cemetery after Funeral Mass at St Joseph's Church, Milltown.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Claremorris South Responder Group has published a list of the locations of defibrillators in the town. The list, which may not be exhaustive, includes the following locations:
Killeen's Bar, Lower James Street F12 FH27 (Business hours), Griffiths Garage, Lower James Street F12 H7F8 (Business hours), PJ Byrne's Bar F12 PD85 (Public Access), Certa, Station Road F12 VY99 (access office hours only), Train Station F12 D892 (Business hours), Claremorris Leisure Centre F12 P667 (Business hours), St Colman's Church F12 A562 (Church hours), Tesco, Silverbridge Centre F12E4P8 (Business hours), Alan Feeley Park (Public Access defibrillator) F12 W1Y9, Colts Rugby pitch (Public Access), GAA Complex, Ballyhaunis Road (Business hours), N60 Main Balla Road F12VW62, Parkatelva (Public Access Defibrillator), The Red Cross (Public Access), Electric Skyline (Public Access), Primary Care Centre (Business hours), Clare Lake (Public Access), Dr Towley’s Surgery, Ballyhaunis Road (Public Access), Mc William Park Hotel, Kilcoman Road (Business hours), Claremorris Garda Station F12 VY68 (Public Access), Gilligan's Bar, The Square F12 WF67 (Public Access), Clare Lake Public Access, Brookhill R331 Regional Road, 35 meters south of postcode F12Y6C0 (Public Access), Lloyds, The Square, F12 E670 (Business hours), Mayfield Entrance to College Green Estate F12NP96 (Public Access), Mayfield Entrance to Kilbeg Estate F12E8W8 (Public Access).
Cut this out and keep it - knowing these locations may prove a life-saver in the future.
The fourth annual Facefield 'Remember Me' 6K Run and Walk takes place this Sunday, November 24th, at 2pm.
The event is open to competitors of all abilities who wish to walk, jog or run the scenic route around the lake. It is organised each year by the Facefield Community Group and proceeds are in aid of the Mayo-Roscommon Hospice Foundation.
The entry fee is €10 payable on the day from 1pm while one can enter online by going on to the Eventbrite.ie website. The event headquarters is Facefield National School (Eircode F12 TX 37).
The run/walk is just one part of the day’s proceedings which will also include a wreath-laying ceremony and switching on of the Christmas lights by Enda Kenny. There certainly will be a festive atmosphere with a Children's Santa Disco at 3.30pm with Santa expected to arrive around 4pm.
Refreshments will be served afterwards. For further information, contact Brendan at 087-2941227.
American fast-food chain Wendy’s has announced a partnership with Corrib Oil, the Claremorris-founded service station and energy provider, to expand into the Irish market. Wendy’s plans to open 10 new restaurants across Ireland by 2027, creating approximately 300 jobs. The locations, including standalone outlets and those at Corrib’s service stations, will be revealed in the new year.
Founded in Claremorris in 1987, Corrib Oil currently operates 38 convenience stores in 17 counties. Through its partnership with Wendy’s, Corrib Oil plans to grow its workforce from 1,150 to 1,450 employees as it enters the quick-service restaurant sector.
Eugene Dalton, CEO of Corrib Oil, highlighted the alignment between Wendy’s and the company’s values, calling the partnership a “significant milestone” in its growth strategy.
Wendy’s, which operates over 7,200 restaurants globally, plans to source Irish beef for its operations and focus on local ingredient sourcing where possible. The company’s expansion into Ireland follows its successful growth in the UK and other European markets, where it aims to compete with established fast-food chains like Supermac’s.
Corrib Oil already has fast food partnerships with another Claremorris company, Blue Thunder, at their outlets in Roscommon and Tralee.
