Local Notes: Data reveals highs and lows of weather in Erris during 2023
Pictured at the Mayo Comhairle na nÓg Youth Conference were students from St Brendan's College, Belmullet, with their teacher Howard Treacy. Picture: Trish Forde
The following are some selected data from Met Eireann's weather station in Belmullet. The data was recorded from January 1st to December 27th, 2023, and it reveals a very interesting picture of weather conditions in Erris during the past year.
The highest gust of 108km/h was recorded on January 12, 2023. The yearly rainfall was 1,216.7mm, which was 2.3% lower than average. This figure might seem surprising to some as it was a very wet summer but there was also a period of drought in May/June. The highest daily rainfall total was on November 13th when 24.2mm fell.
The maximum air temperature was 26.2°C and that was recorded on August 7th. The minimum air temperature was -2.3°C, which was recorded on January 17th. The lowest grass temperature (-6.5°C) was also recorded on January 17th, but the same grass temperature was recorded again on December 3rd.
The total number of hours of sunshine in the year was 1,287.6, which was 1% higher than average. The highest daily total was 15.5 hours, which was recorded on May 30th and again on May 31st at the height of the early-summer heatwave.
There were 18 days in 2023 when fog occurred, three days when either thunder or lightning occurred, nine days when gales occurred and 23 days when snow, sleet or hail occurred.
Many thanks to Michael Gerard Reilly (Platt Reilly Ltd and the Platt Reilly Foundation) for choosing the Erris Family and Community Support Centre as one of the beneficiaries of the foundation’s charity cycle from Malin to Mizen Head in July 2023.
Michael cycled 690km and raised an incredible €2,635.94. He wanted the funds to go to local services and so he chose the Erris Family and Community Support Centre, which is going from strength to strength thanks to the support of so many people, near and far.
These funds will be used to support the development and delivery of projects and supports in Erris.
Volunteers from the centre had the pleasure of visiting the home of Linda and Wesley Talbot recently to see their beautiful Christmas open house!
Linda chose the Erris-based counselling service delivered by North West STOP as the donor for funds raised on the recent open day. A total of €502 was presented to Erris FCSC, received on behalf of NW STOP. These funds will support the continued delivery of a free locally-based counselling service.
Thanks to Linda, Wesley and their family for opening up their home for this very worthy cause, and giving the volunteers such a kind welcome. Linda was delighted to be able to support this important service and wished to thank everyone who visited and donated.
There are now two counsellors operating two days a week from the centre and are available to work with both adults and adolescents.
If you need support you can contact North West STOP to access this free, confidential service where you can speak safely about loss, stress, loneliness, conflict or any other pain in your life.
The centre is also delighted to introduce our first staff member. Leanne Barrett is new in the post as the centre’s co-ordinator. Leanne and the rest of the team at the centre are excited about this next chapter of their project and looking forward to shaping a centre that reflects our community and its needs in 2024.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support the centre and who helped it to get to this point.
There was no winner of the jackpot of €11,200 when the draw was held in the Kilcommon Community Development Lotto on December 23rd last. The numbers drawn were 6, 19, 21 and 25.
The house prize of €100 was won by Marie McNulty, Belderrig and the two €30 offline winners were Boris Pries, Belderrig and Michael Cosgrove, Rossport. The two €30 online winners were Kathy Ó'Toole, Belcarra, Castlebar and Amy Healy, Muinginaune.
Next week’s jackpot is €11,400 and the draw will take place in the Anglers Rest, Glenamoy on this evening (January 3rd).
Karate Iorrais would like to thank Mayo Sports Partnership for the grant they received recently that partly funded two new floors of mats. It was very welcomed, especially when holding the international seminar recently.
The club would like to thank most sincerely the incredibly generous anonymous donation they received too. This donation not only covers the remaining balance of the mats, but it will help the cost of the next bus trip as well.
As a club that is growing in numbers, the extra tatami mats are especially needed. Club leaders are so grateful for the support that they have received, which in turn allows them to help the members reach their full potential.
Thank you to Jarlath Mangan and all at Mocha Beans who kindly donated to the club again this year. The club leaders decided to put the donation towards a gear bag for each family going to the National Finals. Thank you so much to Jarlath for all his support throughout the year. It's very much appreciated.
Well done to Michael Dunleavy and Belmullet Bikes at Corclough West who, over the past year, has worked extremely hard behind the scenes to bring his business to the next level.
With his new showroom open just over two years, Michael is now thrilled to announce that from this week he will be adding bike hire to the list of services. Several bikes are available for use. He also has a bike transporter to be able to pick up and drop off bikes from locations to suit customers.
Thanks to everyone for your support.
The committee of Erris Agricultural Show would like to thank everyone who participated and helped with its Christmas Lights Parade on Saturday, December 16th. They would like to give a special mention to Liam Shevlin who donated sweets and prizes for the children’s section of the parade.
Thanks to everyone who supported the recent annual Christmas Draw which took place on Saturday, December 23rd. The first prize of a Berg Go Kart was won by Luca Nallen, Morahan and Niamh Keane, Gladree.
Committee members of Belmullet 200 have a new pump cap which has been specially commissioned in cast iron to match the cap which once graced the town pump located near the roundabout on the corner of Main Street. The original cap has been missing for several decades.
Belmullet 200 would like to thank the team at Athy Foundry for their diligent work in reproducing an exact copy to replace the missing cap.
It is hoped that the new cap will be fitted in January 2024 once restoration works to remove cement infill from the original base have been undertaken.
This work is proudly supported by the Hometown Architect Belmullet Project, through the Irish Architecture Foundation.
In December 1882, Belmullet received its first piped water supply from the springs at Carne. This supply replaced the use of the freshwater well situated on the shoreline of Broadhaven Bay, below Tallagh Hill, known locally as ‘Mussels’ Well’.
Seven on-street pumps were located throughout the town for the convenience of the public. The entire town’s population relied on these pumps for clean potable water. These sites soon became centres of social interaction, places to catch up with the latest news and town gossip.
Many of these pumps continued to serve their function into the 20th century. However, with improvements in water supply and direct connections to dwellings and businesses, the pumps fell into disuse. Hundreds of these pumps were once scattered across the country in cities, towns and village centres, but today, few remain as reminders of our not-so-distant past.
The cast iron pump which remains on Carter Square retains its foundry mark on its base. The pump was fabricated by Glenfield & Kennedy Limited, based in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The fitting of the pumps in 1882 was carried out by a Mr Ellicott from Manulla who was awarded the contract to connect the springs of Carne to the town with a five-inch diameter pipe. The total cost of the works in 1882 was £1,442.
A massive thank you to Red Connelly and daughter Katie, as well as Bridget and Martin, for entertaining the shoppers at Centra Belmullet with seasonal carols on Christmas Eve, thereby raising money for Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. Over €1,830 was raised including a generous donation from Centra Belmullet, who also supplied hot drinks to the singers.
Huge thanks to everyone for coming out to the tournament recently. Well done to all the players who were brilliant under difficult weather conditions!
Special mentions on the day to Aaron, Johnny, Paraic and Phil for helping out and Jackie for providing food after the tournament!
Thanks to everyone who donated on the day, €400 was raised for the Little Blue Heroes Foundation. Thanks also to James Monaghan for coming out to present the cup to the winning teams in memory of his brother Kieran. Hope everyone has a great new year and we’ll see you all in 2024.
The first Tracey Moran Memorial Darts Competition will take place on Sunday, January 14th, in Healy’s of Glenamoy.
Taking names from 3pm and starting at 4pm sharp, €10 entry fee on the day with a raffle on the night with all proceeds going to Cara Iorrais. Competition is confined to Erris players. Names can be entered by calling the pub or 087-1348796.
The club awards will be held on next Friday, January 5th, in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel starting at 7pm. The club will reflect and award great success from underage to senior level over the 2023 season.
