Local notes: End of an era as popular teacher retires
Patricia Healy Ruane has retired after more than 30 years of service to St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford. She received a presentation from Aidan Flatley, on behalf of the parents association, and school principal Mr Daire McManamon.
The end of an era was marked at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford recently as long-standing staff member, Mrs Patricia Healy-Ruane, retired after more than 30 years of service to St Joseph’s.
The school community bade a fond farewell to Patricia who taught languages at St Joseph’s. Her passion and love for German was always especially evident, and many former students will have fond memories of her classes. She also played a large role in many other parts of school life, including coordinating the school choir, the Student Council, sports days, examination coordinator, and much more.
Staff, past and present, and representatives from the Parent’s Association gathered on her last day at school, to thank Patricia. She and her family are wished every health and happiness in her retirement.
Well done to Foxford’s Kevin Bourke who put on a great display at the Special Olympics Ireland Games which concluded in Dublin last week. In an outstanding achievement, Kevin won both silver and bronze medals for bowling and was afforded a warm welcome home with a fine bonfire in Currinara to coincide with Fr Costello’s blessing of a community seat.
There was plenty of activity on the river for the week ending Sunday, June 21, with Foxford Salmon Anglers reporting 24 salmon caught across the seven days, with prawn, worm and bubble and fly all doing well, and news that shoals and pods of grilse and springers were seen running the system.
Congratulations is extended to James Forester, Straide, who is the most recent winner of the S&F United 50-50 weekly draw. James won a jackpot of €100.
Sympathies are extended to the family and friends of the late Adelle Walsh, whose funeral Mass was celebrated in St Michael’s Church, Foxford last Friday morning, June 26.
Adelle, of Massbrook South, Bofeenaun, and formerly of Manchester, passed peacefully in the gentle care of the staff of Mayo Hospice, Castlebar.
She will be dearly and lovingly missed by her husband Kevin and her adored daughter and sons Kelsey, Kian, Kaiden and Keaton, her heartbroken parents Ruth and Gary, her sisters Angela and Lyndsey, her parents-in-law Julie and Michael, her brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Adelle lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home on Thursday evening and following her funeral Mass, the funeral proceeded to Shannon Crematorium for her committal service.
May she rest in peace.
Pride was the bedfellow of heartache following the Mayo Football League’s U13 Girls Shield Final which was played at United Park in Westport. S&F United twice took the lead before eventually pipped by a late goal in what ended as a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Ballyglass. Lucy Durkan and Kayleigh McDermott scored S&F’s goals.
Meanwhile, United’s U11 boys enjoyed a 5-0 win over Kilmurry at Green Road. William Hughes struck a hat-trick and there was a goal apiece by Charlie Burke and Evan Kelly.
The Premier Division side is still searching for its first points of the season after losing 5-2 at home to promotion chasing Castlebar Celtic ‘B’. The S&F goal-scorers were James McNamara and Damian Frontczak.
TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, has made an appeal for the provision of a Local Link or similar rural transport service to connect residents in Foxford, Bohola and Swinford. Deputy Lawless has said the need for the link to essential services such as schools, churches, community centres and local towns is an urgent one.
“It is particularly needed for older people and those without access to private transport,” he remarked.
“I would like to see funding or pilot schemes being considered to address this gap in public transport provision.”
Citylink has confirmed that it has applied to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for an additional stop in Straide on the new Citylink 430 route. The application is now progressing through the approval process. This progress follows a tremendous community effort, including a campaign that has gathered over 450 online signatures and 150 physical signatures, highlighting the strong local demand for improved public transport services. The village is currently without any bus service.
The Admiral William Brown Society wishes to extend thanks to the many people, groups and businesses who contributed to such a fitting acknowledgement of the 249th anniversary of Admiral Brown’s birth in Foxford on Saturday, June 20.
To Fr Padraig Costello and Canon Andrea Wills who welcomed everyone so warmly to St Michael’s Church, Foxford. O’Hara’s Bakery for their sponsorship. Mary and Anthony Ruane of R&R Nurseries for their help every year. The Town Enhancement Group who had the town looking splendid. Austin Meehan and Mark McDonnell and their teams of workers. Foxford Brass and Reed band, singers Bernadette Ruddy and Fiona Jones, and musicians Criodhe and Laoise Doherty, Seán Healy and Breege Gleeson. Cllr Neil Cruise, Minister Dara Calleary, Cathaoirleach Seán Carey and his fellow councillors Gerry Murray and Mark Duffy enjoying the event. Argentine Ambassador HE Ana Laura Cachaza and Ambassador designate HE Olive Hempenstall. David Beatty, who captured the event wonderfully with his photo presentations, Sean Flynn for his support and photos of the event. Juanco and Liam for the fabulous content created over the weekend. To volunteers young and old that helped in so many ways. To the Admiral Brown Hall committee for their use of the hall. And to the people of Foxford and those that came from all over Ireland and the world; the stories shared reminds of the beautiful poignant history Foxford shares with Argentina and the importance of friendship across an ocean.
Turbo triumph
There were great celebrations at the National Children’s Games held in Tullamore recently as Foxford’s own William Hughes teamed up with his clubmate Conor Nolan from Swinford AC to take the silver medal in the turbo javelin. Congratulations to both.
Meals can be provided from Monday to Saturday by the Foxford Meals on Wheels service at a cost of €7 per meal. To avail of this service please contact Geraldine on 087-9040463 or Carmel on 086-6064670.
There’s a busy week ahead for Moy Davitts teams. Today (Tuesday), Moy Davitts have home advantage against Swinford in the East Mayo Minor Football Championship (7.30pm). On Wednesday, July 1 the under-12 team travels to play Tourmakeady in Group 1 of the Homeland U12 Summer League (7pm) while on Thursday evening, Moy Davitts host Ballaghaderreen-Kilmovee in the East Mayo U16 Championship (7.30pm). On Saturday, July 4 in U8 Go Games, Moy Davitts will make the short trip to Swinford an 11am start while at 7pm, Moy Davitts will visit Aghamore in their final game of this season’s AbbVie Mayo SFL Division 2. They will hope to make it five wins on the spin, with their most recent outing seeing Moy Davitts win 4-14 to 1-20 away to Ballinrobe.
A lovely jackpot prize of €518 was won by Michael Maloney, Foxford, in last week’s Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw. Tickets are available to purchase in the usual local outlets and via the club app.
Moy Davitts is seeking strong support for its sale of Mayo GAA Club Development Draw tickets. This annual county board draw requires that Moy Davitts must sell 50 tickets and return 100% of the sales revenue to Mayo GAA after which 90% of all additional sales revenue generated by the club stays with the club. Therefore it is in the interest of Moy Davitts GAA to sell as many extra tickets as it can because it is one of the club’s most important fundraisers of the year.
All money raised through these ticket sales is re-generated back into the club facilities for the benefit of all club members from Moy Davitts GAA, Moy Davitts LGFA, Dads and Lads and the GAA for All teams.
Development draw tickets cost €100 each and each ticket is entered into six draws where a top prize of €10,000 is on offer in draws one and six and €5,000 in draws 2 to 5, with €1,000 the second prize in ever draw and up to 30 cash prizes up for grabs in every draw.
This year, however, there is also an additional ‘early bird’ draw on Sunday, July 19 in MacHale Park and offers supporters the opportunity to win a fantastic range of prizes while supporting their local club: 1st Centre Parcs Voucher €1,000; 2nd Elverys Voucher €500; 3rd Elverys Voucher €250; 4th Elverys Voucher €250; 5th Elverys Voucher €250.
Moy Davitts would be extremely grateful if club members would purchase a Club Development Draw ticket at https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QFH3FXKG or by contacting any of the club executive.
Join the Turlough Poetry Collective for a special afternoon of poetry readings and music with piper Diarmaid Moynihan, from 2pm to 3pm on Saturday, July 4 at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar. Seven poets from across the west of Ireland will read on the day, celebrating creativity and bringing the written word to life. This is a free event but booking is required.
Visit museum.ie for booking details or telephone 094-90-31751.
