Local notes: Festive session to kickstart Christmas
William Noone was given the honour of switching on the Coolegrane Lights on Sunday, December 8 at the home of Kevin Hughes. All proceeds collected this year will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Sligo. Pictured from left to right are Pat Hughes, Sarah Hughes, Pat Boyle, Brendan Hughes, Cora Naughton, Fr Padraig Costello, Edel Hyland (Multiple Sclerosis), Jack and Maya Lawlor, William and Siofra Noone, and Kevin Hughes.
What better to truly kick off Christmas week than to drop into the festive session of the junior members of Admiral Brown CCÉ which is to take place this coming Friday, December 20 in Cruiser’s Bar, Foxford. The music, song and dance will be in full flight from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Meanwhile, the branch is to hold a fundraising table quiz on Friday, January 17, 2025. The quiz is being organised by youth officer Méabh Hyland and Peter Fox. If any sponsors wish to provide spot prizes, please contact Peter at 089-4135349.
The recent weather-postponed Mayo Ceol an Gheimhridh has been rescheduled to take place in Swinford on Saturday, January 11. Other dates of interest to Admiral Brown CCÉ members in 2025 are as follows: Monday, May 5 – Mayo Fleadh, Ballina (dancing); Saturday and Sunday, May 10/11 – Mayo Fleadh (all other competitions); Friday to Sunday, July 4-6, Connacht Fleadh (venue TBC); Monday to Thursday, August 4-7, Scoil Éigse, Wexford Town; Friday to Sunday, August 8-10, All-Ireland Fleadh, Wexford Town.
Proceeds of last Tuesday’s Cake Sale at Foxford National School are to be used to buy new resources that all students in the school can benefit from. A total of €783.73 was raised by the event which was organised by 5th Class. The baked goods, cakes, buns and breads included, were supplied by parents whose support is very much appreciated.
Congratulations to the most recent winners of the Moy Davitts 50/50 draw – Lynda Kennedy, Bohola, who collected €575 and Caroline Reilly McGlynn, Bohola, who won a jackpot of €272. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by playing on the Moy Davitts GAA club app.
The funeral took place last Wednesday, December 11, of Mary O’Malley, Castlebar Road, Foxford, who passed peacefully at her residence surrounded by her family. Mary, who was in her 91st year, was predeceased by her parents Anthony and Bridget, her brothers Anthony and Paddy and her sister Margaret (Melody).
Originally Mary Sweeney from Carrowkerribla, Attymass, she will be dearly and lovingly missed by her husband Tommie, her daughters Mary Patricia (Murtagh), Teresa and son Tommie, her adored grandchildren Brian, Seán, Paul and Shane, daughter in-law Frances, son in-law Tommy, her nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Mary reposed at Clarke’s Funeral Home, Foxford last Tuesday and following her funeral Mass at St Michael’s Church on Wednesday, burial was at Bonnifinglas Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
If you are looking for an ideal stocking filler this Christmas, you may look no further than the 2025 Calendar that has been produced and launched by the Transition Year students and their Enterprise teachers at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford. The calendar is available for sale for only €7 in various shops around the town of Foxford.
The school wishes to thank all of the sponsors who supported the calendar and encourage people to shop locally this Christmas and support the various business enterprises in the community.
Goals from Emily Coleman, Clodagh Fahy and Shauna Breslin were enough to help the U15 girls soccer team of St Joseph’s, Foxford to victory over Our Lady’s of Belmullet, in the Connacht Cup, last Wednesday.
Excitement is building ahead of the Christmas performances of the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Class pupils of Scoil an Chroí Naofa in Foxford which will take place on Tuesday, December 17 at 7pm in St Michael’s Church, Foxford. In addition, the Third Class Nativity Play will be staged on Saturday, December 21, again at the church, at 7.30pm, which will also feature the school church choir.
Well done to everyone from St Joseph’s Secondary School who contributed to a beautiful school carol service at St Michael’s Church, Foxford last Monday, December 9. This annual event saw the school community gather for a wonderful service that included prayers, carols, seasonal readings and reflections. A special word of thanks to all of the wonderful singers, musicians, readers and candle bearers, to celebrant Fr Padraig, and to the Religion and Music Departments who helped the students prepare for the beautiful Carol Service.
A children’s Christmas Disco is to take place in Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre at 2pm on Sunday, December 22. This free event is being organised by Knockmore-Foxford Boxing Club and is open to everyone. Santa Claus will be making a very special entrance to the disco and there will also be lots of other fun activities for all age groups, including a skipping competition, penalty shootout, basketball shootout and many more ball games. There will be numerous other activities on the day with awards and spot prizes for best performers.
Moy Davitts GAA Club has marked its 50th Anniversary with the publication of a stunning new book which chronicles the half century of its existence – and so much more besides.
The official launch of ‘Moy Davitts – Golden Jubilee 1974-2024’ attracted a large crowd to The Moy Hotel in Foxford on Saturday night, December 7, where the book was officially launched by legendary Mayo footballer and GAA analyst Martin Carney.
If you haven’t seen a copy of the book, then don’t delay. This hugely professional publication features many previously unpublished pictures of people from all corners of the Moy Davitts GAA catchment area as well as some great articles written by past and present club members.
The book is now available for sale in Clarke's Yourstop, Bohola, and in Foxford at McGloin’s Gala, O'Hara's Centra, Gannon's Post Office, Reape’s Filling Station and the Foxford Wollen Mills. It is available to buy in Bookstand (Eason’s) in Ballina and Castlebar and in Castle Bookshop, Castlebar.
The club is encouraging as many people as possible to buy the book for family and friends. The cost is €30 per copy and it can be posted anywhere in Ireland for as little as €6 at your local Post Office. Please contact Annette on 087 6781500 for international posting and packaging details.
At the launch of the book, it was humorously recounted how special guest Martin Carney, then a highly-decorated footballer with the Tir Chonaill county, politely declined local attempts to encourage him to join Moy Davitts when he resided in Cloongee, Foxford during the early years of his move from his native Donegal. He would, of course, go on to enjoy just as successful inter-county career in the green and red of Mayo.
At just over 400-pages, this new hard back, coffee table-style book forensically details the journey from the club’s formation as one junior men’s team under the banner of Bohola GAA in 1974 right through to the entity it is today, where there are 250 players affiliated to the ladies teams alone. It does so through some wonderfully researched articles, many of which have been contributed by former players, managers and officials whose personal memories and reflections are wonderfully complemented by a stunning collection of photographs, many of which appear in public for the very first time.
“This milestone publication is the fruits of five decades of support from the community, voluntary contributions and the endless toil of club members and, of course, the love of Gaelic football and the enduring spirit of the players who represent Moy Davitts each and every year,” said Moy Davitts GAA chairman Brian Hughes.
“A huge amount of work went into this book project during the past 12 months and I want to sincerely thank the members of the committee and everyone else who helped out in any way..
“I am sure that this special publication in this golden jubilee year of Moy Davitts GAA Club will be a source of great pride to all our members and the wider community now and in the years to come,” concluded Hughes.
Among those to attend the official launch were Mayo GAA chairman Seamus Tuohy and secretary Ronan Kirrane, Connacht GAA secretary John Prenty and his wife, newly-elected East Mayo GAA chairperson Mary Prenty.
