Local Notes: Foxford musicians in Castlebar concert
Members of Knockmore Foróige at the Mayo Foroige Ball at the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport. Picture: Alison Laredo
Home to Mayo proudly presents a celebration of Irish culture, music and entertainment at centre stage in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar this coming Friday night, May 24. Featuring a whole host of local, national and international musicians, singers and dancers, amongst the line-up is Musical Director Stephen Doherty and his band featuring fellow Foxford musicians David Doocey, Patrick Doocey and Kevin Doherty. The show will also feature renowned Irish musician, comedian and social media sensation Garron Noone alongside Ballinrobe’s Musical Society’s lead stars, theatrical duo Niall Conway and Eve Garavan. Travelling from New York City, Castlebar native Dawn Doherty is bringing her Academy of Irish Music to perform alongside Mayo’s Music Generation Pipe and Harp ensemble. Also performing on the night are the Wild Atlantic Way Dance Troupe and Mayo’s Male Voice Choir. Prestigious awards will be presented alongside special performances from three legends of entertainment on the night: Johnny McEvoy, Frank McCaffrey and Alan Clarke.
“This is going to be an extraordinary gathering of Irish talent celebrating Mayo’s great musicians, singers, dancers and entertainers,” Stephen Doherty commented.
Early booking is advisable as a great evening’s entertainment is guaranteed. Check out ticketmaster.ie or the Royal Theatre for tickets. Tickets cost €25 excluding booking fee.
Foxford is to play its part in Mayo County Council’s ‘Transatlantic Cultural Weekend’ this coming Saturday, May 25 when it welcomes the Dawn Doherty Academy of Music from New York.
Dawn, originally from Castlebar, and her academy are past visitors to Foxford and will partake in a number of workshops that are open to local musicians and singers as well. All of the events are free of charge.
In the Moy Hotel from 11am to 1pm, Siobhan O’Donnell will conduct a singing workshop which is open to all ages while at the same time, David Doocey will take a mixed instrumental workshop for musicians aged 12 and over. To register for either workshop, text 086-3305887.
There will be finger food in the hotel at 1pm followed by an afternoon session of music, song and dance with local and visiting artists, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Underage teams of Moy Davitts GAA Club experienced a week of mixed results this past week. There were goals aplenty in the U16 League Division 4 clash with Achill last Thursday where Moy Davitts made home advantage count to beat Achill by 7-5 to 3-13, having left led 4-4 to 2-6 at half-time.
The minors were unfortunate to lose by two points to Naomh Padraig in the County Division 3 Cup. The game in Killala finished 0-15 to 2-7 in the home side’s favour. Also beaten were Moy Davitts’ U14 footballers; they faced Swinford in Division 2 and despite the game being all square at half-time, it was Swinford who triumphed by 5-6 to 1-12.
Meanwhile, both Moy Davitts’ teams at U12 level enjoyed highly competitive games against Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin in Group 6 of the County Grading League.
Mayo GAA officials were on hand to help launch the Moy Davitts GAA Club Plan 2024 to 2027, at the Sheridan Centre in Bohola on Sunday, May 12. The occasion marked the end of a lot of hard work and effort by the club executive who were also reliant on the input of the club’s members to compile the plan, which will act as a blueprint for the club’s development in the coming years. The club, in particular, expressed its thanks to Mary Prenty (Planning and Training Officer, Mayo GAA Board), Willie Keaveney and Gerry McNulty (Club Plan Facilitators) for their support and assistance.
€660 was the amount won by Anne McLoughlin, Foxford in last week’s Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw. Tickets for the weekly draw are available in the usual outlets and via the club App.
Six springers, most of them weighing double figures, were reported as caught on the Foxford Salmon Anglers beat for the week ending Sunday, May 12. The arrival of more anglers helped to increase the catch rate and the downpours of last week are expected to keep conditions good.
The funeral took place in St Thomas’ Church, Callow last Friday, May 17 of Patrick (Paddy) McNulty of Craggagh, Foxford. Paddy passed peacefully last week at St Attracta's residence, Charlestown.
Predeceased by his brother John (Dublin), Paddy will be sadly missed by his brothers Michael (Dublin) and Joe (Foxford), his nephews John and Tommy and his niece Ann, in-laws, relatives neighbours and many friends.
Paddy lay in repose at Clarke’s Funeral Home last Thursday evening and following his funeral Mass, burial took place in Craggagh Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
In association with Cruinniú na nÓg, a four-week singing club will run at the Foxford Leisure Centre, beginning this Thursday, May 23 and continuing on Thursdays May 23, June 6 and June 13. The club is open to national school children and is free of charge, with each meeting getting underway at 5.30pm and lasting 45 minutes.
To register, simply text 086-3999774.
St Joseph’s Secondary School has congratulated two of its former students who recently received Entrance Scholarships from UCD. At a special conferring ceremony in Belfield, Dublin, Anna Dempsey and Kayla Dunleavy received their awards. Anna is currently studying Engineering, and Kayla is studying Architecture. The pair are wished continued success in their studies in the years ahead.
There was plenty of action on the pitch this week, both home and away, for S&F United’s underage teams.
On the girls front, the U15 experienced the highs and the lows, bouncing back from a 4-0 defeat at home to Ballina Town (who play in a division above) in the opening round of the Mayo Shield to then travel to Mount Falcon last Thursday evening and beat neighbours Conn Rangers 5-0 in the league. There were two goals apiece by Addison McDonnell and Clodagh Fahy with the other goal struck by Milena Domagala.
S&F’s U13 girls were also in league action at Green Road but despite a very determined effort, and a goal by young Lucy Durkan, they fell to a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Fahy Rovers.
There was better luck for the U13 boys team whose game away to Kiltimagh/Knock United went right down to the wire. The game was finely poised at a goal apiece until Eoghan Jordan bagged his second of the game on the stroke of full-time to secure S&F all three points on a 2-1 scoreline.
There was a significant victory for the U15 boys ‘A’ team in the Mayo Premier Division last Wednesday as they came from a goal down to beat their hosts Castlebar Celtic 3-1. Calum Costello scored two of the goals with the other finished by Jamie Loughney. The U15 ‘B’ team were also victorious on the same night when entertaining Castlebar Town. Four goals by Dara Gaughan, a hat-trick by Jonah Gallagher and one from the boot of Leo Lavarde saw them to an 8-2 win.
The winner of last week’s S&F United 50-50 draw was Josie Munnelly, c/o Louise McHugh, Foxford. Josie scooped the jackpot of €100.
Following on from last year’s hugely successful Summer Camp organised and hosted by Knockmore Foxford Boxing Club, pre-registration for KFC Summer Camp ’24 is now open. The camp will take place at Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre on six Wednesdays across July and August, between the hours of 10am and 3pm. The dates are July 16, 23 and 30, and August 6, 20 and 27.
Numbers are strictly limited to 20 children so early registration is essential.
The fee is €20 per day or €100 for all six days. To pre-register, forward names to 086-8373646.
