Local notes: Foxford musicians prove their worth
Stalwarts of Foxford Brass and Reed Band, Michael Neary, Larry Murray and Eamonn Mangan, were delighted to attend the homecoming celebrations and get to hold the Shanley Cup which band members won as junior champions at the South of Ireland Band Championships which took place in Clonakilty.
Further to the first tranche of results that appeared in last week’s edition, the honours continued to roll in for members of Admiral Brown CCÉ at the Connacht Fleadh Cheoil which was held in Ballinasloe. Indeed the Foxford-based branch of Comhaltás is set to end one of its largest ever delegation of competitors to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann after a raft of tremendous medal-winning performances at the Galway venue.
There was a Fox family treble when Pat Fox won the newly composed songs in English at senior level while nephew Conor Fox won the men’s English singing competition for 15-18 year olds. Conor’s sister, Shóna, joined with the Doherty sisters Laoise and Niamh to take second place in the 15-18 trio competition. Those three and Conor were also part of Admiral Brown’s ‘Glór na Sí’ who under the musical direction of Tom Doherty placed second in the 15-18 céilí band competition.
All of the above have qualified for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is again in Wexford Town this year, as have Liam Jones who won the U12 men's English singing, James Hunter, who placed second in the 15-18 melodeon, John Clarke, who took second in the U12 piano and Julian Hopkins who was second in the U12 storytelling.
As mentioned last week, also Wexford-bound are Croídhe Doherty (12-15 melodeon and sean-nós dancing), Michael McHale (U12 flute, flute slow airs and tin whistle slow airs), Gareth Doyle (U12 fiddle and whistling), Sean Holmes (12-15 mouth organ), Niamh Doherty (15-18 sean-nós dancing) and Peter Fox (senior sean-nós dancing).
Congratulations also to James Gallagher on taking third place in the U12 céilí drums, Anna Clarke on finishing third in the U15 harp and her brother John who was third in the U12 accompaniment, to add to his aforementioned silver medal in the piano.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann runs from August 3 to 10.
Foxford Riverfest will be taking place on the weekend of August 22-24 and a bumper Saturday of music is being planned by the organisers who are aiming to have eleven bands play over the course of eleven hours to mark the eleventh staging of the festival, with styles to suit all tastes.
Another highly anticipated feature of this year’s festival will be the Lantern parade. The festival organisers are inviting anyone who would like to take part in that to attend drumming workshops on the Mondays of August 4th (Bank Holiday),11th and 18th from 7 to 8:30pm at Foxford Leisure Centre.
Other events planned for Riverfest include Candles to the Sea on Friday, August 22, yarn bombing, softball and angling, while there will also be the usual children’s activities, crafters, food stalls and the ever popular vintage tea room.
All activities are free thanks to the generous support of individuals and businesses in the local area and further afield.
Well done to the senior ladies footballers of Moy Davitts who beat Ballyhaunis 8-13 to 2-14 in Round 2 of Mayo LGFA Division 2 in Foxford. It follows on from the team’s opening round win over Davitts, 4-14 to 0-9, and leaves them top of the table entering a clash with MacHale Rovers who have already been beaten by Davitts.
While the exceptionally good weather of the past week was expected to slow things, Foxford Salmon Anglers were able to report a very good return of fish for the week ending Sunday, July 6, after two floods in the one week saw a total of 84 salmon recorded as caught over the course of the week, many of which were released. The worm and spinning did well before the river cleared and made for great prawn and bubble and fly conditions.
Meanwhile, the East Mayo Angling Association is to hold its yearly youth angling event later this month, on July 26. For enquiries and application forms, contact Kathleen at the EMAA office on 094-92-53955 or 086-3946837. The closing date for entries is July 20 as numbers are limited for safety reasons.
The Foxford Traditional Weekend is to run from October 16 to 19 later this year and the organisers have primed us to expect some headline act announcements in the very near future. Watch this space!
There was disappointment for Moy Davitts when the under-14 footballers were beaten in last week’s final of the East Mayo ‘A’ championship which was played at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan. Charlestown Sarsfields ran out 2-10 to 1-6 winners.
Moy Davitts, who operated in a higher league division that their opponents, gave it their all on the evening but luck was not on their side, albeit an early goal did seem to give them an idea start to proceedings. By half-time, Charlestown had fought themselves into a 0-6 to 1-2 lead and an excellent start to the second-half, allied with an unfortunate own goal by Moy Davitts, saw Charlestown establish a firm grip and outscore the Moy boys by 2-4 to 0-4 in the second-half.
Moy Davitts still have much to play for this year however, with the team due to open its Homeland County U14 ‘A’ championship campaign last night (Monday) against Carras. They will continue that next Monday, July 21 with a home game against Breaffy.
Elsewhere, the minor footballers of Moy Davitts will also travel to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence today (Tuesday, July 15) to play Kiltimagh in the East Mayo ‘B’ championship. Throw-in is at 8pm. The team received a walkover from Swinford in the same competition last week.
On Wednesday, Moy Davitts entertain Charlestown Sarsfields in Group One of the Homeland U12 Summer League. That’s after they recorded a 3-14 to 1-7 win away to Westport in the previous round.
Last week’s €454 jackpot prize in the Moy Davitts 50-50 draw was won by Stella O’Neill from Ballyhaunis.
The AGM of Straide Community Group is to be held on Sunday, July 20 at 7pm in Straide Davitt Community Hall. It is hoped for a large community turnout “to help keep the show on the road”.
A number of cemetery masses are to celebrated local in the coming weeks. Friday, August 1 – St Martin’s, Glanduff at 7pm; Saturday, August 2 – Toomore at 6pm; Sunday, August 3 – Craggagh at 11am; Sunday, August 3 – Straide Cemetery at 11am.
Two goals apiece by Keaton Walsh and Donnacha Timlin helped S&F United to a 4-0 win over local rivals Ballyvary Blue Bombers in the Mayo U18 League last week. United U12 girls were also in action but despite a 3-0 lead and a hat-trick by Lucy Durkan, they were unfortunate to end up losing 5-3 in Green Road.
Meanwhile, United’s senior women team have been drawn to play next door neighbours Conn Rangers in the semi-finals of the McHale Agri, Forest & Garden Mayo Women's Shield. The game will go ahead on Friday, August 1. On the other side of the draw, Crossmolina AFC face Fahy Rovers with the winners of both games set to meet in the final on August 17.
There were €100 jackpots won by James Forester from Straide and Martha Guiry from Foxford in the two most recent S&F United 50-50 weekly draws. Congratulations to both.
As part of Moy Davitts GAA’s ‘Green Clubs’ initiative, two new Re-turn bottle bins have been installed at the club grounds. All players, parents and supporters are asked to put their empty plastic bottles and cans into these bins in order to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the grounds. All funds raised from the return of these bottles to McGloin's Gala in Foxford will be reinvested in the club’s teams and facilities. Club members can also return their bottles directly to McGloin's Gala and donate their receipt to the Moy Davitts account. The club is appreciate of the ongoing support of the local community.
Foxford’s musical maestro’s Stephen Doherty and David Doocey form one half of NxNW who are to headline Ballina’s National Heritage Day, which is taking place this Wednesday, July 16. NxNW fuse trad and folk music in a vibrant, contemporary blend of tunes. They are joined in the lineup by Kieran Leonard (drums and percussion) and Ryan Molloy (piano), and together the quartet brings a powerful, genre-blending sound that’s as exciting as it is unforgettable.
Just last month the band entertained audiences at the Galway Folk Festival and at the Ballina festival they will be playing on the Main Stage at the Post Office. National and international vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Laura Jo will be the band’s special guest. Be sure not to miss them!
The Moy Davitts Golf Classic returns to Ballina Golf Club on Saturday, August 9. A team of four will cost €160 to enter and there will be major prizes for all winners. Ballina Golf Club is now accepting entries. Contact 096-21050.
