Local Notes: James Ryan, Swinford, is Mayo's newest Garda Recruit Honorary Garda at Blue Lights Day
Mayo' newest Garda Recruit Honorary Garda James Ryan, son of Geraldine (Loftus) and Derek Ryan. James was presented with his graduation certificate by Sgt Regina Carley, Inspector Naomi de Rís and Sgt Conor Drury at the Blue Lights Day held in Swinford Amenity Park on March 2. Garda Kieran Murphy is Honorary Garda James Ryan's Garda Buddy with Garda Audrey Garvey the local Little Blue Heroes Representative. Congratulations to James and a big thank you to everyone who organised and supported this wonderful event and occasion. Photos: Sally Lavin.
Items for inclusion in the notes can be submitted by email to ryankneafsey@gmail.com or call/text/WhatsApp 0877694781 (after 6pm). Deadline for receipt of items is 6.30pm Wednesday evening.
Swinford Triathlon Open Day will be held on Saturday, March 16, at 10am in Swinford Community Centre. Club members will be there to offer advice on training, purchase of bikes, clothing and other equipment. If you have a bike in working order, bring it along as there will be a short cycle of 12.5km after the presentation. Helmets are mandatory. On completion of the cycle, all will return to the community centre for a Q&A session.
This year Blath na Féile will take on a new and different format. The organisers are calling all past Blath's (everyone who participated, not just crowned Blath’s) to compete in the ultimate Queen of the Blath's. 2024 is a big year for Síamsa Sráide Street Festival celebrating 40 years and is also the 10th anniversary of the first Blath na Féile winner.
Swinford Tidy Towns are once again taking part in the National Spring Clean with the annual Good Friday Spring Clean taking place on Friday, March 29. The meeting point on the day will be at Swinford Courthouse at 11am.
Beidh feile Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl ón 1-17 Márta. Is é seo an fheile Ghaeilge is mó ar domhan agus is féile dhá seachtain í a cheiliúrann teanga, cultúr agus oidhreacht na hÉireann. Cosúil leis an fhéile, tá sé mar aidhm ag CLG and PGnB an phobal Ghaeilge a spreagadh agus glacadh leis an teanga. Tá ár gclub ag glacadh páirt i Seachtain na Gaeilge agus bíonn a lán craic againn. Ta giota beaga Gaeilge ag beagnach gach duine agus ba chóir dúinn ár dteanga a cheiliúradh. Beimid ag úsáid "Gaeilge ar an bpáirc" i rith an fhéile. Fuair gach imreoir agus bainisteoir liosta frásaí don pháirc agus don taobhlíne. Beidh duaiseanna le buachan ag na daoine a dhéannann an iarracht is fearr ar gach foireann.
So far, the senior ladies’ team and management have been leading the way ag caint as gaeilge with rumours that a bout of "Dilín O'Deamhas" was even heard on the pitch. The club's ‘Coiste Gaeilge’ led by this year's Irish officer Louise Doherty and Irish Youth Officer Andrea Jordan are busy planning an event to mark the end of Seachtrain na Gaeilge as well as events throughout the year.
The 74th Annual St Patrick’s Day parade is almost upon us. The committee have been working tirelessly to make this the best parade ever. A number of school bands and floats have entered so far but the parade committee would like to make this year the best ever and are calling on all clubs, organisations and businesses to get involved by supporting the parade, lending a hand and/or entering a float. If you still want to participate and haven’t received an entry form, they can be found on the Swinford St Patricks Day Facebook page so get in touch. This year's theme is Irish TV/Movies Past and Present so there is plenty of scope for the imagination. In addition, the committee thank everyone who supported the recent church gate collection. Without the support of the public, the parade cannot happen so the committee is thankful for all the support to date and is looking forward to record entries and attendance on the big day.
The numbers drawn in the Swinford Community Lotto draw held on March 4, were 2, 7, 22 and 30. €70 vouchers were won by D Stenson, Swinford and Mary Lane, Kilkelly; €35 was won by Alan Cassidy, c/o Campbells. The jackpot is now €11,400.
Fine Gael Local Election Candidate Antoinette Peyton has called for the immediate return of Swinford Garda Station to a 24 / 7 service to the community, as it had been prior to its amalgamation with Claremorris District in 2014. In a statement, she said ‘Recent criminal activity in the area has once again drawn into sharp focus the need to do this. The recent terrifying break in and robbery that an elderly farmer in my area was subjected to is an outrage and cannot be tolerated. There was also another violent attack made on a home in the Charlestown area recently’. Ms. Peyton also said ‘Although the return of Swinford Garda Station to a 24/7 service would not guarantee the elimination of this kind of vicious criminality, it would act as a major deterrent and greatly assist in the apprehending of these violent thugs should those violent and frightening acts occur. The area was very open as it was well serviced by national primary routes such as the N5, the N17 and the N26. These routes allowed for easy access and quick exits for travelling criminal gangs.’ Commenting on the number of Garda stations in Mayo, Ms. Peyton highlighted there are only five Garda Stations in Mayo that are fully open. Those are Westport, Castlebar, Claremorris, Belmullet and Ballina and that a further fourteen Garda Stations has such restricted opening hours that their ability to service the community is negligible.
The Swinford Garda Station was in good order having undergone a major and costly refit and refurbishment in 2012, less than two years before the amalgamation with Claremorris. The amalgamation with Claremorris has created too vast an area for effective policing as it stretches from Headford in Co Galway to Doocastle on the Sligo border. Even taking the most direct route by car via the N84 and the N17 it’s an hour and thirty minutes travel time. The reason given at the time of the amalgamation was that it was a cost saving measure at a time when the country's finances were in a difficult place during the Great Recession.
There were also assurances made at the time that the tighter control of scarce resources would allow for increased foot and vehicle patrols which do not appear to have materialised.
Ms. Peyton said ‘Circumstances have now changed and policy should change in light of that. The Fine Gael candidate said that she welcomed the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee’s announcement of a €2.3 billion Garda budget for 2024, the highest Garda budget in the history of the State and the Government's commitment to increase the Garda numbers from their present level of approximately 13,940 to 15,000 and then to keep building the numbers in the years ahead. There are now seven per cent more Gardai in Mayo than at the time Swinford Station was downgraded.’ Ms. Peyton is calling on the Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to urgently review and make the decision to return Swinford Garda Station to its proper status.
Results from the game played on Thursday, February 29. Card winners were 1st William Maughan and Philip Moore, 2nd John Gallagher and Brian McNulty and 3rd Martin McNeela and Marty Munnelly. Raffle prizes were won by Mary Lynskey, Gerry Ronayne, Peter Geraghty and Phyllis Bredican.
Sympathy is extended to the families and friends of Philomena Moran, Lisbawn, Swinford; Anne Feeney (nee Convey), Cullane, Swinford; James Durkan (Jim), late of Coventry, West Midlands, UK and formerly of Castlebarnagh, Midfield, Swinford; Robert Michael Judson, Cloonfinish, Swinford and formerly of Denholme, Bradford, England; Paul Leach, Carn, Charlestown and Gabriel Padraic Kirrane, Essex, England and formerly of Callow, Foxford. May they rest in peace.
The senior musicians of Michael Davitt Comhaltas branch in Swinford are looking forward to entertaining the crowd on Main Street before the parade starts on St Patrick’s Day. They will be on the viewing stand from 2.20pm approx. Teenagers and some of the seniors will also be playing in the parish church after last Mass.
On Saturday, March 16, a special fundraising performance/session of music will be held at Tesco in Swinford. Comhaltas would love to have anyone who can play even one tune to come and help out with this fundraiser which will enable them to continue their work. If you or your child would like to join, let them know at cceswinford@gmail.com or message 087 7454032.
The AGM of The Railway Players Variety and Drama Group will be held in Mellett’s meeting room at 8.30pm this Wednesday, March 13. New members are always welcome.
Some of the activities being planned for this year include Musical Theatre Workshops for young people which will take place during the week before Siamsa Sráide. A week of song, dance and drama will culminate in a performance which will be one of the many highlights of the 40th anniversary of Siamsa Sráide. Application forms will be available shortly for young people aged from 6 up. In the meantime names can be sent to railwayplayers2018@gmail.com or dropped into Ray Lambes.
The “Time to Shine” talent show returns again this year during Siamsa Sráide but with a slightly different format. More information to follow but the group advise both over and U16s to get practising.
Horticulturist Conor Brennan will give a talk on 'Spring in the Garden' at 8pm on Tuesday, March 26, in the Meeting Room on Lower Main St, Swinford. He will also be happy to answer questions from the audience. Talks are free to members. Non members €5.
A bake sale will be held on Easter Sunday, March 31, in aid of Swinford Agricultural Show. If you would like to help out or bake something for the sale, contact a committee member. Anyone who would like to receive texts about upcoming Swinford Agricultural Show meetings and events text your name to the show phone 087 1181680.
