Local Notes: Kiltimagh parade was a huge success
St Louis Community School were the overall winners at the St Patrick's Day Parade in Kiltimagh. Picture: John Corless
The overall winning float at the parade was that of St Louis Community School, which the judges said was “a powerful float with a heartfelt message about Ireland’s future". In second place was Foróige Kiltimagh with their ‘Letters to Home’, which was described as “a touching tribute capturing the emotions of emigration and connection".
Third place went to Walsh Timber Floors & Doors, with their humorous float ‘Disorder in the Dáil’, which the judges said was “a clever and humorous take on Irish politics that had the crowd cheering". The Mary Diamond Memorial Trophy was won by St Aidan’s National School "for their outstanding creativity and contribution to the parade".
Ann Moran, Chairperson of Kiltimagh Tourism, described the standard of floats as exceptional.
"It was awfully hard on the judges to decide the results. There was a great crowd and everybody turned out so well. We would like to thank the judges who give their time. Tom Jordan comes from Dublin for the event. Frankie Forde Waldron comes from Castlebar and Mags Connell, who represents Mayo Co Council, lives locally. We want to thank them sincerely.
"We’d also like to thank Genfitt – our main sponsor again this year. We’d also like to thank the local councillors, Adrian Forkan, John Caulfield and Neil Cruise, for their support.”
Ann said that the winners, St Louis Community School, gives the parade great support every year.
“Their float spoke volumes. I would like to congratulate and thank Murt Dunleavy, Margaret Monaghan and Mary Horan, the teachers involved. They were brilliant. They got all the students together and they put in a phenomenal float.”
Ann said that the tourism group is very lucky to have a lot of younger people involved.
“Young people bring young people. We’re lucky in Kiltimagh, the schools, the national schools, the GAA all bring the youth out. We have Louise O’Hora on our committee who works hard promoting our organisation and our community, to get young people involved. She got them to help us out with the Spooky Walk and the Christmas markets. She was working in the background in St Louis too, and a huge thanks goes to Louise for all the work she does.”
Ann said the committee chose to stage the parade on Sunday, March 16, rather than St Patrick’s Day to facilitate people coming to the town who live elsewhere.
“We felt if we held it on Monday, there would be people rushing back to Dublin or wherever, and they wouldn’t get to fully enjoy it. The weather was beautiful too, which added to the whole experience.”
The St Patrick’s Day Parade is just one of the events Kiltimagh Tourism runs throughout the year.
“We have the big one in July – the Colilte Come Home Festival, and it incorporates the Race to Glory. They have their own committee but we work together. In November, we have the ‘Spooky Walk’ and in December we have the Christmas markets.”
Mary Horan, who teaches art at St Louis Community School, spoke with the after the results announcement.
“The overall theme of the parade was ‘Home is where the heart is’,” Mary said, “and we wanted to comment on the amount of scholars that are emigrating. We talked about ‘Are we being educated to emigrate?’ and we wanted our theme to be, ‘Bring our scholars home where they belong.’ We had a bit of a play around Donald Trump's, ‘Make America great again’, but we changed it to ‘Make Ireland great again,’ and the students worked really hard on the project.
"At the beginning of the float we have the school and the sign says, ‘Where it all begins,’ so a lot of work went into making the stained glass window and the different signs. It was mainly the Transition Years that did the work. It was great."
Mary said she didn’t know what the school would do with the prize money.
“Hopefully, we will make a bigger and better float for next year’s parade. We're not too sure yet. It’s an amazing honour to win it. An awful lot of organisation went into it but it was great to see it all coming together. Once we got the students on board, they really enjoyed it.”
Mary said it was important for the students to participate in community events and to learn the importance of community as a whole.
Kiltimagh Writers Revival is held in the local library on the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm.
New members with a broad smile and twinkle are welcome. No experience is necessary. Write your story, poem or play. If it’s not right, write it.
Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coillte Mach are providing an opportunity for exam students to brush up on their oral Irish skills.
A Ciorcal Comhrá will commence in the GAA Clubhouse on Thursday, March 20, between 7 and 8pm for those interested. It is an ideal opportunity for students to improve their oral skills in a casual and relaxing environment.
Interested? Contact Aingeal, Oifigeach Cultúrtha, on 087-9885165.
John Clancy and Pius Forde won the weekly 25 card drive held in the parish centre last week.
James Walsh and Paddy Carney came second with Colette Lavelle and Flor Higgins finishing third. Michael Costello and Michael Carney won the Last 10 while Mary and Jimmy Doyle won the spot prize.
The raffle winners were Liam Moran, James Walsh, Mary Doyle and Colette Lavelle.
The annual general meeting of Kiltimagh Knock United will be held on Thursday, March 27th, at 8pm in the clubhouse at CMS Park, Cloonlee, Knock.
The club is recruiting volunteers for the committee, with various roles from finance to PR and more. If you can give a little of your time and talent, the club would love to hear from you. You can contact the secretary by email at kiltimaghknockutdsec@yahoo.com.
Congratulations to the lucky winner in the Kiltimagh Knock United 50/50 draw last week - C. Fitzpatrick from Balla who won a jackpot of €484.
With KK's underage teams back in league action in the coming weeks, public support of the weekly 50/50 fundraiser is much appreciated. You can play online at lottoraiser.ie, pick up a ticket in your local retailer or pub or watch out for club sellers on Sunday nights.
Kiltimagh Knock United is recruiting for help across all its underage teams so the club can continue to field teams at all ages for boys and girls. From coaching to supervision at training and games, support is needed this season.
Anyone interested is asked to get in touch with the club secretary at 087-2124130 or send a PM to the club's Facebook page. Existing members are asked to talk to their child's coach at training about how you can help out.
CLG Coillte Mach is proud and honoured to have received a Gradam an Chathaoirligh Award from Mayo Co Council for their promotion of Gaeilge in the club.
The club extends a warm go raibh maith agaibh to the council and Cathaoirleach, Cllr John O'Hara, for recognising their efforts.
The next meeting of the Women’s Group will take place in the Parish Centre on Monday, April 7th, at 7pm.
The speaker on the night will be John Brennan, who will talk about gardening matters such as planting and assembling window boxes. All ladies are welcome.
Round 7 of the Spring Poker League in Teach O'Hora on Wednesday night last saw the largest pot of the league with €685 in the prize pool for the twenty players competing.
A deal was done to chop first and second prizes with Alan Sheridan taking the win and Dave Brennan second. Third prize was won by Kieran McGee with Enda Ruane taking fourth. The other finalists were: 5th, Pat Boyle; 6th, Nicky Cunnane; 7th, Keith Lydon; 8th, Martin Regan; 9th, Gerry Groarke.
Isaac Boyle remains top of the league table on 132 points, followed by Nicky Cunnane on 108 and Michael Higgins 103. The rest of the top twelve is: Martin Regan 95, AN Other 90, Derry O’Sullivan 80, Keith Lydon 79, Pat Boyle 74, Enda Ruane 72, Gerry Groarke 68, Michael Sheridan 67, Douglas Wicks 63.
The league runs for fifteen weeks with tournaments every Wednesday night at 8pm. Entry is €20 with one rebuy or add-on allowed, also €20. €5 from each entry and rebuy goes towards the league final prize pool with the rest paid out on the night.
At the end of the league, the top twelve players qualify for the Grand Final and they will be joined by two others from a last-chance play-off to play for an estimated prize pool of €2,000.
Kiltimagh Knock United’s masters team finished off their league season with a 4-0 win over Fahy Rovers last Wednesday.
Three for Damien Gallagher and a goal from Ronan Malee made it ten wins from ten games – an outstanding performance for the season. The team were crowned champions a couple of weeks ago.
Brian Maloney Buffalo, USA and Cloonkedagh, was last week’s winner of the Kiltimagh GAA 50/50 jackpot. Brian won €733. The draw was held in Ryan’s.
The Kiltimagh Writers’ Group, known as Pen & Ink, is inviting previous members to an event to be held in The Folk Café, on this Saturday, March 29th, starting at 7.30pm. It will consist of readings by current and past Pen & Ink members, an Open Mic for all-comers and music. Refreshments will be provided. For details, contact Anni on penandink.comayo@aol.com.
Kiltimagh Pickleball Club is looking for new members and people to try the game. They play in St Louis Community School on Mondays from 7 to 8pm and in Aughamore Community Centre on Saturday mornings, from 10.30 to 11.30am.
If you’d like to give pickleball a go, you can contact Teresa on 089-4841267.
Geraldine Forde and Jerome Tarpey were the winners of the bridge drive held on March 11th.
Noreen Reddington and John McCrohan were second, with Tony King and Eileen Mulderrig third.
On March 18th, Hilary McCrohan and John McCrohan were the winners, with Thomas McNicholas and Cait McTigue second. Third place went to Mick Dolan and Pat Keary.
Bridge is held in the Park Hotel every Tuesday at 7.30pm. The club is open to new members joining at any time. Casual pairs are also welcome. Bridge classes are available for beginners and anybody interested can contact John McCrohan on 087-2422945.
The students, staff and management of St Louis Community School have presented a cheque for €1,935 to Mayo Roscommon Hospice. The money was the proceeds of a coffee morning held in the school recently.
The school has expressed thanks to sponsors, O’Hora’s, Gilmartin's, Cill Aodain and SuperValu, as well as all the members of the community that supported the event.
