Local Notes: Martin Flannery Cup gets underway in Ballinrobe
The winning team from the 2022 Martin Flannery Memorial Cup pictured with members of the Flannery family
Ballinrobe GAA Club’s Martin Flannery Memorial Cup got underway last week, with the Ballinrobe U10 Boys playing in a winter Pella tournament under lights, on the Astro Turf pitch, in the Green.
The tournament sees 40 U10 boys playing in a league format and there was nothing between the four teams who played last week, all trying to emulate the winning team from last year. This is the third year of the Martin Flannery Memorial Cup, an event which remembers Martin, a lifetime volunteer and coach at all levels for Ballinrobe GAA, a recipient of the Ballinrobe GAA Hall of Fame award, and a former winner of the Club Person of the Year accolade.
Indeed, the Flannery family are still heavily involved in Ballinrobe GAA and Martin would be proud to see his grandson Daniel playing in this tournament, alongside his peers. Games take place each Wednesday at 6.15pm. Please come along and support the boys while also remembering a great man who gave so much to help develop Ballinrobe GAA Club over the years.
Ballinrobe Tidy Towns (BTT) achieved an impressive 327 points in the annual Tidy Towns competition report, published last week. This marks an eleven-point increase from the previous year. The report commended BTT for the quality of its application form, highlighting their commitment to excellence.
BTT were lauded for their extensive efforts, which included organising local talks on biodiversity and composting, a native wildflower seeds project, willow weaving, a swift project, the creation of wildflower beds, a bat walk and participation in the Green Sod Ireland Project. Notably, they maintain a Ballinrobe Biodiversity and Wildlife Facebook page to encourage followers to contribute to biodiversity efforts.
BTT’s campaign to raise awareness among dog owners and promote the cleaning up of dog fouling was also acknowledged as a significant community initiative. Another area where BTT excelled was in addressing derelict properties in Ballinrobe.
The report made special mention of the well-presented and colourful commercial premises throughout the town, particularly on Main Street, Church Lane, New Street and various housing estates. Floral displays around the town and along the approach roads were praised, with a nod to the floral baskets adorning Main Street for their wonderful colour.
Both Ballinrobe Community School and St Joseph’s Primary School were praised for their presentation. St. Joseph’s stood out with its colourful façade, attractive stone walls and tree and hedge planting on the school grounds.
The report admired the newly installed picnic benches and bins at the Bowers Picnic area, enhancing the town’s recreational facilities. Ballinrobe was applauded for its achievement in becoming a Sustainable Energy Community.
BTT’s dedication to green initiatives was further highlighted by their planting of 195 fruit trees, contributing to a more sustainable environment. The attractive entrance and boundary of Ballinrobe Racecourse also garnered admiration for its visual appeal.
The report noted that the approach roads to Ballinrobe were presented to an excellent standard, leaving a lasting positive impression. In conclusion, the report painted a vivid picture of a thriving and vibrant Ballinrobe, a town that the adjudicators depicted as “certainly buzzing”.
The full report is available here: https://bit.ly/robe-tidy-towns-2023.
Single Stableford, sponsored by Arachas:
1, Helen Rattigan, 42; 2, Mary Daly, 37; 3, Geraldine Evans, 36; 4, Marian Walsh, 36; Front Nine, Antoinette O’Connor, 18; Back Nine, Phyllis Lee, 19.
Here’s one for your diaries – Santa Claus will be in Ballinrobe on Saturday, December 2. He’ll be in the New Town Hall (aka the Valk). You can book via Tacú Family Resource from November 1, onwards.
There is strong local speculation that he is also making a list of who has been naughty and who has been nice. Local children have been strongly urged by civic, education and community leaders to make sure they’re on the right list.
Ballinrobe Town AFC has achieved a significant milestone after a successful period of accomplishments. In recent years, the club has secured numerous accolades, including the coveted Mayo Club of the Year 2022 award. Most notably, their junior men’s team has earned a promotion to the Super League, further solidifying their on-field prowess.
The club is now proud to announce that they have attained the FAI Club Mark Entry Level Award, a recognition bestowed upon grassroots clubs for their exceptional management and administrative practices. The FAI, in their congratulatory message, emphasised that the award is designed to bolster standards off the field and create stronger clubs.
This remarkable achievement was made possible through the dedication and hard work of the club’s executive committee. The club has extended thanks to are extended to Club Mark Officer Tom Murphy, Child Welfare Officer Mark Smith, Secretary Noreen Jennings, Treasurer Catherine Cummins, and Co-Chairs Alan Dowling and Marc Hughes. The tireless efforts of club officials John Culhane and Pat O’Sullivan also contributed significantly to this success.
Ballinrobe Town expressed their gratitude to FAI Mayo’s Barry McGann and Nigel Naughton for their unwavering support throughout this journey.
Ballinrobe Racecourse has been announced as the winner of the Racecourse Award for the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (ITEA) supported by Godolphin. Ballinrobe Racecourse was chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association based on a quality programme evaluation. The survey evaluates each racecourse on a range of criteria relating to facilities for stable employees with the purpose of setting quality standards at all racecourses in Ireland.
‘We are delighted to receive the Racecourse Award this year. We are continuously working to provide the best quality facilities for the racing industry at Ballinrobe. It is wonderful to be recognised by the stable employees for our efforts and we are looking forward to opening our new catering facility for stable staff and trainers in 2024,’ said John Flannelly, Manager, Ballinrobe Racecourse.
Ciorcal Comhrá, an Irish conversational circle, will take place on Tuesdays at 11am at the following venues: October 17 and November 14, Piece of Cake; October 24 and November 21, McHugh’s; October 31 and November 28, Carney’s; November 7, Devour.
Frank Keane, a leading member of the Ballinrobe business community, and the current chairperson of the local Community Development Council, has been bereaved by the death of his mother, Sadie, Peenogue, Ballyglass.
Mission Sunday is on October 22. Pope Francis, in his message for World Mission Sunday reflects on the theme “Hearts on fire, feet on the move," based on the story of the disciples who encounter Jesus on their way to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). On Mission Sunday each year Pope Francis appeals for spiritual and financial support for overseas missionaries. In the poorer and more remote countries of Africa, Latin America and Asia, it is the missionaries who are on the front line. Our support of Missionaries will provide them with essential aid to help them to relieve suffering and distress.
Pieta House provides a professional one-to-one therapeutic service to people who are in suicidal distress, those who engage in self-harm, and those bereaved by suicide. All of these services are provided free of charge and no referral is needed. Call the 24-hour crisis Helpline on free phone 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444.
Trained facilitators conduct a weekly Bereavement Support Meeting at the Family Centre, Knock Shrine each Wednesday at 11 am. There is also a special meeting for bereaved partners/spouses on the first Thursday of each month at 11am. No appointment is necessary. For further information contact Monica Morley on 094 9375320.
It’s Halloween time again when the eagerly awaited “Horror at the Barracks” will take place on Saturday, October 29th and Sunday, October 30th. Tickets are currently on sale for this spectacular show which will take place this year in aid of Mayo Mental Health, Ballyheane Pathway project, Castlebar Community Clean Up, Castlebar Tidy Towns, Castlebar Mitchells LGFA, St Gerald’s DSL College, Breaffy LGFA.
Gerry Keane will be at The Irish History Bookshop in Cong at 8pm on Friday 20 October to talk about his new book "Kilmaine from Landed Gentry Estates to Family Farms". He will also be available to sign copies of his book after the talk. All are welcome to attend and admission is free. More information is available from Robert Scott at The Irish History Bookshop on 094 954 5292 or by email at info@irishhistorybookshop.ie.
The 'Parenting When Separated Programme' programme will run every Tuesday morning (10-12.30pm) from November 7 to December 12 in the Family Centre, Castlebar. This course is for parents who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce. For more information or to book a place contact Leah on l.owens@mayofamilysupport.ie or Tel: 087 7059705.
The numbers drawn in the Garrymore lotto held on Sunday evening, October 8, were 8, 11, 16 and 20. There was no winner of the €13,300 jackpot on offer. €50's go to each of the following: Fintan Forde, Garrymore x 2, and Francie Conroy, c/o Lyons, Roundfort.
The latest draw took place in Garrymore on Sunday evening, October 15, with Jackpot of €13,400 on offer. Tickets are available at all local shops and club players and officers, and available on-line at the Clubforce.com website, enter Garrymore in the ‘Find my Club’ search box, select Garrymore GAA Club (not Garrymore GAA Club Events) and then Play Lotto.
