Local notes: Mayo native who died in London fondly remembered
The late Noel Armstrong, Willesden , London and formerly of Stonepark, Foxford
Noel Armstrong, a native of Stonepark, was returned from London for burial on Monday following his recent and peaceful passing in Willesden.
Mass was celebrated at St Mary Magdalen’s Church in Willesden last Friday after which Noel was repatriated to Clarke's Funeral Home in Foxford where he reposed on Sunday. Removal took place last Monday morning, October 27 to The Church of Christ The King, Knockmore where his funeral Mass preceded burial in Cloghans Cemetery, Knockmore.
Noel was predeceased by his parents Jack and Susan, and his brothers Robert, John and Chris, and is dearly and lovingly missed by his wife Susan and daughter Michelle (Chapman) and her husband George, his adored grandchildren, brothers George and Pat, sisters in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
May he rest in peace.
Mayo County Council has received reports of natural algal blooms and cyanobacteria along lake shorelines at both Lough Conn and Callow Lake and are advising against touching such accumulations because of the risk of illness and in the case of animals, even death.
The recent spell of mild and calm weather has created ideal conditions for these type of blooms to develop along lake shorelines. These blooms can produce toxins which have potential to cause illness in humans and fatalities of animals, especially dogs. The blooms can appear as green or blue-green streaks resembling paint at the water surface, or silky scums along shorelines.
Mayo County Council has consulted with the EPA, local dog wardens, and the Department of Agriculture Veterinary Inspector.
Mayo County Council is advising the public to not touch algal accumulations on the shoreline; wash hands if you touch the algal material; keep children and pets away from algae on the water’s edge; do not let pets drink the water (it’s a good idea for dogs to be given a good drink of water before walking near a river or lake); wash pets immediately if they come into contact with water suspected to be contaminated with cyanobacteria.
If your dog becomes unexpectedly sick after swimming or coming into contact with an algal bloom, contact your vet quickly and where possible take photographs of algal accumulations observed at the location.
Congratulations to all the hardworking organisers and volunteers behind the Foxford Traditional Weekend who dedicated themselves to providing another top class weekend’s entertainment from Thursday to Sunday last, October 16-19. The town was abuzz from dawn to dusk as lovers of traditional music, song, dance and culture flocked to Foxford for the eleventh year running.
Be it the sold-out workshops where some of Ireland’s finest trad players served as tutors, the numerous sessions that displayed the outstanding talent from the very youngest to the most experienced musicians, the fabulous Mummers parade, the pop up Gaeltacht, the National Harp Day celebrations or the revered acts who sold out concerts on both Friday and Saturday night at The Moy Hotel, there was something to whet everyone’s appetite. The 2026 festival simply cannot come quick enough!
Adding to the sense of occasion was the double presentation to the Admiral Brown Comhaltas Branch by the Murphy and O’Hara families of perpetual trophies in memory of their loved ones. The inaugural recipient of the Des Murphy Cup was harmonica player Sean Holmes while the Sheila O’Hara Cup was awarded to another branch member, Conor Fox, a multi-instrumentalist and singer.
Details of the Foxford Traditional Weekend’s ever popular fundraising concert where Sean Keane will again headline this Christmas will become available shortly.
The Foxford Traditional Singing and Poetry Group will meet in Guiry’s Bar this Thursday, October 30 at 8.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Commiserations to Moy Davitts on their defeat to Kilmeena in the Mayo Intermediate Football Championship final. In what was regarded as one of the best ever county finals at any level in Mayo, and of a quality befitting of senior football, Moy Davitts lost by an agonising one point after an enthralling hour’s football at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Sunday, October 19. The contest finished 0-23 to 1-19 in Kilmeena’s favour, in what is the highest-scoring intermediate final on record, albeit this year’s new playing rules contributed in some way towards that.
The omens had seemed positive when despite playing into the breeze, Moy Davitts had led by one point at the interval, with a goal by Ronan Clarke proving significant. However, their opponents upped it a gear in the second-half and ultimately, it’s the second year in-a-row that Moy Davitts have been narrowly beaten in the final, having lost a replay to Crossmolina in 2024.
It wasn’t all bad that weekend however, as 24 hours earlier the club was crowned Mayo U15 Division 4 League champions at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence after they got the better of Hollymount-Carramore in the final by 2-18 to 2-09.
The Moy Davitts AGM is to be held in Bohola Community Centre this year, taking place on Sunday, November 23 at 5pm.
There’s a special night for past and present employees of the Foxford Woollen Mills to place in the diary, as a night of nostalgia is planned for Friday, November 7 at Cruiser’s Bar where old friends and colleague can meet and reminiscing on times gone by.
Entertainment will be provided by Pat Boyle’s Country Roadshow.
For further information contact Margaret on 083-3747146, Ann on 086-880921 or Larry on 087-7544610.
Ciaran Reilly, Foxford and Sharon O’Hara, Foxford are the two most recent winners of the S&F United 50-50 draw. Both players received jackpot payouts of €100.
With children on holidays from school this week, there are a number of activities that might interest them taking place at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park.
They can go on a spooky adventure with the Scarecrow Jack Halloween Trail from 12noon to 4pm ever day between now and Sunday, November 2. They can also pick up their free activity sheet and go on a frightfully fun adventure with the Scary Objects Halloween Trail which also runs to next Sunday.
For three days this week, Wednesday to Friday, October 29-31, they can also step into the shadows of the past and discover the spooky side of history with ‘A Scare in the Museum’, which is a series of special Halloween storytelling tours. And there is also the opportunity to get creative with a series of free, family-friendly Halloween Crafts at the Museum across those same three days, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm each day.
Congratulations to Christina Ruane, Glanduff and Martin Kerrane, Tibohine, Co. Roscommon, who celebrated the occasion of their marriage on Saturday, October 11 at St Michael’s Church in Foxford. They are wished many years of happiness.
A jackpot prize of €586 was presented to Martina Gavin as last week’s winners of the Moy Davitts 50-50 lotto draw.
The funeral was held in Shannon Crematorium last Friday, October 24 of Foxford native Leonard Sheridan who passed peacefully in Carrigoran House, Newmarket On Fergus, Co Clare surrounded by his loving family. Late of Drumgeely, Shannon, Leonard was a retired teacher of St Patrick's Comprehensive School in Shannon.
Predeceased by his brothers Vivian and Desmond, he will be deeply missed by his heartbroken family, children Denise, Aoife, Lia, Adrian and Vivienne, their mother Bridget, fourteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren, sons-in-law Don and Jim, sister Dolores, nephew, niece, extended family, neighbours and friends.
May he rest in peace.
S&F United drew for a second time in seven days when taking on Bangor Hibs in last Wednesday night’s round of matches in Westaro Masters League Division 2. The teams met at Umbro Park Milebush where Paul Moran scored three minutes before full-time to earn United a share of the spoils.
Moran had scored the game’s opener in the 16th minute but it was Hibs who held a 2-1 lead at half-time. Paul Moran equalised just minutes into the second-half, however, Hibs hit three goals on the spin and with eleven minutes left on the clock looked destined for all three points until S&F United stormed back into the match with a goal apiece by Neil Mayock and Dylan Lavelle before Moran completed a hat-trick to see the game finish 5-5.
S&F United are in action this Wednesday night, October 29 when they play Ballyheane who sit just one point above them in second place in the league table.
Residents, property or landowners in and around Foxford, along with all other interested parties, are invited by Mayo County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to participate in the first non-statutory public consultation on the Study Area and Constraints for the proposed N58 Foxford Transport Project.
The aim of this public consultation is to receive feedback on the Project Study Area, the constraints identified and any other features/opportunities within the study area that the project team should consider. The feedback and submissions received will be considered by the project team and will help to inform the development of the project.
The public consultation is being held online via an interactive web portal at n58foxford.consultation.ai. It will remain open until Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Submissions can be made through the portal by filling out an online questionnaire. Hard copies can also be submitted to Mayo County Council via the following address: Project Engineer, N58 Foxford Transport Project, Mayo National Roads Office, Glenpark House, The Mall, Castlebar, Co Mayo, F23 XF40.
Noel Armstrong, a native of Stonepark, was returned from London for burial on Monday following his recent and peaceful passing in Willesden.
Mass was celebrated at St Mary Magdalen’s Church in Willesden last Friday after which Noel was repatriated to Clarke's Funeral Home in Foxford where he reposed on Sunday. Removal took place last Monday morning, October 27 to The Church of Christ The King, Knockmore where his funeral Mass preceded burial in Cloghans Cemetery, Knockmore.
Noel was predeceased by his parents Jack and Susan, and his brothers Robert, John and Chris, and is dearly and lovingly missed by his wife Susan and daughter Michelle (Chapman) and her husband George, his adored grandchildren, brothers George and Pat, sisters in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
May he rest in peace.
The annual general meeting of Moy Davitts LGFA will be held on Wednesday, November 19 at 8pm in Foxford Leisure Centre. All members are welcome to attend and to have your say for the benefit of the club.
‘Remembrance by Candlelight’ is returning to St Michael's Church, Foxford this Wednesday, October 29. The candlelight concert will raise money for Foxford Search and Rescue and Foxford & District Alzheimer Trust (FACT), two very deserving services that Foxford and the surrounding area is privileged and fortunate to have.
For tickets sales contact Sarah at 087-7965520 or Irene at 087-2795242.
