Local Notes: National Innovation Award for Claremorris teenagers.
Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager and Head of Regions and Local Enterprise, with Enterprise Ireland, Aoibhinn Mangan, Mary Lillibeth Curry-Glynn and Katie Jennings, all of HerdSync, with Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, at the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Finals, at the National Ploughing Championships.
HerdSync, founded by three Mayo teenagers, Katie Jennings (15) and Mary Lillibeth Curry-Glynn (16) from Knock and Aoibheann Mangan (18) from Hollymount, was one of only nine companies to have been awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Innovation from Enterprise Ireland, for their participation in the Innovation Arena Finals, at the National Ploughing Championships.
The idea for the business came to Katie while she was helping her father with cattle on the farm. When they were trying to record the animal tag numbers, the notebook fell and got wet and dirty. Katie decided there had to be a better way to record the details and she pitched the idea of developing an app to a Teen Turn after school project, at Mount St Michael Secondary School, in April 2023.
Katie then pitched her idea for a farm management tool at the Technovation Regional Pitch event. The idea won first place in the junior category. Katie was invited to join Teen-Turns Incubator programme where she was joined by chief technology officer, Aoibheann and digital marketing officer Mary Lillibeth. They set out to develop their app (also called HerdSync). With mentor support from academic and industry experts, the girls progressed through the incubator programme and onto the Teen-Turn accelerator programme.
HerdSync is designed to digitise farm records, simplifying farm management in order to amplify profits. Users will be able to utilise the app to record animal and land data from their farms as well as to track day to day tasks and chores. The app is currently at the MVP stage and is gone out for user testing with an aim to release version 1.0 in early 2025 with ambitious plans for future versions already under construction. They see no difficulty combining the operation of their company alongside their studies. Each has a separate, clearly defined role in the business, and the software industry can easily accommodate remote working.
The ladies were presented with their award at the Ploughing Championships in Co Laois, last week, by Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
In addition to writing the code for HerdSync, and receiving awards, Aoibheann Mangan has been nominated, in the Rising Star category, at the GOSS 2024 Women of the Year Awards. The former Mount Saint Michael Secondary School student designed a machine learning-based app, to help children with asthma, to use their inhalers correctly. The Rising Star category honours women from a range of different industries, that are making an impact in their own way.
Aoibheann was inspired by asthma sufferers whom she noticed using their inhalers incorrectly. She was first recognised for her coding skills when she was just eight years old, when she and a classmate developed a farm safety website for children – winning the People of the Year and Pride of Ireland Award, for their work. When she was thirteen, Aoibheann designed a True Hero Hospital Doll and a special app to help calm the fears of children undergoing medical treatment. The judges unanimously agreed that Aoibheann is an advocate for girls in Science, Technology, Electronics and Mathematics (STEM,) wanting to be the leading STEM advocate for women in the world.
Aoibheann, who has just turned eighteen, is a first-year student at University of Limerick, where she is studying Immersive Software Engineering. Goss.ie is an Irish entertainment news website based in Dublin, featuring content focused on both Irish and international celebrities.
Kilvine Community Meals, which is based at Ballindine Community Centre, is looking for staff, under the Rural Social Scheme (RSS.) The service prepares and cooks nutritional and tasty lunches at the centre, and delivers them across south Mayo. Participants on the scheme work nineteen and half hours a week.
To be eligible for participation in the RSS, applicants must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and be 25 years or over. Participants on the scheme can retain a medical card while taking part in the scheme. Full details are on the Dept of Social Protection website.
The Meals service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The RSS is operated in the area by South West Mayo Development Company. There are also a number of vacancies for outdoor workers in the area. The supervisor in charge of the community meals and other projects in the Ballindine area is Laura Commins. Laura can be contacted on 087 1306945 for further information, or to apply for a position.
Claremorris 2-14 Ballaghaderreen 4-08. Claremorris seniors drew with Ballaghaderreen, in a very exciting game in round three of the senior championship last week, in Ballyhaunis. While the team doesn’t qualify for the quarter-finals of the championship, the draw does ensure their senior status and is a great achievement for a young team, gaining valuable experience of senior football.
Claremorris started very well and completely outplayed their opponents in the first half. They went into a five-point lead before Ballaghadreen opened their account. Soon after, Claremorris were seven points in front – James Shaughnessy driving home a penalty after David O’Reilly was fouled in the square. Ballaghadreen were more attack minded in the second half and pushed up on Claremorris. It was a high scoring game and great credit is due to both sides, for never giving up. The draw was probably a fair result for the neutral but it was hard to take for a Claremorris panel and management team, that put in such a fine display.
Garrymore 2-08 Charlestown 0-11. Garrymore had a good win over Charlestown last week in a tricky game played in slippery conditions. Garrymore started well and benefited from two first half goals by Shane and Trevor Nally. The goals were very similar in that they were attempts at points that dropped short. Shane finished Trevor’s shot on nineteen minutes and Trevor finished Shane’s shot to the net, to send Garrymore in, eight points to the good at half time. Charlestown came out stronger in the second half and gradually wore the lead down to a single point. Despite a late Charlestown rally Garrymore held on and top their group. This gives them a home draw when they face Knockmore on this Saturday night, September 28, in the quarter final of the Mayo Senior Championship. The game will be played under lights in Garrymore, with a throw-in at 8pm.
Davitts 1-08 Hollymount Carramore 1-07. Davitts kept their perfect record in the Intermediate Championship with a hard-fought win over rivals, Hollymount Carramore, in Garrymore last week. The game was played in challenging wet and windy conditions and remained competitive until the final whistle, entertaining the large crowd for the local derby. Davitts started well, but in an evenly contested half, only took a one-point lead to the half-time dressing room, 0-06 to 1-02.
Hollymount Carramore equalised early in the second half, but a penalty converted by Jack Melvin restored Davitts’ advantage. Although Hollymount Carramore levelled again, and took a brief lead, Davitts showed determination and went on to win, even if it was only by the tightest of margins.
This victory secures a home draw in the Intermediate quarter-finals for Davitts. They face Kiltane on Saturday next, September 28, at 3.45pm.
There was huge excitement in Garrymore last week, when locals Orlaith, Aoife, Enda and Cillian Heaney, won the massive jackpot of €18,000 in the Garrymore GAA lotto. The lotto is now reset at €5,000.
The community was saddened at the passing of Mary Brennan, late of Shessaugh, Taugheen and formerly of Kilmaine - peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family, after a short illness. Mary is predeceased by her husband John, her daughter Bernadette, her sons-in-law Tony and Eddie, sister Nellie and brother John. Mary is survived by her sons Martin, Gerry, John and Anthony (Dublin), daughters Teresa Woulfe (Northampton), Martina Joyce (Newbrook), Susan, Elsie and Christina Moore (Bohola), daughters-in-law Beatrice, Marie and Roisin, son-in-law John Moore, sisters Winifred Byrne (Donegal) and Bridget Doherty (Birmingham), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbours and friends. Mary was laid to rest in Crossboyne cemetery after Funeral Mass at the local Church of the Sacred Heart.
Almost fifty people have been trained and certified in CPR and defibrillation, in the Claremorris area, in the past few months. The training is carried out through the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and the Irish Heart Foundation. The courses are offered at no cost, and the initiative ties in well with the increase in the number defibrillators located in the town, in recent months.
‘Taste of Home’ a project organised by Claremorris Family Resource Centre, commences on Monday, September 30, at Mayo Abbey Training Centre, and transport will be provided if required. The project will run from 10.30 to 2.30 for three Mondays. The project aims to break down cultural barriers and create a space for people from the new communities in Claremorris, to experience cuisine from other countries such as Ukraine, Brazil, Syria, Latvia and Ireland. For enquiries and bookings contact the FRC on 094 937 7838 or via e-mail at info@claremorrisfrc.ie.
The South Mayo Darts League AGM will take place in The Western Hotel, Claremorris on Thursday next, September 26 at 8.30pm. All teams/players interested in competing in the 2024/2025 league campaign are asked to attend.
The death occurred last week, of Leandes Agnew (nèe Foley) of Barr na Haile and formerly of Convent Road. Leandes passed peacefully with her family by her side after a short illness, bravely borne. Leandes was predeceased by her mother Mary, brother John and her foster parents George and Josie Foley. She will be sadly missed by her sons George, Oliver and David, their partners Arnita, Mairead and Niamh, their father Oliver and his partner Mary, fourteen grandchildren, her extended family, neighbours and friends.
Leandes was laid to rest on Saturday in St. Colman’s Cemetery, Claremorris, after Funeral Mass in St. Colman’s Church.
