Local Notes: New board members for Ballyhaunsi Resource Centre
To mark National Tree Week parishioners from various station areas within Annagh parish planted a tree. Fr Stephen Farragher blessed the saplings, which were provided by local horticulturalist Margie Phillips. Each Station area was given a sapling to be planted in their area, from left: John Joe Flanagan, John Morley, Marion Regan, Mary Murphy, James Clarke, Vincent Higgins, Jarlath Fahey, Mick Plunkett, Maureen Fitzmaurice, Richard Waldron, Kay Curley, Tommy Lynch, Joe Byrne.
The Ballyhaunis Family and Community Resource Centre (Ballyhaunis FCRC) has welcomed three new members to its voluntary board of management. Grahame Cleary, Muhammad Usman Sarwar, and Keith Jones were officially ratified at recent board meeting. This puts the board of management to eight members including Mairead Murphy Damron, Marie Jordan, Manar Cherbatji, Merrilyn Finn Winters, and Tzyy Wang.
“I’m delighted to welcome Keith, Grahame and Usman as board members,” said FCRC chairperson Tzyy Wang. “They bring a wealth of experience in education, business, social enterprise, health and social services to our team of volunteers. We all look forward to working with the staff to renew the potential of the centre, widen its engagement with the community, and build resilience throughout.
"We are entering our 20th year of operation this year, the second oldest in Mayo. The board aims to build on that history and strengthen the centre for more years to come.”
According to Ms Wang, the Ballyhaunis FCRC “has a rich legacy” in operating the community pre-school and the childcare facility in the direct provision centre at the property known as the Old Convent. It also hosts a dedicated family support worker, one of six in Mayo, to provide support to parents and families through the Mayo Community-Based Family Support Services. It also took on a Sports Hub Coordinator to develop and implement activities on behalf of Mayo Sports Partnership across East Mayo.
Funded in most part by Government funds through Tusla (the state child and family agency), the Ballyhaunis FCRC also works closely with Scoil Iosa and Ballyhaunis Community School Home School Liaison Officers in hosting activities for parents of school-aged children through English training and integration programmes. Counselling and play therapy services are available at the Friary House location, alongside support for various community groups including Men’s Shed, weekly crochet and knitting club, and the Ballyhaunis Le Cairde Group. The Centre also runs the Senior Alert Scheme pendant alarm for persons aged 65 years and older.
To enquire about any of the services or activities, contact Stephen Grogan or Tracey McDermott on 089-2371625 or 094-9630031.
Condolences to the family of Joseph Cunnane, Wiltshire and Coogue, Ballyhaunis who passed away on February 15th.
“Growing up in Coogue, the was very much part of our lives and a great source of information to this day,” said Joseph’s sister Angela Kirrane who wrote this touching tribute to her brother:
Colleagues and friends of Joseph Cunnane were deeply saddened to learn of his sudden passing at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. UK. Joseph was a past pupil of Ballyhaunis Boys College, later known as Ballyhaunis Community School.
Having qualified as a town planner, Joseph moved to the UK in the mid-1970s. He worked as Planning Officer with the London boroughs of Hackney, Hounslow and Brent. In 1985, he went on to found Cunnane Town Planning, London and Manchester. In 1995, he co-founded Cunnane Stratton Reynolds, Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Joseph’s colleagues describe him as insightful and talented. He was at his best when attending planning enquiries where he was held in high regard by the Planning Council from all the leading Chambers in London.
Joseph’s colleagues benefitted greatly from his advice and encouragement over the years and it gave him immense pleasure to see them succeed in their careers.
Joseph was a big man with a big personality and his loss is felt greatly by his family, friends and colleagues. He was predeceased by his parents Tom and Nellie and his brother Jack. He is survived by his wife Yvonne, daughters Orla and Anna, their mother Mary, his siblings Dolores, Angela, Dympna, Regina, Aileen, Grace. Tom and Paul, extended family and friends.
Cremation will take place in the UK.
Local GAA club Eastern Gaels is planning a dinner dance in December to mark the 40th anniversary of the club.
A note to members said: “The enduring success and growth of our club are a testament to the unwavering dedication of our coaches, executive committee, and volunteers. Their selfless commitment has fostered a vibrant sporting community within our parish.”
Having started out on a pitch in Tulrahan before moving to a new site in Brickens in more recent years, Eastern Gaels now plans to build an astroturf pitch in the village which is located approximately half way between Ballyhaunis and Claremorris on the busy N60 road.
In its special note to members, the club leadership explained: “This state-of-the-art facility will cater to the current and future generations of our young athletes. We're confident that with the support of our community, we can turn this vision into reality.”
Local man Luke Murray, meanwhile, is preparing a special commemorative booklet to mark the occasion. Anyone who’d like to contribute by sharing any relevant articles or photographs can do so via email to lukegmurray@gmail.com.
A funding application by Mayo County Council for the refurbishment of the Old Convent in Ballyhaunis would see the town’s library move to the site, according to the council’s chief administrator for the district.
Mayo County Council has applied to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund – operated by the Department for Rural and Community Development – for funds to refurbish a derelict former primary school building adjacent to the river.
Council official Padraic Flanagan, Head of Claremorris Swinford Municipal District, explained: “The library and the refurbishment of the building and surrounding grounds is included in the application submitted. A future bridge linking across the river to the swimming pool is a further future phase not covered under this application.”
Mayo County Council purchased one of two multi-storey buildings that housed the town’s former girls primary school when the Mercy Order retired from the town over two decades ago. The other school building is in private ownership while the rest of the former Convent property, including the nuns’ residence, is now owned by Bridgestock Care, which operates a direct provision or international protection centre on the site.
The Mayo Association in Dublin has stepped up to sponsor the monthly bicycle repair clinic run by Ballyhaunis Community Council. Venue hire for two monthly meetings of the clinic will be sponsored by the Mayo Association.
Running for nearly two years, the clinic has been popular among locals seeking puncture repairs, brake adjustments and other bicycle fixes. Anyone seeking to avail of the clinic should get in touch in advance so that the volunteer repair team is aware of the work volume and spare parts needed.
The clinic runs from 10am to 12.30pm at the Community Hall. Contact ballyhauniscommunitycouncil@gmail.com or 087 9777899.
Dairy farmers are seeing strong milk prices and lower input costs this spring, according to the recently retired county chairman of the Irish Farmers' Association, Knock-based Jarlath Walsh.
Fertiliser costs have come back “nearer to where they were” prior to the conflict in Ukraine which drove farm fertiliser costs on the back of higher gas prices. Likewise, electricity prices are back “more or less,” said Walsh.
Farmers, however, face higher costs associated with entering government-funded schemes designed to raise farm income while also accomplishing environmental goals. More paperwork requires farmers to engage professional farm advisors or planners to complete the paperwork.
“Planners themselves went on strike lately because they say the schemes are more difficult to implement and are more laboursome,” explained Walsh, who believes various programmes could be consolidated. “Maybe there should be less schemes and one form for all of them,” he said.
Currently busy with spring calving, Walsh says he found his time in charge of the Mayo wing of the IFA very “educational,” enabling him to learn more about the issues facing other farming sectors outside of dairy. He will remain active in the organisation.
Congratulations to Kenneth Murphy, from the well-known Murphy’s garage and filling station, who was the winner of a trip for two to New York for five nights for the Mayo match in April in the Ballyhaunis GAA Grounds Development Draw.
Congratulations also to Harry Buckley of Annagh who won €470 in the Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw on March 4th on an envelope sold in Curley's.
The popularity of the Irish language among natives and newcomers will be on show on March 16th at the Community Hall during a special evening to mark Seachtain na Gaeilge.
Students from a weekly Irish class organised by Ballyhaunis Language Café and Ballyhaunis Community Council will be reciting poems and simple introductions in Irish during the evening, which is being sponsored by Conradh na Gaeilge through its ‘Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia’ national programme of events.
Taught by Colm Bohan, the popular Tuesday evening class draws a mix of natives and newcomers seeking to learn or improve their Irish in a friendly setting. The Irish Evening will start with a series of short films in Irish at 6pm, followed by refreshments and the presentation of Irish by the aforementioned students. Music and storytelling will follow from 8pm. Everyone is welcome to join in the evening’s activities, as a performer or spectator. Enquiries to ballyhauniscommunitycouncil@gmail.com or 087-9777899.
