Local notes: New women's group coming to Foxford
Enjoying the Foróige Amplified Music Festival 2025 in Knockmore were Kyle Kelly, Michael McCready, Donnacha Walsh, Leo Lavarde, Molly Gallagher, Ellen McGuire and Grace Moran, from Knockmore and Foxford. Picture: John O'Grady
The very first meeting of an all-new Foxford Women’s Group is to be held on Bank Holiday Monday, August 4 at 8.30pm in The Moy Hotel. This new social group offers a fantastic chance to meet other women in the area for enjoyable evenings filled with chat, drinks, nibbles and various activities.
If you are interested in coming along, RSVP to Christine at 087-9509764 or Yvonne at 087-6593245.
Cllr Neil Cruise has once again voiced his concerns to Mayo County Council about the dangerous positioning of the pedestrian crossing in Foxford and has warned that he is prepared to lead a protest by local residents and block the pedestrian crossing, which is on the throughfare from Ballina to Dublin.
Cllr Cruise raised the matter at last week's meeting of Mayo County Council where he described the speed at which vehicles pass through Foxford as “unbelievable”.
“There were two more accidents at the pedestrian crossing recently and there is no doubt there will be a fatality,” he warned. “It is purely out of speed and lack of visibility at that crossing. We don’t need any more reports, works need to start happening here. It is coming to a situation where it will be blocked and I will lead the charge if necessary because we have been highlighting this for eleven years. We have a beautiful town. We don’t want a fatality happening,” added Cllr Cruise.
Director of Services Tom Gilligan acknowledged there were issues and that the crossing needed to be raised for visibility, adding: “It is being looked at but I can’t give a timeline as to works.”
Moy Davitts celebrated a hard fought 2-16 to 2-12 win over near rivals Kiltimagh last Tuesday, July 15 and in the process claimed the East Mayo minor ‘B’ football championship at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.
The boys were full value for their victory as they kept their neighbours at arm’s length for much of this contest.
Eanna Byrne and Dean Butler had kicked two points each and there was one apiece by Kevin Moylett, James Duffy, Cian Fahey and Stephen Conlon before the big turning point of the opening period came when Moy Davitts were awarded a penalty. Wing-back Stephen Conlon stood over the spot kick and made no mistake in raising the game’s first green flag to put Moy Davitts four ahead.
Kiltimagh halved their arrears before half-time and started the second-half strongly when squeezing in their opening goal, but Moy Davitts would answer almost immediately with another of their own, this time by Cian Fahey who gave his side a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Moylett, Butler and Fahey, with a two point free, pushed the lead out to six and were able to see out the game with relative ease, with James Duffy and Dean Butler rounding off the scoring for Moy Davitts in a game that saw both sides end with fourteen players.
Moy Davitts: Cathal O’Neill; Conal Reid, Padraig McKeown; Stephen Conlon (1-0-1, 1-0pen), James Duffy (0-1-1, 1tpf), Jason Walsh; Eanna Byrne (0-0-2), Cian Fahey (1-1-1, 1tpf); Dylan McHugh, Kevin Moylett (0-0-2), Matthew Ruane; Joe Horan, Dean Butler (0-0-5). Subs: Rory Byrne, Dylan McHale, Donnacha Timlin.
The Class of 2000 from St Joseph’s Secondary School are to hold a 25 year school reunion on Saturday, August 16. There will be a blessing in the secondary school at 6pm followed by a tour of the school and refreshments. There will be a further chance to catch up in Cruiser's Bar at 8pm. For further information contact Nuala McNulty on 087-9150237.
Set dancing classes are being held every Wednesday at 7pm in the Brown Memorial Hall. New beginners are more than welcome.
The senior ladies footballers of Moy Davitts suffered their first defeat in Mayo LGFA Senior League Division 2B when MacHale Rovers beat them by 4-16 to 2-15 in Ardagh on Sunday, July 13. The result hasn’t knocked Moy Davitts from the top of the table however, as they currently sit ahead of Rovers on scoring difference.
The draw for the 2025 Mayo Intermediate Championship took place last week and has placed Moy Davitts in Group B along with the aforementioned MacHale Rovers, Ballyhaunis and Davitts. The group matchdays are August 31, September 7 and September 14 with the semi-finals pencilled in for September 21 and the final for October 5.
Meanwhile, the minor ladies were in action on Friday evening last, hosting Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin, and after a great battle it was the visitors who narrowly prevailed, 6-8 to 2-16.
The Foxford Alzheimer's and Community Trust has asked supporters not to leave donations outside the door of its charity shop in Foxford, as it leaves the area untidy and also hinders the walkway for residents. Instead, note the drop off times of 11am to 5pm on Tuesday to Saturday only. Items accepted include clothes for all ages and genders and shoes that are in wearable condition, crockery and glassware, kitchen utensils, books, records, coats, jewellery and handbags. The Trust is sincerely grateful to everyone who donates their items to support Foxford Alzheimer's and Community Trust Support Services, without whose kindness the service would not operate.
The baptism was held in St Michael’s Church, Foxford on Saturday, July 5 of Ollie Tom Flannery, Culmore. Congratulations to him, his parents Sonya and Jason, and the wider families.
The funeral was held on Saturday last, July 19, of Nancy Rainey (née Ruane), Blanemore, Straide and formerly of Clongee, Foxford. Nancy was in her 97th year when she passed peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Predeceased by her husband Bertie, son Dominic and his wife Carmel, and also her brothers and sisters, Nancy is deeply regretted by her loving family Breege Hyland (Straide), PJ Rainey (Straide), and Mary Jordan (Bohola), her sons-in-law Billy Hyland and John Jordan, daughter-in-law Christine Rainey, her fourteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren, her loving sister Mairéad Heany (An Spidéal), nieces, nephews, neighbours and friends.
Nancy lay in repose in the Michael Davitt Community Centre on Friday with her requiem mass celebrated the following day at the Church of St Peter and Paul, Straide. Burial afterwards was in the adjoining cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
The junior footballers of Moy Davitts staved off relegation from the Premier Junior A Championship last Friday when they travelled to play Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin in a playoff final which they won by eight points, 2-14 to 1-09.
Well done to the underage players and coaches of Moy Davitts GAA who undertook the fundraising Cycle 2 Croker in Foxford last Saturday. The event also included numerous parents and committee members who carried out the bucket collection which serves as a vital Bord na nÓg fundraiser. All monies raised go towards the development of underage in the club, including the purchase of equipment and upkeep of facilities and pitches.
The memory of lifelong Moy Davitts supporter Stephen Jordan will be honoured this coming Friday evening, July 25, as Kiltimagh GAA club welcomes Moy Davitts to play the Stephen Jordan Memorial Match, which will be the first ever played on the new pitch at Gilmartin Park.
Stephen, from Bohola, also had a huge affinity with Kiltimagh where he would often be seen socialising having also attended St Louis Community School.
All are welcome to next Friday's game which gets underway at 8pm. On the evening there will be a voluntary gate collection for Mayo Cancer Support Association (Rock Rose House).
The funeral took place in Straide last week of Margaret Durkan (née Keenaghan), better known as Peggy, from Ummoon, Foxford and formerly of Gorthmellia, Barnatra. Margaret passed peacefully in the exceptional care of the staff of the Mayo Hospice Castlebar.
Margaret will be dearly and lovingly missed by her beloved husband Michael, daughter Margaret, sons, John, William, James and Gerard, her sisters Mary, Ellen and Nancy, grandchildren, son-in-law JP, daughters-in-law Eithne, Rachel and Niamh, and James’ partner Patrick, and extended family and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Maggie and John, her sister Kathleen and her brothers Patrick, Michael, Thomas, Seamus and infant brothers John, Joseph, Martin and infant sister Bridget.
Margaret lay in repose at her residence until removal for her funeral Mass last Tuesday, July 15 at the Church of St Peter and Paul, Straide. Burial afterwards was in Straide New Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
A fundraising pub quiz in aid of next month’s Foxford Riverfest will be held this coming Friday, July 25 in Cruiser’s Bar. Getting underway at 9pm, entry is €40 for a table of four. There will be lots of spot prizes and loads of craic so be sure to come along and help support this community festival which is taking place on the weekend of August 22-24.
A bumper Saturday of music is being planned by the organisers who are aiming to have eleven bands play over the course of eleven hours to mark the eleventh staging of the festival, with styles to suit all tastes.
Another highly anticipated feature of this year’s festival will be the Lantern parade and anyone would like to take part are invited to attend drumming workshops on the Mondays of August 4th (Bank Holiday), 11th and 18th from 7 to 8:30pm at Foxford Leisure Centre.
Other events planned for Riverfest include Candles to the Sea on Friday, August 22, yarn bombing, softball and angling, while there will also be the usual children’s activities, crafters, food stalls and the ever popular vintage tea room.
The Admiral William Brown Society was proudly represented at last Friday’s commissioning ceremony of the 63rd Cadet Class of the Naval Service, where the Admiral Brown medal was presented to Sligo recruits Oisín Anderson and Martin McHale. The medals were specially commissioned and made by Foxford Jewellery.
The East Mayo Angling Association is to hold its yearly youth angling event later this month, on July 26. For enquiries and application forms, contact Kathleen at the EMAA office on 094-92-53955 or 086-3946837. The closing date for entries is July 20 as numbers are limited for safety reasons.
The Moy Davitts Golf Classic returns to Ballina Golf Club on Saturday, August 9. A team of four will cost €160 to enter and there will be major prizes for all winners. Ballina Golf Club is now accepting entries. Contact 096-21050.
A number of cemetery masses are to celebrated local in the coming weeks. Friday, August 1 – St Martin’s, Glanduff at 7pm; Saturday, August 2 – Toomore at 6pm; Sunday, August 3 – Craggagh at 11am; Sunday, August 3 – Straide Cemetery at 11am.
