Local Notes: Paddy Joe film draws big crowd in Ballyhaunis
Fans line up to take selfies with Paddy Joe Tighe in Ballyhaunis Community Hall after the screening of the wonderful documentary about his life.
A film documenting the life of local musician Paddy Joe Tighe drew a large crowd to the Community Hall on July 21.
The 90-minute documentary, made by Adam Kaczmarek, featured extensive interviews with Paddy Joe in his native Aghamore and Kilkelly. One of the interviews was filmed outside Falleighter schoolhouse in Kilkelly where Paddy Joe went to school. Paddy Joe’s friends and fellow musicians Alan Morrisroe and Connie Gildea were interviewed for the film.
Hosted by Ballyhaunis Community Council as part of its series of events for Heritage Week, the film screening drew a large contingent from the Aghamore, Kilkelly, Tooreen and Ballyhaunis areas.
In the film, Paddy Joe recalls his youth, the influence of his mother, also a musician, on his playing style and also discusses collaborations with other noted musicians. He also revisits memories of playing at wedding parties in local pubs, including Griffin’s bar and restaurant which was located where Colleran’s pharmacy now operates in Ballyhaunis. Paddy Joe also expresses a wish in the film that Irish youth engage with their native language and music.
There are plans to show the film again over the winter months. Contact ballyhauniscommunitycouncil@gmail.com for more details.
Niall Browne, the CEO of Dawn Meats, attended the official opening of the new Dawn Meats Stand at Dawn Meats Ballyhaunis GAA Grounds on Sunday, August 23.
Browne was assisted in the ribbon cutting by lifelong Ballyhaunis GAA clubman Paddy Waldron of Redford, a member of the victorious Ballyhaunis side that won the Mayo County Senior Football Championship in 1958.
The opening ceremony, which took place ahead of the Round 2 Intermediate Championship clash between Ballyhaunis and Castlebar Mitchels, was also attended by local parish priest Fr Stephen Farragher who blessed the new facility.
In his address to those gathered for the occasion, club chairman William Nestor paid tribute to previous generations of club officers and thanked the club’s current officers, members and volunteers who had worked tirelessly to bring this current phase of development to fruition. After the speeches, light refreshments were served in the new meeting rooms at the clubhouse.
Planning permission has been sought to change the use of the building which once housed Larganboy National School from vacant school to dwelling house. Closed in 1969, the school holds many memories for locals.
The closure in Larganboy was one of many during the 1960s and 1970s, as successive governments pursued a policy of amalgamation and "rationalisation" of schools under Fianna Fáil ministers for education, including Donogh O'Malley and Pádraig Faulkner, who argued that resources should be concentrated on modernising and refurbishing fewer schools. Approximately 1,100 one and two-teacher rural primary schools were closed between 1966 and 1973.
Among the many who visited an exhibition and film on rural shops of the Ballyhaunis area was John Raftery from Glenamaddy whose family over many years operated a wholesale company for the small stores which once dotted local townlands.
Also among those present was John Fitzmaurice, now in his nineties, who ran a shop in Brackloon from which he also operated a travelling shop between 1954 and 1978.
The exhibition and film screening were organised by Ballyhaunis Community Council as part of its Heritage Week programme. A further screening of the film, which features shopkeepers and their customers, is planned for the winter months.
The historical and cultural significance of Ballyhaunis’ Augustinian friary settlement was highlighted by a prestigious line up of speakers at the ‘Foundations of a Friary’ symposium in the town’s ancient Augustinian Friary - Saint Mary’s Abbey - on Saturday, August 22.
Dr Yvonne McDermott drew attention to the many interesting architectural features still evident at the Ballyhaunis friary, comparing its layout with those of other friaries and abbeys in the west of Ireland. Her detailed examination of stonework still visible or recorded in early photographs revealed intricate decorative features that might easily escape notice, while explaining their significance as religious motifs.
Outlining the Augustinian Order’s presence in Ireland, Fr Iggy O’Donovan detailed the life of Fr James Anderson, who renovated and refurbished the Friary church during his short term as prior in Ballyhaunis from 1874-79. Fr Anderson was connected with all the major figures and events in late 19th and early 20th century Nationalist politics including O’Donovan Rossa, John Boyle O’Reilly, Maud Gonne, Padraic Pearse and Arthur Griffith.
University of Galway academic Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle brought the audience on a journey through the history of east Mayo over one thousand years, taking in the earliest references to the Ballyhaunis Friary in religious and secular sources in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Br. Colmán Ó Clabaigh gave an informative and entertaining presentation on the Augustinian order’s arrival in Ireland in the 1280s and rapid expansion through Connacht in the 14th and 15th centuries. Of particular interest was the story of Richard Nangle (died c.1541), possibly a local man, who went on to become head of the order in Ireland. After the Reformation he was later appointed one of this country’s first protestant bishops.
Details of a planned Conservation Masterplan for the church and grounds were delivered by Orla Kennelly, Friary Heritage Projects Manager and Municipal District Architect, Mayo County Council. This plan considers the grounds’ enormous collective heritage significance as a protected site, containing six registered recorded monuments plus two more pending registration and another just outside the site boundaries.
The St Mary’s Abbey Conservation Management Plan relates specifically to the church, which is both a protected structure under the Mayo Development Plan and a listed structure on the Buildings of Ireland National Register.
A member of the Abbey Trust, Paul Waldron, who acted as MC for the event, said the symposium will become an annual event. Those who attended had praised the venue, selection of topics, speakers, presentations and catering, he said.
It was another memorable heritage weekend organised by the Brackloon School and District Reunion Group this year.
Organised as part of the 'Clans of Mayo' initiative by Mayo County Council, the weekend started with an organised bus day tour of North Mayo on Thursday, August 20, which took in the Foxford Woollen Mills, Admiral Brown Park and the Lahardane Titanic Memorial Park as well as the Clarke Museum of Irish History and a local whiskey distillery in Ballina.
Skerries-based Brackloon native and one of the organisers of the weekend Seamus Kenny explained how a Saturday evening event at Ballyhaunis Community Hall featured screenings of videos from around the Brackloon area.
“The highlight of the video presentations was an extensive interview by Martin Fitzmaurice with John Fitzmaurice of Lisbane about his days and reminisces with his family operating the old travelling shop by horse and subsequently by motor van in the district.
“Also during the evening visitors viewed paintings of special local interest and lore by local artists Eammon Glynn, Sorcha McNamara and Johnny O’Shaughnessy. The celebration continued with traditional music and song provided by local musicians.
“The Brackloon School and District Reunion committee wish to sincerely thank all those who attended the two-day celebration. The committee wish to thank Corduff Travel for providing tour guidance and transport facility. A special appreciation is extended to the Ballyhaunis Community Council for facilitating our Heritage Night in the Ballyhaunis Community Hall and allowing our group to collaborate our evening celebration with their fascinating retail heritage exhibition.”
Locals will have noticed vans from Limerick-based water services company Eureka Tech in the Ballyhaunis area over the past week.
The company has been engaged by Uisce Éireann to repair piping locally.
“Eureka Tech recently began working as a sub-contractor of Farra'ns Construction on behalf of Uisce Éireann, detecting water main leaks,” an Uisce Éireann spokesperson told this column. “They are working in the Ballyhaunis area, on the Link Road and on the Ballinlough Road.”
Work is underway putting together ‘Annagh 2026’, the 49th edition of the Ballyhaunis annual parish magazine.
The editorial committee is accepting articles, club reports and photographs to be considered for inclusion in this year’s issue. A special appeal is made to secretaries and PROs of local clubs and organisations to make sure reports and photographs are submitted in good time.
Material may be emailed to info@annaghmag.ie or given to any committee member: Tommy Caulfield, Noreen Ruane Dalton, John Kilduff, Jim Lundon, Edward Mulhern, Seamus Mulrennan, Nell Rochford, Mike Griffin, Gabriel Smith and Paul Waldron.
The deadline for material is Friday, October 16, just over five weeks away. Due to the pressure on printing works as Christmas approaches, it is vital that material be submitted before the deadline.
