Local Notes: Presentation of the Danny Kelly Cup at Kilmovee Shamrocks GAA awards night.
Carmel Kelly and Padraig Horan making a presentation of the Danny Kelly Cup to Sean Horan (centre) in recognition of the efforts Sean has made for Kilmovee Shamrocks GAA club at the recent Kilmovee Shamrocks GAA Dinner Dance and Awards Night which as held in Julians, Midfield.
Items for inclusion in the notes can be submitted by email to ryankneafsey@gmail.com or call/text/WhatsApp 087 7694781 (after 6pm). Deadline for receipt of items is 6.30pm Wednesday.
Congratulations to Alannah Thornburgh on receiving the award for Best Folk Instrumentalist at the 2025 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards held in Vicar Street last week. This award recognises Alannah’s exceptional skill and contributions to the Irish music scene. Well done Alannah and continued success.
Swinford AC will hold a table quiz in Julians of Midfield on Friday, March 7, at 9pm. Tables of 4 €40. Fantastic prizes to be won. All proceeds go to Swinford Athletics Club Track Development.
Congratulations to Mick Lynch on winning the January Killasser Community Centre 50/50 draw winning a prize of €570. €20 spot prizes were won by Karen Convey and Gerry Moore. The February draw will take place on Sunday, March 9.
Enrolment of Junior Infants for September 2025 is now open for Midfield National School. Forms can be downloaded at www.midfieldns.ie or contact the school on 094 9252037.
Swinford FC are looking for players for the U17 girls team for the 2025 season. If interested in playing football this season parents are asked to join the group https://chat.whatsapp.com/EefQOTQHZdt1HhyRLPDrHW.
Registration is now open on Foireann for the 2025 season. Please register before March 31. Any player not registered by March 31, will not be able to participate in 2025 training from that date as they will not be insured. Any difficulty with registration, contact club registrars, Carmel Heaney or Patricia Smyth.
Swinford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Monday, March 17, at 3pm. This year’s theme is The Year That Was.
The Achonry Pioneer Dinner Dance will be held in the Yeats County Hotel Curry on Friday, March 21, at 8pm. Music by the Duets, tickets €35 available from Yvonne in Moores Supermarket Swinford.
The numbers drawn in the Swinford Community Lotto draw held on February 24, were; 7, 10, 16 and 23. There was no jackpot winner. €70 vouchers were won by Jimmie Muldowney, Carnacull and A.L.D.T, c/o Moore's. The jackpot in the latest draw which was held on March 3, was €3,800.
Results of the game played in Swinford Golf Clubhouse on Thursday, February 20; card winners John Gallagher, Brian McNulty, Fr Paddy Smyth, Josie Prendergast, Martin McNeela, Marty Munnelly, Philip Moore and Tom Durkan. Raffle prizes were won by Mary Callaghan, Philip Moore, Martin McNeela and Phyllis Bredican. The game continues every Thursday at 9pm.
Congratulations to Darragh Campbell winner of the Swinford GAA 50/50 draw winning €518.
Swinford Book Club will meet in Swinford Library on Wednesday, March 26, at 3.30 to discuss LaRose by Louise Erdrich. New members always welcome. Congratulations.
Congratulations to Claudine Brennan on securing her place on the Mayo LGFA panel for 2025 and to Chloe Gallagher who is on the Mayo U14 team.
As a part of Swinford’s St Patrick’s Day festivities the first ever Trad Trails will take place. Swinford is a town with a huge amount of local talent with a well-established and active local Comhaltas Michael Davitt CCE branch with invaluable talent and experience. On Saturday, March 15, Swinford will host musicians from all over the county along with Swinford’s very own local wonderful talent.
Sympathy is extended to the families and friends of Penny Dickson, Ardhoom, Meelick, Swinford and Dolores Mulroy (née Kelly), Laughtadurkan, Bohola and formerly of Toughnane, Bohola. May they rest in peace.
Acclaimed accordion player Declan Payne is the guest musician for the March Fair Night Session. The session will be held in Campbell’s Lounge, Main Street on Wednesday night, March 5, starting at 9pm. Swinford Comhaltas are looking forward to welcoming Declan to Swinford. Everyone is welcome to the session, come along to join in or to listen, watch and enjoy the wonderful music.
The Connacht finals of Ceol an Gheimhridh were held in Swinford on Saturday, February 15. The committee and members of Michael Davitt CCE (Swinford Comhaltas) are very grateful to everyone who helped make the event such a success. People from all over Connacht left Swinford on Saturday evening full of admiration and compliments for the great welcome they received and the great community spirit they witnessed. There was a lot more traffic than expected but the mighty men on traffic duty coped admirably. So many of Swinford Comhaltas friends and musicians volunteered their time and talent and kept everything running smoothly. Thanks also to Sean Julian, Lettuce Eat, O’Hara’s Bakery, Padraig Horkan’s and Boland’s for their support. All the Swinford competitors came away with medals; John Green (flute), Emily O’Brien (singing), Roisín Sheerin (storytelling) and Beth Ní Neachtáin (recitation). Congratulations and well done.
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Kilmovee.
Kilmovee NS are now accepting enrolments for the school year 2025/26. Forms are available from the school. Contact Caitriona McDonnell, principal at kilmoveens1@gmail.com or 094 9861282.
Bingo is held in Kilmovee Community on Sunday evenings at 8.30pm. The jackpot is €1,300 on 49 calls or less the house lotto is €280 on four correct numbers, there is also a 50/50 draw with a guaranteed winner every week.
The Irish Dancing classes resumed in Durkins, Ballaghaderreen, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 till 8.30pm. Beginners are welcome. For details contact Ethna on 087 6661905.
Tavrane NS are currently taking enrolments for the coming school year 2025/26. Contact the school at 086 859 0664 or tavranens@gmail.com.
A Youth Pilgrimage (18 to 35 year olds) in Rome will be held from July 29 to August 8, costing €995 per person. Achonry and Elphin Diocesan pilgrimage will be held from October 22 to 27 inclusive, costing €1499 per person sharing. Contact JWT 01 241 0800 or www.achonrydiocese.org.
The annual Achonry Pioneer dinner dance takes place on Friday, March 21, at 8pm at The Yeats County Inn, Curry. Pioneers and non-pioneers are welcome to attend. Music on the night will be supplied by The Duets and there will be a raffle. Tickets are €35 each and available by contacting 086 166 0196.
Mayo Cancer Support, at Rock Rose House, wishes to thank all those who supported and facilitated its recent Church Gate at Glan and Kilkelly on the weekend of February 15 and 16 last. Special thanks to the volunteer collectors. A total of €306.65 was raised. These funds will support the ongoing provision of emotional support to local people affected by cancer.
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Bohola.
The death occurred of Dolores Mulroy (née Kelly), Laughtadurkan and formerly of Toughnane who was buried in Meelick cemetery on Sunday, February 23. She was mother of Brendan Mulroy, Loughtadurkan; and John Houlihan, Lorrha, Co. Tipperary who was buried in Lorrha on Saturday, February 22. He was brother of Vera Costello, Shraheens. Sincere sympathy is extended to the bereaved.
Bohola NS is currently accepting applications for 2025-2026. An enrolment evening will be held on Tuesday, March 4, from 5 to 6pm. Application forms are available by emailing the school at boholaschool@gmail.com or by phoning 094 9384271.
Congratulations to the McGowan grandchildren, Bohola, who won a jackpot of €333 in the Moy Davitts 50/50 draw on Saturday, February 22. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the draw, it is greatly appreciated. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by playing on the club app (Moy Davitts GAA).
A National Youth Retreat will take place at Knock Shrine on Thursday, May 8. Students from all over Ireland will gather at Knock Shrine to celebrate the life of Donal Walsh and to reflect on his message to 'Live Life'. If you are interested in learning more about the day or registering a group email youthministry@knockshrine.ie.
You can drop into your local centre or contact it by phone and email for information, advice and advocacy. Make sure you check your local service's opening hours if you are dropping in. Appointments are offered as needed following an initial assessment. You can also call the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 Monday to Friday 9am-8pm.
The Medjugorje Irish Centre organise pilgrimages to Medjugorje from April to June offering 7 nights apartment accommodation B & B for €273 per person sharing. Airport transfers are available on request. Contact Ireland, 01 44 34 510 Medjugorje 00387 36 651 518 for details or email reservations@med-irishcentre.com.
Age Friendly Mayo is delivered by Mayo County Council and works to improve the services that older people have identified as being important to them, and the wider community, as they live healthy and active lives. The projects they offer in conjunction with other organisations include; outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, respect and social inclusion, social participation, communication and education, civic participation and employment and health and wellbeing The key contributors to this programme are the Age Friendly Alliance and Mayo OIder Peoples Council. The Age Friendly Alliance brings together older people, service providers and businesses to change thinking about aging and how services to older people are planned and delivered.
If you would like to find out more about this programme email agefriendlymayo@mayococo.ie.
Life after bereavement can feel very lonely. Trained facilitators conduct a weekly 'Bereavement Support Meeting' at the Family Centre, Knock Shrine, each Wednesday at 11am.
There is also a special meeting for bereaved partners /spouses on the first Thursday of each month at 11am. No appointment needed. Further information from Monica Morley, 094 9375320.
