Local Notes: Presentation to Mayo All-Ireland winner Ryan O'Donoghue from Golden Gloves Boxing Club, Belmullet.
Mayo All-Ireland winner Ryan O’Donoghue and soon to be Footballer of the Year as well as an All-Star was back at his old stomping ground, the Golden Gloves Boxing Club recently were he received a presentation from the Club a signed Liverpool jersey by Ian Rush and a presentation from the Mayo Boxing Board. Pictured with Club coaches and young boxing talent in the making.
Erris Athletic Club athletes ran in the Mayo Evens Cross Country competition in Doolough recently. U8s; Aoibhéann Thompson, Sadhbh Thompson, Jane Schult, Naoise Deane, Ríona Geraghty, Eleanor Howard, Cillian McNamara, Liam Donoghue, Aaron Howard, Daithi McDonnell. U10s; Realtín Barrett, Blaithin Shannon, Emily Gaughan, Seoda Deane, Cara Geraghty, Aoibhéann Deane, Maeve Walsh, Niamh Walsh, Paige Gaughan, Ivy Gaughan, Mae Howard, Hannah Lally, Annie Lavelle, Eirnin Thompson, Theo Sweeney, Liam Barrett, Iollan Gruddy, Donal McAndrew, Liam Monaghan, Jack Conroy, Paidi Padden, Donal Reilly, Theo Padden, Kyle Padden. U12s; Sophie Schult, Saraid Deane, Saoirse O’Malley, Erris Conroy, Róisin Edwards, Ellie Togher, Fiadh Thompson, Oliver Reilly, Conn Howard, Sean Murphy, Freddie Cafferkey. U14s; James Reilly, Liam Quinn. U16s Mary Kate Reilly. Seniors; Damien Padden and Leonard Shevlin.
Over 550 athletes from around Mayo took part in what was Mayo’s biggest ever Cross Country event. The club had over 60 athletes from Erris representing them. The course was challenging and scenic, with breath-taking views of Doolough beach and Blacksod Bay. Many of the athletes even enjoyed a dip in the sea to soothe the aching legs.
The 4th Annual Mary Gilboy Darts Memorial will be held on Sunday, October 25, in the Eagle Bar in Corclough West. Mayo Ladies open event begins at 12.30pm and the Memorial Cup (confined to Erris) begins at 4pm. There will be a raffle on the day with all proceeds going to Cara Iorrais.
The new Erris Darts season began over the weekend and sees the first night of the 26/27 Village league darts season takes place with the newly created cup and shield knockout events in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel. After the Mayo Darts Organisation rankings were completed, all league teams took to the ochie to battle it out to lift the cup and shield knockout trophies.
Sunset Scene Art thank Áras Inis Gluaire, for displaying the finalists of their Sunset Scene Art competition as part of the recent walk. They thank all the talented local children and young people who took part and helped create a beautiful display on the evening. Congratulations to the prize winners: Hannah Lavelle, Mila McLaughlin, Lily O’Boyle, Kevin McDonnell and IWA School Leavers Group.
Thank you to all who attended or expressed an interest re the setting up of a local Conference of SVP - Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Erris. If you couldn’t make the meeting but are interested in getting involved, it just takes a few simple steps - Go on to the SVP website and select volunteer; register your interest and request and application form; complete the application form- select “Home Visitation” option; complete garda vetting and reference checks; complete 2 hours of online training; there is an additional 3 hour training with experienced SVP members before you start volunteering.
If you need any help or assistance, or have any questions contact the Member Support Officer, Serena Mathews on 086 2449199.
Once enough people have registered and set up to volunteer, a local SVP Conference can be formed. Thank you to Kieran Walsh, SVP - Vincent's Shop, Ballina, for attending the information meeting and chatting with the attendance about the process.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club lotto jackpot of €6,700 with the two €50 winners being Raymond Carey, Cloontakilla and Jarmo Malinen while Cadhla Winters, Cloontakilla and Seamus McGuire, Doohoma both won €25s. The two online winners were Vanessa Sweeney, Springfield, Bangor €50 and Fiona Gallagher, Tawnagh €25.
Sinn Féin TD for Mayo, Rose Conway-Walsh, has raised serious concerns over the transfer of a clerical support role from the Primary Care facility in Belmullet to South Mayo, warning that the decision represents yet another erosion of essential services in rural communities.
Deputy Conway-Walsh said the role currently provides important administrative support across a number of local health services, including physiotherapy, public health nursing and school-related appointments.
Teachta Conway-Walsh said: “This is deeply concerning for the people of Belmullet and the wider Erris community. Removing local clerical support is not simply an administrative change; it has a direct impact on frontline services and on the patients and families who depend on them. Staff working in physiotherapy, public health nursing and other services need proper administrative support so that they can concentrate on providing healthcare. It is completely unreasonable to expect healthcare professionals to absorb clerical duties on top of their existing responsibilities.
This is part of a much wider problem facing rural communities. Bit by bit, essential services and jobs are being centralised and taken away from towns like Belmullet. Each individual decision may be presented as a minor restructuring, but the cumulative effect is the stripping away of vital local services. I am calling on the HSE to urgently review this decision and provide clarity on how physiotherapy, public health nursing, school appointments and other services currently supported by this role will be administered once the local clerical position is removed. People living in rural Mayo are entitled to accessible, properly staffed public services, the quality of which should not be dictated by geography. We need investment in local services and local jobs, not their gradual removal,” concluded Deputy Conway-Walsh.
Huge congratulations to Ava, Alex and Emma who graded under Sensei Kasuya recently for their black belts. The club is so proud of them after all their hard work and dedication over the years. Thank you to all at WSKF Ireland, and to Saint Brendan's College, Belmullet for allowing the use of their facilities throughout the summer months to continue training with the three girls.
Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo, in conjunction with SEAI and Churchfield Home Services, is organising an information session in the Seanscoil Community Centre in Ceathrú Thaidhg (F26 Y8P7) on Wednesday, October 7, at 7pm, which will provide information on the schemes that are available in relation to retrofits for domestic dwellings, energy efficiency measures, grants that are available etc.
SEAI is Ireland's national sustainable energy authority which works with householders, businesses, communities and the government to create a cleaner energy future. Dr Orla Nic Suibhne, SEAI mentor, will outline all of SEAI's grants that are available for homeowners. Churchfield Home Services is an SEAI registered One Stop Shop for home energy upgrades and is one of Ireland’s leading home heating and insulation specialists. Its head office is based in Crossmolina, Co Mayo and Sean Ruane will describe the OSS journey. If you are thinking of upgrading the energy efficiency, or retrofitting, your home (new windows and doors, attic and wall insulation, a more efficient heating system etc) to improve the BER rating of your house this is an ideal opportunity to discuss your plans with qualified experts.
Tá go leor scéimeanna agus tacaíochtaí le fáil agus beidh daoine cáilithe i láthair chun chomhairle a chur ort agus do cheisteanna a fhreagairt. Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ach glaoch a chur ar 097 88082 / 087 1251642 nó ar an ríomhphoist ag dunchaochain1@gmail.com.
Erris Workability is offering a weekly workSPACE initiative, providing participants with opportunities to try different roles, develop skills and confidence, meet new people and gain valuable community experience. New opportunities are available each week, with eligibility criteria applying. For further information, contact Siobhan on 087 499 6605.
The draw was held on September 27, and the numbers drawn were; 3, 16, 21, and 36 for a jackpot €5,000 with no winner of jackpot. The house prize €100 winner was Marie McGrath, c/o Belderrig and €30 offline winners were Lexi and Zoe Deane, Glenamoy and Maier Cait Ui Mhurchu, Kilgalligan. The €30 online winners were Zita Sheridan, Pullathomas and Shona Coultry, Belderrig.
A free women’s wellness evening will take place on Thursday, October 8, at 7.30pm in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet. Catherine O’Keeffe, The Wellness Warrior, will lead a friendly and practical discussion on pre menopause and menopause, covering sleep, mood, hormones, treatment and lifestyle options, with plenty of time for questions. Booking is essential by texting 087 184 0214 to reserve your place.
“We Have Him Back!” the theatrical production is playing to sell out venues across the country, is about Mayo hunger striker Frank Stagg whose body was seized by the Irish government 50 years ago and buried in a remote grave against his last wishes, is coming to the Royal Theatre in Castlebar on October 10. Brían MacSuibhne, who wrote the script and directs the play, drew great inspiration from members of the Stagg family. “George Stagg made a promise to his brother, and George fulfilled that promise. “We Have Him back!” is not a story just about Frank - it’s about family and sibling love.” Tickets are doing very well. The production will soon play Belfast, Monaghan, then Dublin, Derry, Duncannon before heading south into Thurles and Tralee and then across the water to the UK. A coach will be leaving Belmullet for the TF show.
