Local Notes: Prestigious accolade for Foxford firm
Michael and Julie O'Hara of O'Hara's in Foxford are pictured receiving their award at the annual Blas Na h-Eireann Irish Food Awards in Dingle recently from Artie Clifford, Chairman, Blas na hEireann and Emmett Logue, Andrews Ingredients, sponsor. O'Hara's received the award for Best in Mayo. Two other Foxford firms, CPAC Foods and Foxford Cafe, were also honoured. Picture: Don MacMonagle
Foxford’s Amber Hardy has been called up to the Republic of Ireland women's U19 squad for an upcoming double header against Belgium.
The Sligo Rovers goalkeeper previously played for Straide & Foxford United before making the move to the Showgrounds. She has also represented Mayo in the Gaynor Cup.
She faces tough but friendly competition for the number one jersey against Katie Keane of Athlone Town and Nicole Nix of Wexford but has every chance of representing her country against Belgium in either game, taking place on October 26 and October 29.
There are just days to go until the 10th Foxford Traditional Weekend brings some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, singers and dancers – not to mention hundreds of enthusiasts – to town for a jampacked programme of events. In fact, the organisers have arranged no fewer than 38 events to take place across the four days from Thursday, October 17 to Sunday, October 20.
Headline acts like Bríd Harper, Steve Cooney, Dermot Byrne, Don Stiffe, the Hernon Family, Michael Rooney, June McCormack, Laoise Kelly, Eoin O’Donnell and many, many more, will provide music, song, dance and storytelling, the likes of won’t be rivalled anywhere in the country this weekend.
There are two concerts, a recital lecture, masterclasses and workshops, along with performances from Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble, the Mayo Youth Orchestra and Mayo Trad Ensemble, and a session trail lineup which is sure to get your heart a beating.
The organising committee has advanced a special thankyou to the local community for its support of this festival and also to the many travelling and local musicians.
For bookings and further information, visit the festival website at www.foxfordtraditionalweekend.com.
To coincide with next weekend’s Foxford Traditional Weekend, locals and visitors alike are invited to join with local historian Oliver Murphy of Foxford Heritage and immerse themselves in the town’s rich heritage. Oliver will conduct two free heritage tours on Saturday at 1pm and 3pm with the meeting point being Foxford Woollen Mills ten minutes prior to each tour. The tour of 36 historical sites will be approximately 90 minutes in duration.
The excitement is fever pitch as the footballers of Moy Davitts are in the midst of preparing for the final of the county intermediate football championship on Sunday, October 27.
The club is asking the entire community to get behind the team in advance of the final against Crossmolina Deel Rovers and decorate the area in red and white. Flags, bunting and car flags can be purchased in shops in Foxford and Bohola.
Moy Davitts qualified on the back of a narrow one point victory over Davitts, 0-11 to 1-7, in the semi-final at Charlestown last Saturday week and are now just one more win from returning to the senior ranks in this 50th anniversary year of the club.
Moy Davitts: Chris McGlynn; Neil Murphy, Oisin McHugh, Fiachra Cruise; Cathal Clarke, Jack Dunleavy, Jamie Clarke; Conor Reid, Anthony Jordan; Cian McHale (0-5, 3f), Colm McHale, Sean Kelly (0-1); Brian Heneghan, Brian Reape, Ronan Clarke (0-5, 3f). Subs: Padraig Ruane (for J Clarke 46), Oisin Quinn (for Dunleavy 50), Alan Bourke (for Cruise 60+3).
With both Knockmore and Moy Davitts having qualified for this year’s Mayo senior and intermediate football championship finals, to mark this wonderful achievement Foxford National School is inviting its students to wear their club colours – the blue and yellow or red and white – to school this coming Friday, October 18.
Although meeting on every second Thursday, there will be no meeting of Foxford Board Games on October 24 as a special Halloween event is held for its current members. The group will return to its usual schedule on November 14 at 7pm in Foxford Leisure Centre.
The Transition Year students of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford were last week treated to a talk from Focus Ireland’s Monica McElhinney about the Shine a Light campaign, which highlights homelessness in Ireland. In order to raise awareness of the issue, the students have organised a ‘sleepout’ at the school this coming Friday, October 18. There will also be a non-uniform day to raise funds to support Focus Ireland. All support greatly appreciated.
There were some excellent results and performances by students of St Joseph’s at the Mayo Cross Country Championships in Swinford on Sunday, October 6. Rory Gruddy was crowned U15 boys champion while Darragh O’Brien was placed 12th in the same race, which was over a distance of 3,500m.
Ella Ginty ran the same distance to take team bronze with Swinford AC in the U15 girls while Ciara O’Brien was part of Swinford AC’s U17 girls winning team over 4,500m.
Darragh Reynolds placed third individual in the U19 5km.
All students are members of Swinford AC and go forth to the Connacht finals which will be held in Roscommon later on this month.
St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford is holding an Open Evening for prospective students on Wednesday, October 23 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
A Harvest Thanksgiving Service is to be held at the Church of Ireland in Foxford on Sunday, October 20. The guest preacher will be Fr Joseph Gavigan and everyone is most welcome to attend. The service will commence at 4pm.
S&F United’s U14 Division 4B team rounded off their Mayo League season in style last week when claiming a 7-3 victory away to Snugboro United. Darragh O’Brien smashed home a hattrick while there was a goal apiece from Darragh Ruane, Jamie Regan, Killian McTigue and Thomas McLoughlin. It was a solid win to end a solid season for these young men.
Nellie Moone from Lahardane and Joe Ginty from Foxford are the latest winners of the S&F United 50-50 draw. Nellie picked up a jackpot of €152 while Joe won €117.
Tickets for the weekly draw are available in local outlets or online as smartlotto.ie while season tickets can also be obtained online or from committee members where you get 52 draws for €50.
The Fr Peyton Centre in Attymass will be showing ‘Pray – The Story of Patrick Peyton’ on Thursday, October 17 at 7pm. While this is a free event, it’s advisable to contact the centre at 096- 45374 to book your place.
Known as the ‘Rosary priest’, Fr Peyton was born in Attymass and became a Catholic priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Founder of the Family Rosary Crusade, he popularised the phrase "The family that prays together stays together."
Congratulations to John Moore from Foxford who is the latest winner of the Moy Davitts GAA 50/50 draw. He claimed a jackpot prize of €414.
A reunion of the class of 1966 to ’71 at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford will be held later this month in The Moy Hotel. The event will take place on the Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday, October 26. The organisers are hoping the word can be spread around to as many former pupils as possible, whether they are living locally or away. For further details contact Michael McDonagh on 087-2474593.
There was great satisfaction among the committee members of Straide Community Development Group (SCDG) with last week’s news that it has been awarded a grant of €50,000 by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the CLÁR programme towards the resurfacing of the entry and driveway at Straide Davitt Community Hall. They extended a special word of thanks to local man Michael Roache for getting the ball rolling on this project.
Next time you are sorting through your wardrobe and planning to throw out some clothes, why not consider donating them locally to Straide Davitt Community Hall? There is a blue container situated at the rear of the grounds when you can donate your unwanted clothes, with each full container worth in the region of €50 to €70 to SCDG which will be used to help with the running of the facility and hosting of events.
The Foxford Crafts Fair will be held over three days at the Leisure Centre, from Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8.
Anyone who would like to express their interest in applying for a table should email foxfordcraftsfair@gmail.com with details of what your craft is and you will be sent an application in the few weeks.
The Moy Davitts 50th Anniversary dinner dance is taking place at the Great National Hotel in Ballina on Saturday, November 2. There will be a drinks reception with dinner at 7.30pm.
Music on the night is by the Brian McDermott Band who will be followed by a DJ until late.
Special accommodation rates are available from the hotel.
Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA, will attend the dinner dance as special guest. Burns took up his role in February this year and as a footballer, debuted with the Armagh senior team in 1987 and captained the Orchard County to an Ulster Tickets for the dinner dance are available by contacting Annette at 087-6781500.
