Local notes: School salutes captain's honour for Jack
At the launch of the BoxUp Sports Equipment Storage Box at the Friary Grounds in Ballyhaunis, with children from Ballyhaunis Community School, were from left: Peter Gill, Parks Superintendent Mayo County Council; John O'Malley, Senior Engineer Mayo County Council; Maria Coyne, Ballyhaunis Community School; Padraic Flanagan, Head of Claremorris/Swinford MD; Kay Curley and Pat Higgins, Abbey Partnership; Charlie Lambert, Mayo Sports Partnership; Cllr Alma Gallagher, Kieran Reilly, Outdoor Recreation Officer, Mayo County Council; Anne Ronayne, Healthy Mayo co-ordinator and TZyy Wang, chairperson, Ballyhaunis Family Resource Centre.
Mayo County Council has allotted €50,000 in its 2026 budget for the upkeep of St Mary’s Abbey, also known as the Friary, in Ballyhaunis. That’s an increase of €10,000 on the figure agreed for 2025. €62,000 was adopted for the property in 2024, a figure which encompassed a once off expenditure item: the purchase of a new ride on lawnmower for the Abbey Grounds.
The Council’s €219m budget for 2026 has yet to be adopted by councillors.
Several Ballyhaunis-based migrant workers have expressed frustrations over the limits on inviting family members to join them here. Those on general employment permits to work in the meat processing industry have to show high levels of income in order to bring a child to Ireland according to a new government blueprint on migration which was revealed last week by the justice minister Jim O’Callaghan.
“I need to show I’m earning an income of €50,000 in order to invite my child here,” said one locally based worker from Latin America. “I make about €30,000 per year before tax,” said the migrant who earns the minimum wage but supplements his income with casual labour on the weekend. The worker said he is seeking to verify if his informal income and his wife’s part time job as a cleaner can be counted towards the €50,000 figure.
Responding to the government plan, Neil Bruton, co-director of the migrant rights centre of Ireland said: “The policy essentially says that if you are a migrant worker in care, restaurants, or food production you simply cannot bring your child here at all.”
Newly appointed Mayo team captain Jack Coyne has been wished well by his alma mater, Logboy NS. “The entire school community at Logboy National School is immensely proud to congratulate our past pupil, Jack Coyne, on the tremendous honour of being named Mayo GAA Senior Football Captain for 2026,” said school principal Karen Ronayne.
“Jack has always stood out – not only for his sporting ability, but for his determination, humility, and strong sense of leadership. Seeing him now take on such a prestigious role with Mayo GAA fills us with pride and inspiration.
“At Logboy NS, Jack is remembered as a hardworking, respectful, and dedicated student, qualities that continue to define him today. He is a wonderful role model for our current pupils, showing them that ambition, effort, and dedication can lead to great achievements both on and off the field.
“We wish Jack every success in the season ahead. The whole school will be cheering him on, and we have no doubt he will lead Mayo with the same integrity and commitment he has always shown.”
Approved housing bodies (AHBs) who operate social housing for local retirees are facing financial challenges which will mean higher rents or more support from the state.
The chairperson of a rural sheltered housing scheme in the Ballyhaunis area told this column that his voluntary board relies on volunteers and support from state work initiatives like the Rural Social Scheme to keep a lid on rising maintenance costs.
“We charge €81 per week for a one-bedroom house and €86 per week for a two-bedroom house,” said the chairperson.
“We charge rents that are very reasonable in these challenging times but we manage to keep our properties in good repair because we have some skilled people to help us on a voluntary basis and also we have a modestly paid caretaker who is able to turn his hand to many tasks.”
The chairperson, himself a volunteer, said other similar groups are possibly in a more acute financial situation.
“It must be stressed that some older housing organisations have not increased their rents over the years and might be charging closer to half what we charge!”
Kevin Ryan, spokesperson for the Irish Council of Social Housing told the that voluntary housing schemes are struggling to cope with higher running costs. “Rents are set low to be affordable but repair and maintenance costs have increased exponentially in recent years and subventions have not risen to match,” he said.
Looking forward, Ryan pointed to the recently released Report of the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Strategic Forum published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage which signalled government is looking at how to keep housing schemes viable and AHBs solvent.
“The broad way to remedy this is to increase the income into these units where necessary, through higher rent and or greater subvention,” said Ryan.
Similarly, the report also stressed the need for a “systematic restructuring” of the AHB sector, said Ryan whose organisation has frequently highlighted the struggles of many volunteer-run housing organsiations to find suitable board members to properly manage their organisations. A restructuring, which could see mergers of smaller organisations, “would be significant and which would have many potential benefits,” said Ryan.
Ballyhaunis-based Mayo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is holding its annual Christmas market on December 7 in Ballyhaunis, has welcomed the award of a Mayo People of the Year to Marian Biesty who founded the organisation in 2004.
A spokesperson for the organisation said Marian had “selflessly dedicated herself to the largely forgotten issue of animal welfare which is but an afterthought within political circles.”
“She works around the clock all year. She had a dedicated voluntary team around her organising the volunteer rota, fundraising, helping to relocate animals and highlighting issues around animal welfare.
“Marian has run MSPCA for the past 25 years. She is very much hands on around the shelter and seeks no accolades. Sometimes it’s a thankless task when dealing with a minority of the public.” The annual SPCA Christmas Market runs from 10am to 5pm on December 7 at the Community Hall.
Participants at the weekly English language conversation group run by Ballyhaunis Language Café were treated to a fascinating talk by Dutch woman Ineke Gijsbers who has made Urlaur her home along with her husband Steve Ridd.
Ineke brought a sample of vegetables she grows in her garden at Aughadeffin, including some kale and a range of runner beans. The couple, who purchased a cottage in Aughadeffin in 2024, are experts in gardening and woodlands. A wood worker who has his own brand, Northern Wood Monkey, Steve recently ran a workshop for wood turners in Kilmovee.
The couple will travel to Future Oak Farm in Donegal this winter to give a fascinating series of workshops over the winter on coppicing, hedge laying and charcoal making all skills once common in rural Ireland.
Several local members of the First Choice Credit Union say they will be attending the organisation’s upcoming annual general meeting to raise concerns about the Ballyhaunis branch. “I will be raising my concerns about the reduction in hours at our branch and also the lack of engagement by management with the members,” said one long-standing member.
The AGM of the First Choice Credit Union takes place online on December 9. Another member said he would be raising limited opening hours at the Ballyhaunis branch but also the online nature of the AGM, which, he said, “discourages interaction and discussion among members.” All members of First Choice Credit Union are invited to join but must register to join the online meeting by filling out a form on the First Choice website. Questions for the AGM must be submitted three days in advance of the meeting.
The 2025 edition of the Annagh magazine is now on sale. This is the 48th edition of the annual parish magazine and this year runs to 200 pages of articles, reports and photographs documenting Ballyhaunis and the parish of Annagh, past and present. It retails at the usual price of €12 and will still be in plenty of time for posting abroad for Christmas. The Annagh Magazine Society apologises for the slight delay in the launch of this year’s edition and would like to thank all its contributors, patrons and readers down the years.
Mayo Sports Partnership has launched the Ballyhaunis BoxUp Sports Equipment Storage Unit on the Friary Grounds.
This new and innovative free equipment sharing solution for parks and open spaces will provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to lead healthier lifestyles through increased access to free sport and leisure equipment.
Box Up Sports Equipment Storage Lockers are focused on getting those who are least active in our society to be more active. In taking a multi-sectoral approach, the project is seeking to reduce the barriers to participation in physical activity, increase access and enhance the choice and opportunities available for all to take part in their local communities.
BoxUp lockers have already been successfully installed in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
Mayo Sports Partnership Head Charlie Lambert commented: “Mayo Sports Partnership is delighted to see the launch of BoxUp at The Friary Ballyhaunis. This pilot project aims to engage communities by supporting those who are educationally, socially, or economically disadvantaged or those who have a disability to become more active. We are delighted to collaborate with Claremorris/Swinford MD and Ballyhaunis Sports Hub to ensure local communities have the best opportunity to be physically active in their area, making the most of the local amenities and the natural environment.”
The BoxUp lockers, which are solar powered, contain a variety of equipment based on the facilities and amenities in that area, and all equipment can be easily accessed through the use of a free app. Over the coming months usage of the boxes will be monitored and there may be an option to change the equipment on offer based on local feedback.
Outdoor Recreation Officer, Kieran Reilly explains: “You will just need to download the free BoxUp app on your smartphone, and create your account using photo ID. There are no credit card or bank details required, all equipment in the lockers is available to use free of charge. Just select on the app the equipment you want to use, and the locker will open. When you are finished your activity, simply place the equipment back in the locker and upload a picture to the app confirming you've returned it.”
For further information on BoxUp in Mayo, please contact Mayo Sports Partnerships Outdoor Recreation Officer Kieran Reilly 094-90-64823 or email kreilly@mayococo.ie.
