Local Notes: Swinford Golf Club junior members compete in Golf Ireland Nines.
Swinford Golf Club Junior members who competed recently in Westport in the Golf Ireland Nines. L-R - Sean Flynn, Conor Healy, Cormac Fearon, Noah Gormley, Ella Gormley and Niamh Mullaney.
Items for inclusion in the notes can be submitted to Julie Ryan as follows: email ryankneafsey@gmail.com or call leaving a voicemail if not answered/text/WhatsApp 0877694781 (after 6pm). Deadline for receipt of items is 6.30pm Wednesday.
Battle of The Bands event in support of Lovefest 2026 at Siamsa Sraide Street and Arts Festival Swinford will be held in The Whitehouse on July 11. To participate contact Michael on 087 9064865.
Swinford Senior men played in the 1st leg of the final Fred Perry Trophy against Roscommon Golf Club on Saturday, July 4, with Leg 2 scheduled for Saturday, July 18, in Roscommon at 1.30pm. This is a huge achievement for the players and for the club to be involved in a provincial final. Thanks to Swinford Motors and The Sheepwalk Bar for sponsoring the team.
Presidents Prize results - ladies winner Mary Horkan and gent's winner Trevor McDonnell.
Results from competitions played over the weekend of June 27/28: ladies: 1st Caroline Goldrick, 2nd Marian Maloney, 3rd Dympna O'Donnell. Gents: 1st Neil Fallon, 2nd Jim O'Donnell and 3rd Pat O'Neill.
Swinford Golf Club are running a raffle to coincide with Captain's Day. If you are interested in buying a ticket, contact Margaret Sweeney, John Sheahan or Mona Curry. Tickets are €10 and limited to 200 with 1st prize a Thermomix T6, 2nd prize an airfryer and 3rd prize a slow cooker.
Results of Swinford Community Lotto draw held on 29th June. Numbers drawn were: 12, 18, 19 and 30. There was no jackpot winner. €70 Vouchers were won by Marie Mellett, Swinford and Jeremy Kerr, Meelick; €35 was won by Réailtín Reagan, Bohola and Geraldine Price, Cois Coille. The Jackpot is now €6,400.
The Siamsa Sraide Committee looks forward to welcoming everyone to the 2nd Siamsa Sraide Street and Arts Festival Vintage Run on Sunday, August 2. Registration will take place from 1pm at the main stage on Main Street, and the run will commence at 2pm starting and finishing on Main Street. Further information or bookings are available by contacting Brendan Cassidy on 087 742 0617 or James Ruane on 087 091771. All proceeds raised on the day will go to Western Care Association and Northwest Stop. There will be a raffle and music on the day, with a whole host of family events to follow in Swinford Cultural Centre with balloon modelling, Disney characters and The Circus Show with Fred and Leo.
General Humbert will invade Swinford on July 30 as part of Siamsa Sraide Street and Arts Festival 2026. He makes his return to Swinford for a very special ceremonial event to honour the sacrifice of the French. Further information from Brendan on 087 7420617 or Moira on 087 2038407.
The countdown is on to the kick off of the Swinford Siamsa Sraide Street and Arts Festival which returns from July 30 to August 5 bringing with it seven days of music, art, cultural, historical and family events. Chele Crawley and Martina Wintour will be launching their best-selling books on Thursday, July 30, at 10.30am in The Novel Bean. This event will be the start of an action-packed programme for the 2026 festival.
Blessing of Mosaics will take place at 10am on August 15 at Mass in Callow and 12 noon on the same day in Killasser Church (Mass will not be celebrated in Killasser) by Bishop Doran.
Time to Shine Talent Competition, in association with Siamsa Sráide Street Festival returns this August. Applications are now open. All talents and acts welcome and there are U16 and 16+ categories. Whether you sing, dance, perform, or have a hidden talent, the organisers want to hear from you. Contact 087 4636841 to register your interest in participating.
Congratulations to Swinford AC members who qualified and competed in the National Track and Field events held recently in Tullamore. U13 Ailbhe Cunney in the shot putt, Lottie Heaney long jump and javelin, Charlie Corcoran 600m, Ethan O’Reilly long jump, James D’Arcy 80m. In the U14 category Alisha Broderick took part in the high jump.
U15 Aine Lavin shot putt and hammer, Aoibhin McNicholas hammer, Emma Nolan shot putt, hammer and javelin, Holly Gallagher hammer and javelin, Jane Heaney triple jump and long jump, Cormac Fearon triple jump.
U16 Rachel McNicholas shot putt and hammer, Sarah Groarke 800m, Darragh O’Brien 800m, Rory Gruddy 3000m.
U17Faye Gallagher 3000m, Rachel Gill 800m, Patrick Cuddy 100m and long jump. U18 Cathal McNicholas discus.
A number of medals returned to Swinford: U13 Shot Put 2nd Ailbhe Cunney.
U13 long jump 1st Lottie Heaney, U15 javelin 2nd Emma Nolan, U15 hammer 3rd Emma Nolan, U15 shot putt 1st Emma Nolan and 2nd Aine Lavin, U16 boys 3000m 3rd Rory Gruddy, U16 girls shot putt 1st Rachel McNicholas, U16 girls hammer 1st Rachel McNicholas.
The annual Scoil Cheoil Siamsa (Comhaltas Summer School) begins this year on July 27. Music, singing, dancing and conversational Irish classes will take place between 2pm and 7pm in the Primary School in Swinford (Scoil Muire agus Treasa). Instruments include banjo, bodhrán, button accordion, concertina, fiddle, flute, guitar, tin whistle, harp and keyboard. Classes last an hour and the cost is €35 (€30 each if taking more than one class). Comhrá Gaeilge (conversational Irish) will be free. Rhythm and song sessions will also be held for 4- to 6-year-olds and performance group sessions. Participants are encouraged to book as soon as possible to facilitate timetabling and availability of instruments. Application forms for the Michael Davitt CCE Swinford Scoil Cheoil Siamsa are available from Ray Lambes. You can also email cceswinford@gmail.com, message Swinford Comhaltas Facebook page or contact 0877454032.
Sympathy is extended to the families and friends of Kevin Murtagh, Chapel St, Swinford; Vincent Doyle, Bollingbrook Drive, Swinford; Teresa Parsons (nee Ginty) Clooncleevragh, Killasser and formerly of Tonroe, Carracastle; Mark Henry, Felgate Tyne and Wear and formerly of Cloonacanna, Swinford; John Vose, Sheffield England (husband of Barbara Lynskey formerly Cashelbarnagh); Tom Loftus, Nottingham, England, formerly Rabawn (brother of Kathleen Jennings, Cloonaghboy and Margaret Rowley, Cloonfinish). May they all rest in peace.
Get some help to research your family tree with the Mayo Genealogy Group. Find out how to get started, or get some tips and advice on taking the next steps with an existing project. Join the friendly members of the Mayo Genealogy Group at their next meeting, from 11.30am to 1pm, on Saturday, July 11, at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, in Turlough. This is a voluntary group brought together by a keen interest in genealogy. The members enjoy sharing their successes and pitfalls, collective experience and detective work to give other researchers a guiding hand. New researchers are welcome. No booking required.
The annual Pioneer Total Abstinence Association pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday, July 19, starting with rosary at 2pm. Anointing of the sick will take place at 2.30pm and concelebrated Mass at 3pm. Rosary procession to the Shrine and blessing of religious objects will also take place. Your support will be appreciated.
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Mass will be celebrated in St Joseph’s Cemetery, Bohola on Saturday, August 1, at 6pm.
Bohola Cemetery committee seeks new members. If you are willing to volunteer, contact John O’Brien, TJ Byrne or Peter Gallagher. Thanks is extended to the current committee who continue to do great work but more help would be appreciated.
Congratulations to Pauline Thompson who won a jackpot of €597 in the Moy Davitts 50/50 draw on Saturday, June 27. 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).
Wondering what to do next? Interested in expanding your skills? Looking to retrain or gain employment? Would you like to obtain QQI Training and Certification? Contact National Learning Network to talk about what choices they can offer you on 087 2909064 or 086 7701996.
Would you be interested in sharing your home and supporting an individual with a disability for a few hours per day or a couple of hours/days per month, or longer term? Western Care Home Share Service are looking for people, single/couples/families, to provide short respite breaks to children and adults across County Mayo, in their own home. Training and support is provided and a non-taxable allowance is payable for each home share arrangement. If you are interested and/or would like further information about Home Sharing, contact Ruth Kneafsey, Home share Co-ordinator, on 094 902914 or 087 6811261.
Journey back in time and marvel at the innovation and endurance of our rural ancestors through the Irish Folklife Collection. Then discover more about the life of the Fitzgerald family and the history and architectural style of Turlough Park House and Gardens. Join an experienced Museum guide for these informative and engaging tours, which take place every Saturday at 2pm and 3.30pm. Tours start at Museum reception. No booking required. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
A photographic exhibition exploring rural Ireland from a skateboard is currently on display at the Courtyard Gallery in Turlough Park, in the Courtyard Gallery. It explores aspects of the lived, social and economic history of rural Ireland through a series of spaces, reflecting on a range of themes from loss and dereliction to endurance, resilience, and renewal. The images and stories were compiled in 2025 for a special issue of the Irish skateboarding publication, Goblin Magazine. Róidin, Courtyard Gallery, Turlough Park. Admission is free.
