Local Notes: Swinford Killasser ladies minor team had heartbreaking defeat in the Minor League Shield final.
SKLGFA Minor Team who had a recent heartbreaking defeat in the Minor League Shield Final losing to Parke Keelogues Crimlin LGFA
SKLGFA Minor team had a recent heartbreaking defeat in the Minor League shield final losing to Parke Keelogues Crimlin LGFA by one point in the Connaught GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan. That game was so close run and came down to the wire with a colossal 8 point come back in the second half by the Swinford ladies to have the chance of an equalising point by the intrepid Rhona Brennan denied within the dying moments of the game. That experience meant that the first round of the MJ Flood Minor Championship Group 2 was to be a very interesting affair as the two sides met again seven days later in Parke’s home ground. Once again it was an intense battle with these two evenly matched teams fighting it out. Swinford Killasser were leading by 1 point in the final minutes of the game only to concede a last-minute goal to Parke and lose the game by a two-point margin. The final score was: 4-08 to 0-18.
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Tara’s Run/Walk for Fun takes place on Saturday, September 28, with registration at 11am, and the run starts at 12 noon from Killasser Community Centre. €10 for adults and €5 for children.
The 33rd Annual Swinford Agricultural Show will take place on Sunday, August 25 with lots of different show classes to enter in the cattle, horse, sheep, poultry, dogs and home industries sections, with a huge amount of prize money on offer. There will be loads of entertainment for the kids to keep them busy too. Pat's Country Roadshow will be providing live entertainment on the day. Full schedule and entry forms at https://swinfordagrishow.net/ . The show office opens from Tuesday, August 20 to Friday, August 23, from 2 until 8pm at Tower Gift Shop, Main St., Swinford.
The numbers drawn in the Swinford Community lotto draw held on August 12, were 6, 13, 23, 27 drawn. €70 vouchers were won by Dermott O’Brien, C/o Tara Café and Philomena Murtagh, Swinford; €35 was won by T O'Hara, c/o Liam Campbell, Margaret Devaney, c/o Lettuce Eat, Mary Brennan, c/o Tara Café, Carol Gill, Grange Park, London, Damien Kearney, Lagcurragh, and Susan Nolan, Drumalooaun.
Sympathy is extended to the families and friends of Louis Horkan, Market Street, Swinford; Kevin McLoughlin, Lislackagh, Swinford and formerly of Lacken; Valerie Kavanagh (née Smyth), Glenfort, Castlebar and formerly of Main Street, Swinford; Séamus Brennan, Cloonfinish, Swinford and Shrahmore House, Mayo Community Living, Park Road, Swinford; Josephine Siggins (nee Kenny), Swinford and late of Cullyvore, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford. May they all rest in peace.
As part of this year's Light up the Sky remembrance event which will take place at the Butterfly Garden on August 31, at 7.30pm the Butterfly Garden committee are compiling a register of baby names to be read out at the event and to make up some keepsakes to decorate The Butterfly Garden for the evening.
If you would like your baby's name added to the register, feel free to message the Butterfly Garden Facebook page privately. If you added your baby's name to the register for last year’s event, the organisers have kept that list to read out for this year's event along with any new names received.
After a brief summer hiatus from match action, SKLGFA Intermediate ladies were back in action in their first game in several weeks facing St Brigid’s on Sunday. The team welcomes back returning players Briana Fallon and Orna O’Brien from their J1 summer in Chicago both of whom will resume training with the team. It’s expected that the club will run an intense de-Americanisation programme with the two ladies to fully re-immerse them in GAA culture ahead of championship season.
With the change in the seasons, it also heralds a change in the age divisions and the SKLGFA U14 team now move to U15 and U13 respectively for the Autumn. The change in age divisions is a great way for the clubs to continue to play competitive club football throughout the season. The U15’s had their first outing away to Claremorris on August 2, in round 1 of the league with a convincing win. The final score was1-06 to 5-18.
SKLGFA has been very fortunate with large numbers playing underage this year at U14 and U12 levels. With the changes in the age division for Autumn, some of these girls now move to U13 level allowing for the creation of 2 teams. Apart from the benefit of more games, it also provides the opportunity to develop the younger players who move from Go Games at U12 to a development team playing competitive football. The club has two teams playing in U13 League Group 1A (SKLGFA A) and U13 League Group 4B (SKLGFA B).
This year SKLGFA is undergoing an initiative to promote the Irish language and foster its use within the club through Fonndúireacht Sheosamh Mhic Donnacha (FSMD) and Glór na nGael. As the GAA was founded with one of its objectives to foster the use of our native language, SKLGFA has embraced this objective this year. The new Irish language signs are in place at Swinford Amenity Park for which the club received a grant from FSMD. The club secured a second grant through Glór na nGael, Energia and Conradh na Gaeilge to run an Irish event. As part of Siamsa Sráide the club ran Irish language Céili dancing classes exclusively for teenagers and the club thank Gráinne Kelly, dance teacher who facilitated the classes and the céili itself.
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Congratulations to Maria Lynn, Foxford, who won a jackpot of €524 in the Moy Davitts 50/50 draw on Saturday, August 10. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by playing on the club app (Moy Davitts GAA).
A full day of family fun and activities will take place at Moy Davitts GAA pitch on Saturday, August 24, from 10am-5pm. The annual Enda Gilmore Blitz will run from 10am-12.30pm and this will be followed by the Lá na gClub Family Fun Day which will run from 12.30-4.30pm. The Dads and Lads team will take part in the Peter Murphy Memorial Cup competition from 3.30pm. Admission free.
Bookings are now being taken for the Moy Davitts Golf Classic which is taking place in Ballina Golf Club on Saturday, August 31. If you would like to book a tee-time, contact Ballina Golf Club on 096 21050.
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The Annual Urlaur Pattern took place on Sunday August 4. Whilst the weather was not kind, it did not stop a very healthy crowd turning up on the day. Mass had to be moved from the Abbey to St Joseph's Church. Fr Joseph was joined by Fr Michael Dunleavy, a member of the Dominican order in the concelebration of Mass. The choir was bolstered by Piper Mark Grennan, a relative of the Grennan family in Urlaur, where he delivered a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" at the beginning of Mass. The choir was also accompanied by the many visitors who were former members and together they added hugely to the sense of celebration.
Fr. Joseph remembered the deceased of the area, past committee members and those who died since last year's Pattern. The activities took place in the local community centre and community pitch. Local traditional musicians got events underway and Tempo provided music later in the day. Mary Kathleen Henry provided the entertainment for the social on the night. Committee member Jim Casey launched his book "A Divided Paradise" and Mark Godfrey was on hand to launch this publication and spoke very passionately about Jim's efforts in documenting the conflict between Turkey and Cyprus on the fiftieth anniversary of this largely forgotten war. Michael Carroll was presented with a commemorative mirror marking the fiftieth anniversary of the inception of Urlaur United Football Club. Michael Keane said a few words about the positive impact that Michael made in the lives of so many, the joy the club brought to locals for so many years and the wonderful success he was responsible for spearheading during the 70s, 80s and 90s. Thanks especially to everyone who supported Urlaur Pattern.
Kilmovee Active age is holding an open day on Thursday, September 5, from 1 to 5pm in Kilmovee Community Centre. Admission is €10. Local active age groups are invited to this event There will be live music, finger food, a raffle, and some surprises on the day. For further information contact James Hunt on 086 0680702 or email hunt.jms@gmail.com.
As part of National Heritage Week, Kilmovee are opening their thatch cottage on Thursday, August 22, and Friday, August 23, from 10am to 4pm. Enjoy free guided tours of the Heritage Trail, departing at 10am each day. There will be demonstrations of traditional crafts such as willow weaving, wool spinning, and wood turning.
The death took place of Kevin McLoughlin, Lislackagh, Swinford, and formerly of Lacken - peacefully after a short illness in the care of Mayo/Roscommon Hospice. Kevin was predeceased by his wife Evelyn, granddaughter Aoife and his brothers and sister.
Kevin is survived by his sons Caoimghin and Brian, daughters Anita, Jacinta, Yvonne, Katrina, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, sisters-in-law, family circle, neighbours and friends. His daughter Katrina is married and resides in Egool , Kilmovee.
Kevin reposed in Campbell's Funeral Home, Swinford, on Sunday evening, August 11. Removal took place on Monday, August 12, to the church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Swinford, for Mass of the Resurrection at 2pm prior to interment in Kilconduff, Cemetery, Swinford. May Kevin rest in peace.
