Local Notes: Tullaghan Bay Rowing Club ladies win National Currach Racing league.
Congratulations to Emma Gaughan, Tara Doocey and Kathleen Doocey of Tullaghan Bay Rowing Club who realised a dream for the club and themselves in winning the National Currach Racing League recently.
The beautiful Island of Inis Oírr hosted the last race of the National Currach Racing League recently bringing an end to 12 races since the end of May. The club ladies team have travelled the length and breadth of the west, Galway, Clare and Connemara and with 72 points and for the first time Mayo have won the league. Emma Gaughan, Tara Doocey and Kathleen Doocey realised a dream for the club and themselves in winning this league, meeting the best female rowers from Mayo, Donegal, Connemara, Galway, Clare, Kerry and County Down along the way.
Kathleen joined forces with Connor McDonagh Roundstone (and Tullaghan Duff ) mid-way through the season in mixed ‘Fear and Bean. Having competed in six races they have come second in the league, congratulations to winners Sandra and Michael Kelly from Oughterard and also to Martin and Emma Gaughan on great races representing our club.
The club hosted Rásaí Béal an Mhuirthid early in the league season with neighbours Blacksod Rowing Club who also had teams compete in men’s, juniors and the mixed category ‘Fear agus Bean’. The future of Currach Racing is strong in Mayo with such good representation in all categories and the club look forward to seeing more Mayo representation next year.
The season will end with Craobh na hÉireann in Lettermullan on the 5th of September and we wish all competitors the best of luck.
The 2001 County Senior Hurling Champions rolled back the years recently in Drum as they took on the current Gaeltacht Iorras team in an exhibition match in Drum in front of a big crowd. The game was preceded by an U13 match between Gaeltacht Iorras and Ballina which was very entertaining and the Gaeltacht Iorras lads were able to test their skills. At half time the mini games were played by the U10s and great determination was demonstrated by all.
After the senior match, players and supporters retired to the Castle Inn for refreshments and music with Martian.
There was no winner of this week’s Kiltane GAA Club lotto jackpot of €6,100 with the two €50 winners being James Healy, Glencullen and Annie Calpin, Doohoma Head while Michael Maloney, Ballycumber and Cathal Barrett, Sea Rod Inn both won €25s. The two online winners were Kevin McDonagh, Shrataggle €50 and Maria Lindsay, Mountjubilee €25.
Bingo will take place in the GAA complex Bangor this Tuesday, August 25, at 8pm. The jackpot will be €550 in 46 calls or less.
The draw was held on August 16, and the numbers drawn were; 2, 21, 26, and 33 for a jackpot €10,800 with no winner of jackpot. The house prize €100 winner was Marie Tighe, Kilgalligan and the €30 offline winners were Evelyn Burns, Stonefield and Jacinta Healy, Ballinaboy. The €30 online winners were Mags Deane/Smith, Cavan and Mary Ryan, Dublin. The jackpot in the draw held on August 23, was €10,900 and the draw was held in McGuire’s Barnatra.
Congratulations to Clara Barrett, the winner of the ladies arm wrestling competition 2026. Congratulations also to Ronan "Crazy Horse" Gaughan who came back to retain his arm-wrestling title and he didn't disappoint after a 3 year absence defeating Brendan Sweeney who was a 4 time winner previously. A great final was witnessed by the 1000s in attendance. The Geesala Races was a great success once again attracting race goers from all parts and congratulations to Gerry Coyle and all of the volunteers and organisers on another successful races weekend.
The Swim Ireland mile and half mile event will now take place on this Friday, August 28, at 6.30pm. Swim Ireland exist to encourage participation, develop excellence and regulate the sport.
S.N. Dhumha Thuama is absolutely delighted to say that ground has officially been broken on the new MUGA pitch recently. After all of the fundraising, planning and the huge amount of work behind the scenes, it is fantastic to finally see the machinery on site and the work beginning. What was talked about and planned for so long is now becoming a reality.
This project simply wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible efforts of the Parents’ Association, the school and the wider local community. Every fundraiser supported, every ticket bought, every donation made and every helping hand along the way has brought the project to this point. All going to plan, the MUGA will be completed within the next two months and everyone cannot wait to see the pupils and the local community enjoying it. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped to make this possible.
What a brilliant turn out for the raft race recently. Well done to all who put such effort into making rafts. On behalf of the festival, Belmullet Sea Angling Club who sponsored the price money for the event and the RNLI thank you to all, and to all who came out to support the event. This is what community means everyone helping each other and that was so true of the raft race.
The winners and runner -ups of the festival raft race were;1st place Walsh’s garage, 2nd place the Conway’s and the Erris Eagle, 3rd place the Coastguard and the Ringer.
Dara Calleary TD and Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht welcomed the news for Ballina and Belmullet recently on progress made on Community Nursing Units. The Minister was delighted to confirm significant progress on two new community nursing units (CNU) in County Mayo, which will significantly enhance short and long term care for older people over coming years.
A design team, led by Taylor McCartney Architects, has been appointed to oversee the development of a new 75 bed Ballina Community Nursing Unit. The new Ballina CNU will be built on the grounds of Ballina District Hospital and will see the amalgamation of 31 long stay beds from St Augustine's and replacement of 27 beds in Ballina District on the male side. Twenty beds in the existing Ballina District female side will be in operation during the development and will be reviewed at the completion for continued use.
Construction is expected to commence in 2028 and will take two years to complete. The building will be operational in 2030.
In Belmullet a design team will also be appointed for the new 50 bed Belmullet Community Nursing Unit in the coming weeks. The new unit will involve the amalgamation of 29 long stay, Aras Deirbhile and 13 short stay in Belmullet District Hospital and will result in an additional eight new beds.
Work is set to commence on the unit in 2028 and is expected to take 18 months to complete, with the unit projected to be operational in 2030. Minister Callerary extended his thanks to Minister Carroll MacNeil and the HSE locally for their commitment to these essential projects that will provide first class healthcare in North Mayo.
Not long to go until this year’s Michelle Gaughan Memorial which takes place on Sunday, September 13, in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel. This year sees all events on the day played out in round robin style then knockouts including the newly added ladies event. This ensures everyone will get plenty of games all day long to shake off those summer cobwebs. All events are confined to Erris players only and start times are sharp, no late entries please.
The Youths event is open to players aged 18 or under on the day with registration from midday and games starting at 12.30pm - €5 entry. Ladies registration opens for 1.30pm with games starting at 2pm - €10 entry. The main event registration opens from 3pm with games underway from 4pm and the entry fee is €10.With 10 boards in operation a brilliant day's darts is most certainly guaranteed.
A raffle will be held on the day in aid of Glencastle NS and all donations and spot prizes are welcomed.
Sports Genius update! Well. That was something, but now you are getting back to normality. You have climbed down off the chimney, you acknowledged Ryan O’Donoghue as the greatest sportsman you have ever met, you pre ordered Seamus Howard's Christmas single on Spotify, you are working out how to repay the Credit Union Emergency Sam Loan. Winning this would help.
Nobody had Noskova in the Tennis, most of you had either Sinner or Alcaraz, and Sinner it was.
The greatest World Cup ever gave us a final which was the worst game ever. You are still reeling from Tuchel swapping Konsa for Gordon, thus surrendering England's chances of winning the World Cup, I know, you're devastated.
Of course it was Pogacar for the Tour, even with his sore belly.
Limerick toyed with Galway and then......
Only 16% of you predicted a Mayo win, compared to the two thirds of you that picked Kerry. I hope you are ashamed. Well done to those of you that kept the faith.
Shane Hennigan holds on to the lead with only three events to go but anything can happen. Jackie Coyle got five out of six to storm up the list.
Did you all pick Belmullet for senior? Will The Dodgers win The Rounder’s. Will Antonelli be King of the pit stops?
Congratulations to Cormac Reilly on his July, Player of the Month for the Premier League. Congratulations also to Paul Reilly on winning July, Manager of the Month.
