Local Notes: Welcome Home celebrations in Ballinrobe for World bronze medalist Oisin Joyce.
Pictured at the Welcome Home Celebration at Lake District AC Ballinrobe for World Bronze Medalist Oisín Joyce which he won in the Javelin World Athletic U20 Championships recently. Pic: Trish Forde.
There was a hero’s welcome at the Lake District Athletic Club Track, at The Green, Ballinrobe, on Wednesday last, for Oisín Joyce, as the Ballinrobe native received an official homecoming after winning a bronze medal in the men’s javelin championships which were held in Lima, Peru. Oisín is a member of the Lake District Athletic Club, and on Thursday night, August 29, he threw 73.89m to secure Irelands’ first and only medal of this year’s World U20 Athletics Championships. Not only did the talented 19 year old win a bronze medal, but he also set a new Irish U20 record as well. The Ballinrobe native is also the first Irish person to win a throws event at the World U20 Athletics Championship.
A Culture Night event in Ballinrobe is set to be a major celebration of creativity, with 48 confirmed participants for a ground-breaking exhibition that explores the dynamic relationship between words and images. This collaborative project will showcase the talents of 24 visual artists and 24 writers, coming together to create something truly original. The event will take place in Ballinrobe Community School on Friday, September 20, from 7 to 9pm, in a room adjacent to the school’s main auditorium, where the town’s annual Culture Night celebration of music, song, dance, and food will also be held.
The concept is simple yet powerful: each visual artist provided a piece of work to a writer, who then responded through their writing. This dialogue between different forms of expression lies at the heart of the experiment. The exhibition will feature each piece of art alongside its written response.
This initiative aims to tap into the rich vein of emerging talent in Ballinrobe and the surrounding region. Organisers Paul Malone and Liam Horan are delighted by the enthusiastic response from the community, with professional and amateur artists and writers joining forces for this special event.
Artists: Amanda Hickey, Carolina Batista, Darra Deane, Dennis Young, Grainne Conroy, Heidi and Hazel O'Sullivan, Insaf Ben othmane hamrouni, Irene Walkin, Jennifer Cunningham, Joan Finnegan, Kashif Zia, Kay Brennan, Lanna Heyrman, Lou Gaffey, Martin Lenihan, Niamh Gibbons, Nicky McNamara, Paula Lowry, Paul Malone, Ryan Mulligan, Sean Murphy, Suzy O'Donnell, Timothy Acheson, Vannessa Gibbons.
Writers: Ailbhe O'Loughlin, Angela Gallagher Hynes, Brian Joyce, Ciara Lydon, Claire O'Malley, Declan Varley, Dennis Young, Elsie Brennan, Fiona McGarry, Grainne Conroy, Imelda Hughes, John Culhane, Liam Horan, Lanna Heyrman, Lorraine Lavelle, Louise Glynn, Mari Maxwell, Mary Halligan, Mary Monaghan, Michael Quinn, Paula Lowry, Peter Browne, Stephen Carolan, Veronica Keys.
“We’re thrilled to have 48 participants on board, each bringing their unique voice and vision to the exhibition. This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the incredible talent in our community and to celebrate the collaborative spirit of Culture Night,” said Paul Malone.
“We look forward to unveiling these collaborative works on Culture Night. Whether you’re an art lover, a literature enthusiast, or simply curious to see what happens when two forms of expression collide, this exhibition is not to be missed,” added Liam Horan. There is no charge to attend the exhibition
Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir is an annual, all-island public event that takes place each year on the second last Friday of September. It celebrates culture, creativity, and the arts and seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured, and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day.
For further information, please contact: Paul Malone (BallinrobeCommunityArts@gmail.com) or Liam Horan (liam@liamhoran.info / 087 9185 867).
Culture Night will take place in the Ballinrobe Community School on Friday, September 20, from 7 to 9 pm. The organisers would love to see all cultures participating and this could be with food, music or dance. Those interested in participating in ‘Culture Night’ or who require further details and information, are asked to call into the Tacú Family Resource Centre, Main Street, Ballinrobe, or call the centre at 094 9542908. All are welcome.
English language classes will commence soon in the Tacú Centre. Those seeking further details and information are asked to contact 094 9542908.
Ballinrobe Musical Society will be holding auditions for their 2025 production of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ in Ballinrobe Parish Centre on Sunday, September 15. Application forms are available on any of the society's social media pages and can be obtained by emailing ballinrobemusicsociety@gmail.com. New members are welcome. The Hunchback of Notre Dame will be staged in Ballinrobe Community School from February 16-22, 2025.
There was no winner of the €24,600 lotto jackpot draw which was held on Monday week last. The numbers drawn were 8, 12, 16 and 34. The €25 winners were Ailish Farragher, and Liam Kearns.
Congratulations to Ballinrobe Town U17 player Ursula Shaughnessy who was recently named as the Mayo Women’s League U17 Division One Player of the Month for February. Ursula netted 15 league goals during a stellar season and all at Ballinrobe Town would like to congratulate her on this deserving accolade.
The club held its weekly 50/50 draw on Sunday week last, with Milo Gill the winner of €340.
Ballinrobe’s opening Connacht Rugby Junior One (B) League fixture promises to be a cracking Mayo derby when Ballinrobe visit Westport, on Saturday, October 5. This clash is set to kick-off at 7pm at Carrowholly. The black and white’s opening home fixture of the league campaign will take place on Sunday, October 20, at 2.30pm, when Ballinasloe visit The Green.
The Junior One (B) Division is expected to be very competitive with a host of clubs vying for promotion. The One (B) Division is made up of the following teams: Westport, Ballinrobe, Ballinasloe, Creggs Second XV, Ballyhaunis, Monivea, Sligo Second XV, and Corinthians Second XV.
Ballinrobe Women’s Rugby team are currently seeking new players to join their set-up ahead of the new 2024/25 season. No previous playing experience is required, with this team being a fun and sociable team and is a great way to stay active and keep-fit. Any age or ability is welcome and those interested are asked to come along to a pre-season training session and try it out.
Those interested or who require further details and information, are asked to contact Jill O’Malley at 087 6446065.
The annual general meeting of Roxboro Community Defibrillator group will take place on Thursday, September 12, in the Parish Centre, at 8pm. All residents of Roxboro, and adjacent townlands, are invited to attend.
There was no winner of the €17,800 lotto jackpot draw which was held in Garrymore, on Monday, September 2. The numbers drawn were 7, 13, 25 and 31. The €50 winners were Johnny Monaghan, Scardaune; Matt Shaughnessy, Kilglasson, and Sinead Fallon, Garrymore.
Chess for Beginners takes place for children aged between 7 and 12 in Maple Youth Centre on Thursdays from 6-7.30pm. Contact Gareth for information at 087 1722916.
Friday Night Fright Night is Tacú’s annual Halloween event in Ballinrobe Library Grounds and will take place on Friday, October 25, from 5-7pm. There is sensory Halloween fun space available inside the library. Booking is essential at; tacuevents@gmail.com. Time slots are in 10 minute intervals starting at 5pm and ending at 6.40pm. People will get a confirmation email to confirm there booking, no email no booking.
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Islandeady Community Centre reopened from September 9 following some internal renovations. Bookings are on a 1st come 1st served basis for all groups and various activities and no club should assume a certain day or night is theirs unless it’s booked with Centre Management. All clubs/groups should have valid insurance policy/cover. Contact Liam at 087 1361 895 to book your time slot for 2024/2025.
The Graveyard committee would like to identify the final resting places of parishioners in the old part of Glenisland Cemetery. There probably is no correct time to do such an activity, but as time progresses there is a concern that knowledge could be lost. The plan is to erect a very simple cross with the name and date of death of the deceased. People can reach out to any of following individuals, any information is greatly appreciated. Alan Barrett 087 6877499, Joseph Fahey 087 9403965 or John Ruane 087 2775733.
Well done to the Islandeady team who were victorious over Ardnaree Sarsfields on Sunday, September 1, in Islandeady in Round 2 of Intermediate Club Championship. A great crowd of supporters attended this match and the football did not disappoint.
Islandeady Foróige is looking for interested people to volunteer as leaders with the club for the 2024/2025 year. It is a special group and great for building friendships in the community and having fun after a busy school week. Islandeady Foróige is after celebrating 50 years and they would like to keep it going, so message 087 685 3000 if you are interested in signing up as a leader and they will meet with you and explain what is involved. Foroige celebration books are on sale in all the local bookshops and from any Foroige club member.
The walk group met on Monday evening, September 2, and 16 people walked the Keelogues/Dooloeague Loop. It was one of those fine sunny evenings luckily. On Monday, September 9, the group walked the Raheen Wood/Cornanool loop, meeting at Raheen woods car park at 7pm. This was flat terrain, suitable for all ages.
A new 6 week programme called Survive and Thrive that helps cancer survivors adapt to the “new normal” will take place in the Mayo Cancer Support Centre on Tuesday, September 10, from 6.15pm – 9pm. It is facilitated by a registered nurse and a peer cancer survivor. Places are limited so register your interest by calling Fiona Sullivan on 087 965 7144.
