Transition year students from Our Ladies Secondary School, Belmullet and Gaelcholaiste Chomain visit Oweninny Wind Farm.
Transition Year students from Our Ladies Secondary School Belmullet agus Gaelcholáiste Chomáin who recently visited Oweninny Wind Farm as part of the Working in the Wind programme. The visit provided an insightful look into renewable energy, sustainability, and careers in the wind energy sector.
The draw was held on October 5, and the numbers drawn were; 1,12, 34 and 36 for a jackpot of €6,300 with no winner. The house prize of €100 was won by Mary O’Malley, Cornboy and the €30 offline winners were Mark, Grace, Sophie and Alex Irwin, Glenamoy; Arlo, Bodhi and Enzo McAndrew, Porturlin. The €30 online winners were Gerard Irwin, Ballymote and Bernice McNulty, Belmullet. The jackpot in the latest draw which was held on October 12, was €6,400 when the draw took place in Connolly’s Stonefield.
A 4 session course for expectant mothers and partners beginning on October 15, and running for four weeks will take place in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel. The course is run by Public Health Nurses and is free of charge. You are advised to attend early in your pregnancy. To register contact Nuala on 097 27418.
The 2025 Mary Gilboy Memorial Darts events take place Sunday, October 26, at The Eagle Bar, Corclough West. Mayo Ladies Darts open event begins at 12.30pm. The Memorial Cup at 4pm is confined to Erris. There will be a food truck in attendance on the day. The entry fee is €10 for each event with 6 x boards in use. A raffle on the day will be held in aid of Cancer Care West. All donations and spot prizes will be welcome.
Ballycroy Social Services were delighted to have Fr Chris Ginnelly bless their new Meals on Wheels service van recently. They thank everyone at home and abroad that made donations to them to help them fundraise their contribution towards the new vehicle.
Kiltane GAA U12 player, Sarah Conway, is teaming up with Amanda Cunningham to raise funds for Little Blue Heroes. Sarah’s journey is nothing short of inspiring — she bravely battled leukaemia at just 4 years old, enduring 2.5 years of treatment, and today she’s a valued member of the U12/13/14 teams.
The club are calling on people to rally behind Sarah and Amanda to support this amazing cause. It has been three years since the club’s last hair donation in 2022, and they are thrilled to finally donate again, this time with two new donors joining them.
Amanda along with Aoibhéann (10) and Ríona (7) and Honorary Garda Sarah Conway (12) are proud to be donating over 45 inches of hair to two incredible charities: The Rapunzel Foundation and the Little Princess Trust. These organisations create high quality wigs for children and young people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments or alopecia. It's a way of offering support, love and confidence to those who need it most.
Sarah Conway was 4 years of age when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Sarah endured 2 and half years of treatment and lost her beautiful auburn hair twice. She is now 12 years of age and a fabulous selfless young lady wanting to give back to the charity that helped herself and her family.
iDonate was startedby Kiltane GAA Club to help raise funds for the Little Blue Heroes, a charity that provide practical and financial support to families of children with serious illnesses, while allowing the children to become Honorary Gardaí. The club are proud to be part of something that brings a little light to others - one strand at a time and they extend their thanks for your support and to Amanda, Aoibhínn, Ríona and Sarah. https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/AmandaCunningham1.
Deepest sympathies to the family of Tom Keane (better known as Tom Phete), Aughleam, Blacksod; John Leneghan, Castlebar and formerly of Foxpoint, Barnatra; Sean Carolan, Derrycorrib, Barnatra; Mary Kate Garvin, Shrataggle, Porturlin and formerly of Philadelphia, USA; Martin Caffrey (Aug 1975 – Sep 2025) Co. Meath, and formerly of Stonefield, Belmullet, London and Cork. May they all rest in peace.
Mayo Sinn Féin TD, Rose Conway-Walsh, said the measures announced recently in Budget 2026 don’t go anywhere near addressing the level of support workers and families need heading into a winter of uncertainty during a cost-of-living crisis including people with disabilities.
The Government have ignored the reality for many families in Mayo and around the country by providing no energy credits, no increase in tax bands and hiking prices for petrol and diesel through increases in carbon tax rates. The reality for many households will be that they will worse off overall in 2026 than they were in 2025 as a direct consequence of today’s budget announcements.
“The Government have chosen to ignore the needs of the people with this budget instead of listening to Sinn Féin and supporting those who struggle the most.”
St Brendan’s Collage celebrated and congratulated their three fantastic students who returned from Japan recently. Congratulations to Karate Iorrais on creating this fantastic opportunity for their members and congratulations to Aoibhínn Monaghan who has won a World Silver medal for Kata (age 13-14 years) at The World Karate Championships in Japan. All three girls Eva, Alex and Aoibhinn were presented with a school jacket by principal Mr Walshe in recognition of their fantastic achievement. Congratulations also to the three Belmullet girls who took part in Kata and Kumite in Tokyo. They represented Ireland so well and huge congratulations also to their sensei - (teachers) Padraic Monaghan and Kieran Togher who do an excellent job at Karate Iorrais.
The 6th Year Biology students had a very enjoyable day at Ballycroy Visitor Centre - Wild Nephin National Park recently with Ms. McCormack and Ms. Tallott. Many thanks to all the wonderful staff at the visitor centre who are always so welcoming and accommodating. Well done to the U14 Girls Gaelic football team, who organised a charity walk and raised €165 towards Mrs Togher fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society.
Well done to the 1st Year boy’s Gaelic football team who defeated Scoil Muire agus Padraig, Swinford, in their first ever match for the school recently. The game itself was exciting from start to finish and in the end the young footballers managed to record a 4 point victory. The team captain for the game was Sean Coyle. We hope that this is the start of an exciting journey over the next few years. Well done to all involved.
It is great for the transition year students to be able to work with Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhuirthead / Belmullet Tidy Towns again this year. Giving back to the local community is a tradition Our Ladies Secondary School are very proud of and helping to keep the town tidy is just one way in which they hope to do this. Thanks to all involved with Tidy Towns for your continued collaboration with the school and for all of your hard work in the community.
In the Mayo Flanagan Cup (D) championship the school recorded a good win against Scoil Muire agus Padraig in Swinford recently. The ladies were the better team throughout this encounter.
Christmas Carol and Craft Fair in Glenamoy Community Centre will be held on Sunday, November 230, at 3pm. The event will be hosted by SN Cholmcille, (Cheathrú Thaidhg agus Gleann na Moaidhe). All are welcome.
A publication by local writer Patrick Flannery from Graughill Pullathomas is now in bookshops entitled History of Life and it’s about all those who left Porturlin to travel to America and how their descendants are now returning to the birthplace of their forefathers with interviews, photos, stories of life and fishing and life back then.
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Congratulations to Anne Ormsby, last week's winner of €224 the Ballycastle GAA 50/50 draw.
The GAA weekly card game is held at 8pm every Tuesday in the clubhouse and everyone is welcome.
Ballycastle Halloween Walk will be held on Sunday, October 26, starting at Dominick Street from 7-7.45pm and finishing at the dome behind Healy's Bar. There will be a disco, refreshments, sweets and treats. Children U16 must be accompanied by an adult. The event is free but cash donations are greatly appreciated.
Lacken/Ballycastle Landscape Protection Group are holding a public meeting on Wednesday, October 15, at 8pm in Lacken Community Centre F26K2V4 to discuss the community's concerns on the planning application submitted to An Bord Pleanala for the building of 16 wind turbines along the coast from Killala to Cèide Fields. Tirawley Windfarm application number 323778.
Ballycastle/Belderrig Parish Christmas Party will be held on Sunday, December 7, in Ballycastle Community Hall. Tickets will be on sale soon.
