Local notes: Foxford hero remembered at Aviva Stadium
Admiral Brown Cup
A delegation from the Admiral Brown Society Foxford is to attend this month’s rugby international between Ireland and Argentina in the November Series at the Aviva Stadium.
Whenever the two countries play a senior international, the cup presented to the winning team is the Admiral Brown Cup, named in honour of Foxford’s most famous son, founder of the Argentine Navy.
The game will be played on the evening of Friday, November 15 and is a sell-out.
It will have an extra special place in the hearts of Mayo people as it’ll be the first time a Mayo man has captained the Ireland team, with Lacken native and former Ballina RFC underage player Caelan Doris recently handed the role by head coach Andy Farrell. Meanwhile, Argentinian player Santiago Cordero is currently playing club rugby for Connacht.
The Admiral Brown Society is looking forward to meeting many Argentines living in Ireland at the event and is working closely with Clubargentioirlandes and the Argentinian Embassy to celebrate this wonderful sporting event between the two countries.
Remembrance Mass
A special Mass for Remembrance Sunday will take place in St Michael’s Parish Church, Foxford next Saturday, November 9 at 7.30pm. It is organised by the Mayo Peace Park Committee where deceased local people who fell in all wars will be remembered. The Defence Forces will provide a Colour Party and there will be representatives from veterans association, Oglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (O. N. E.). The Foxford Brass and Reed Band will play a number of hymns and will trumpet the Salute at the consecration of the Mass. Any relatives of the Fallen are cordially invited to attend.
Marathon marvels
Congratulations to Foxford’s Sean Hynes who ran brilliantly at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon last Sunday week, October 27. Sean was the fastest of the 32 members of Mayo Athletic Club who took park, finishing in a time of 2h41m26s.
The event, which doubles as the Athletics Ireland National Marathon Championships, took place in conditions which were very good for running. It was a cool 8°C with a very light breeze as the 8:45am wave swept from Leeson Street Lower through the early miles towards the long drag of Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park.
Many in the Mayo AC squad were looking to improve previous Dublin finish times and in Sean Hynes’ case, he produced a well-paced run with a negative split that was nearly 30 minutes faster than his 2022 finish time.
There were two other local runners competing in Straide duo John Byrne and Andy Neary. John was just over two minutes behind Sean, happy to be back on the roads he knows so well after a quite recent health scare. It’s six years since he broke the 2:30 barrier in Dublin but his experience showed as he ran 1:22.18 to halfway and 1:21.12 in a very strong second half for a brilliant negative split to finish in 2:43.30. Andy Neary ran a superb personal best time of 3:24.25.
Well done to all three runners.
The late Padraig Long, Ballina and Foxford
Foxford and Ballina bade farewell last week to Padraig Long, late of Rathmeel Lawns in Ballina and formerly of Coolegraine and Boherhallagh, Foxford. He is dearly and lovingly missed by his wife Mary and family Patrick Newcombe (Foxford), Martin Newcombe (Castlebar), Vincent Newcombe (London), Teresa Cuffe (Ballina) and Elizabeth Murphy (Crossmolina) and their families, along with his niece Leslie and her family, his in-laws, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Padraig, who passed away at Mayo University Hospital, was predeceased by his parents Martin and Sabina, his brother Seamus and Mary’s son John Newcombe.
His funeral Mass was held last Wednesday, October 30 at St Michael’s Church, Foxford and burial afterwards was at Craggagh Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
David’s draw joy
The Moy Davitts GAA 50-50 draw was won by Bohola’s David Grimes last week. David received a jackpot prize of €349. Tickets are available in the usual retail outlets and by playing through the Club App.
Farewell to flags
If you notice something slightly different about the town of Foxford this winter, it’s that the international flags that have provided so much colour in front of the old Boys National School are being put into storage until next spring to save them from the worst effects of winter. The work is undertaken by the tremendous Foxford Enhancement Group whose members have also been seen out recently clearing the dead flowers from the pots and the boats around the town, in preparation for winter time.
Feis winners
Admiral Brown CCÉ was well represented at the prestigious Ballintogher Feis in Co Sligo on Sunday, October 27 with several of its members enjoying tremendous success in an array of competitions at various age groups. The Ruddy brothers, Oisín and Conor, won the U11 duet while individually, Oisín was first place in both the button accordion and tin whistle and finished second in the flute, while Conor was first in the flute (open), took two silvers in tin whistle, silver in the button accordion and third place in the flute (championship).
The Hennigan brothers were also out in style, with Eoin taking first in the U17 tin whistle (open) and first in the championship too. At U9 level, Adam finished an excellent second place in the U9 miscellaneous competition and was also highly recommended in the championship.
Competing in his first ever Feis provided a day to remember for Liam Jones who won the U9 English Singing while also enjoying great success at U9 level was Ida Hennigan who won three firsts, in the tin whistle, bodhrán and the Championship.
Coleman for Connacht
Emily Coleman, a student at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford, starred for the Connacht team that performed exceptionally well at the FAI Under-15 Girls’ Schools Interprovincial Tournament in Athlone, which took place from Tuesday to Thursday last week. Emily hit the ground running when not only scoring twice in Connacht’s 4-1 win against Ulster in Round 1 but receiving the Player of the Match award as well. She also helped Connacht to a 2-0 win against Munster in Round 2 which set up a winner-takes-all clash with Leinster in the final game. However, Connacht were squeezed out 2-1.
Emily Coleman plays for Conn Rangers.
Boxing champions
Knockmore-Foxford Boxing Club has been celebrating the achievements of three of its members who won titles at the Mayo Novice Boxing Championships on Sunday, October 27. Jonah Gallagher, Josh Garvin and Sam Reddington all reached and won their respective finals.
Jonah Gallagher won the Boy 3 39kg ‘B’ division, Josh Garvin won the Boy 3 47kg ‘A’ division while Sam Reddington had a double victory, winning his semi and final in the Junior 1 70kg ‘B’ division. Well done to all three.
Rescheduled dinner
It’s a complaint the club would gladly have taken when their team found itself four points behind entering stoppage time in the Mayo Intermediate Football Championship Final last Sunday week, October 27, but the draw that Moy Davitts ultimately dug out against Crossmolina Deel Rovers (1-12 apiece) caused the postponement of last Saturday night’s long planned 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance. That’s because Mayo County Board fixed the replay of the final for the same evening (see full coverage in this week’s Game On sports section). Despite the club’s best efforts to come to an alternative arrangement with Mayo GAA, the game was set for 6pm at MacHale Park, Castlebar which left the organising committee with little alternative but to postpone the Dinner Dance which had been scheduled to begin at 7pm in Ballina’s Great National Hotel.
It will now take place in the new year, on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the same venue, and a new invitation will be extended to GAA President Jarlath Burns, who had been due to attend as the special guest. Tickets will remain valid for the new date.
Straide Talking
This year's ‘Straide Talking’ Christmas party will be on Sunday, December 15 at 11.45am in the Davitt Community Hall. This event is organised annually by Straide Community Women’s Group.
All from Straide are welcome and invited to come along. It is an event for everyone, not just for women! Come and spend a little time together with neighbours and friends and enjoy some festive fare.
The Straide Women's group is a forum to meet and do things together for leisure and pleasure, as well as engaging in community activities.
Throughout the year, the group meets on the last Saturday of every month at 11am in Straide Davitt Community Hall. A short business meeting is followed by refreshments and chat.
Each year the group organises events such as an annual Summer trip, and Autumn classes (supported by the MSLETB and Age & Opportunity), as well as talks and social activities.
The next meeting is Saturday, November 30. New Members are welcome.
FACT social club
The Foxford and District Alzheimer Trust is an independent community-based service that supports people living with Dementia or in rural isolation. The FACT Social Club is open Monday to Friday and provides social interaction, activities and much more in a safe and supported environment. If you would like more information on the services it offers, contact [email protected] or telephone 094-92-56662.
United’s underage
It’s been busy times for the underage teams of S&F United who have been competing in provincial competitions.
There was a victory in the opening round of the Connacht U12 Boys Shield as a goal each by Jack Jordan, Oisin McHale and Eoghan Jordan helped S&F to a 3-1 win over Claremorris. However, the U16 boys weren’t so lucky as their short trip to Swinford in the Connacht Shield ended in a 5-2 defeat in miserable weather conditions. Donnacha Timlin and James Duffy scored a goal apiece.
In the first round of the Connacht U14 Girls Shield, Corofin were the visitors to Green Road and ran out 4-0 winners while S&F United were on the road in the opening round of the Connacht U12 Girls Shield. Lucy Durkan was on the scoresheet for United but despite a hardworking display, United were beaten 4-1.
Pitch closed
A lot of work has been carried out on S&F United’s pitch at Green Road over the past week or so, so the club has taken the decision to rest and close the pitch for team trainings, individual trainings and kickabouts for the coming weeks, in order to allow the works that have been carried out to be effective.
However, the pitch will remain available to the club’s teams who have any upcoming cup or league fixtures.
The club has said the much-needed repairs have come at a significant cost but were required in order to have the pitch ready for next season.
Selected for Mayo
S&F United players Brady Guilfoyle and Donnacha Timlin have been selected on the Mayo U16 squad for the upcoming Inter-League season. The news follows on from the appearance of Ronnie Deacy and Michael Ruane for Mayo against Roscommon on Bank Holiday Monday in the U14 SFAI Inter-League at Umbro Park, Castlebar. Both boys put in stellar performances.
James’ jackpot
James Forester from Straide was the winner of last week’s S&F United 50-50 draw. He collected a prize of €117.
Clean sheet
Congratulations to Foxford’s Amber Hardy who came on a half-time substitute as goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland U19 women’s team and kept a clean sheet as the Girls in Green beat their hosts, Belgium, 2-0 at the Training Centre of the Royal Belgian FA.
Amber will hope to feature again when Ireland take on Bulgaria, Finland and Norway later this month in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
