10 September 1997
John takes top prize as Margo strikes well
on first outing
Some thirty customers of the Airport Bar, Castlebar took part in a deep sea fishing competition out of Newport on Sunday in ideal weather conditions.
The overall winner of the event was John Bohan who had a total of twenty-six fish and the runner-up was Paddy McGrath with twenty fish. In third position was Darach Corcoran with sixteen dogfish. In the ladies section Ann McTigue of Breaffy (13 fish) was the winner while in second position was Mary Corcoran (13 fish) and in third was Margo Conway, Breaffy (9 fish). It was Margo's first time fishing on the seas.
The biggest fish of the day, a bullhuss, was landed by Kevin Gannon of Balloor and a special prize going to Ken Ralph, the only competitor not to catch a fish on the day.The boatman's prize went to Tom Moran, Newport.
A total of 256 fish -- dogfish and bullhuss -- were caught on the day and all were released back into the sea.
Airport proprietor Donal McEllin thanked all those who took part in the event, which he promised would be an annual one. He was loud in his praise for the boatmen, Tom Moran, Pat O'Malley, Peter Moran, Eddie Gibbons and Paddy Quinn and in particular Bella Moran who co-ordinated the entire event.
Those who took part in the competition were : John Bohan (26 fish); Jimmy Conway (2); Margo Conway (9); Darach Corcoran (16); Mary Corcoran (13); Paul Corcoran (10); John Galvin (4); Kevin Gannon (11); Brian Gannon (7); Mavourneen Gillespie (5); Tom Gillespie (15); Fergus Kilkelly (4); Mary Lenihan (3); Donal McEllin (8); John McEllin (14); Ward McEllin (14); Paddy McGrath (20); Michael McHale (4); Ann McTigue (13); John McTigue (8); Fintan Murphy (14); Paddy Murphy (3); Penelope O'Kelly (3); Sean O'Kelly (6); John O'Malley (4); Ken Ralph; Liam Ralph (5); John Reape (9); Margaret Walsh (4) and Michael Walsh (2).
