TELEGRAPH DIGEST
4 September 1996

Co Mayo, Ireland


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BALLINA ROOTING FOR FLEADH '97

An announcement will be made on the eve of the Mayo-Meath All-Ireland football final if Ballina has been successful in its in nine year bid to host next year's All-Ireland Fleadh.

The successful venue will be made known on the RTE television programme"Up For The Match" on September 14.

Twenty-members of the Ard Chomhairle of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, headed by Director General Labhras O'Murchu and President Padraic O'Ceallaigh will visit Ballina today (Wednesday) to hold negotiations with local organisations on the suitability of Ballina for the cultural splurge.

Kilkenny is the other venue vying for the Fleadh but sources in Ballina are confident of pulling it off for 1997.

HOME AND GARDEN EXHIBITION

Duncan Steward of RTE's"Our House" fame will officially open the Castlebar Home and garden Exhibition which will be staged at the Sportlann Castlebar on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday garden expert Gerry Daly will be in attendance. This an all-family event and youngsters will have the opportunity of meeting Barney at the exhibition, the largest yet to be staged in Castlebar.

MULRANNY BLUE FLAG

The Blue Flag which was flying proudly over Mulranny beach has disappeared, causing great anger in the area among people who were delighted with the Blue Flag status of the area.

Locals believe visiting youths may be responsible for the larceny of the symbol.

FIFTY 'FLYING SCUDS'

The sky is the limit for a group of Mayo fans who will take off from Knock Airport for the big match.

The fifty"Flying Scuds" headed by former Mayo all-star and footballing legend Willie Joe Padden have chartered an Aer Lingus Fokker aircraft.

They will depart Knock Airport on Saturday evening September 14 at 7.30p.m. and will overnight at Bewley's Hotel with coach transfers to and from the match and the airport.

The group should be back on the ground at Knock at 10p.m. after the match. This is the first such flight by a large scale by Mayo fans and full details of the trip will be announced at a press conference in Willie Joe's tonight (Wednesday) at 10p.m. It will be launched by former all-star Ger Feeney.

Willie Joe said it was an ideal opportunity to avail of the services of Knock Airport and support the Mayo side at the same time.

POLITICAL TICKET SIEGE

Politicians in Mayo are coming under siege for All-Ireland football tickets -- priceless passes they do NOT have.

Clinics around the region are inundated with callers seeking tickets for the Mayo-Meath game on Sunday week.

One senior politician said there was no way they could satisfy the demand as they would only receive a tiny allocation.

THE MAYO SHOP

As the build-up to the All-Ireland football final reaches fever pitch an enterprising family in Castlebar have opened The Mayo Shop at Main Street.

Suitably bedecked in red and green colours Staunton's will carry all the Mayo pre-match memorabilia.

PRESS NIGHT

There was a major influx to Castlebar of the national media last night (Tuesday) as sports writers, analysts and photographers got the last opportunity to interview and photograph the Mayo squad prior to their trip to Croke park on Sunday week where they meet Meath in the All- Ireland football final.

The Welcome Inn Hotel was the venue and later a corporate night at £50 per head was held in the Failte Suite at the same venue as part of the fundraising for the All-Ireland clash.

CASEY WEDDING CELEBRATIONS

Celebrations came early for Mayo full forward John Casey as he attended the wedding on Monday of his sister Sinead.

But John, still in strict training, refrained from getting in the spirit of things and is happy to wait until after September 15.

Sinead, daughter of John and Angela Casey wed Andrew Peter Merron from England at a ceremony at St. James Church, Charlestown. Her other brothers, Declan and Enda also enjoyed the day and the reception at Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar.

REHAB SAY THANKS

Mayo manager John Maughan will this week be presented with a piece of cut glass Skellig crystal in recognition of the outstanding work he has done for the Rehab Foundation.

The recent peace link climb of Croagh Patrick, in which Mr. Maughan participated, raised £2,000 for the organisation.

Trainees at the Rehab workshop in Castlebar will also make a special "thank-you" presentation to Manager Maughan.

Rehab have also been on the ball by erecting"good-luck" signs to the Mayo team on the outskirts of Castlebar.

GARDA BACKING

Assistant Garda Commissioner for the West, Kerry man Joe Long, has wished Mayo all the best in the All-Ireland final.

"Certainly Kerry will be the first that will be shouting for them and all the Kerry people as well", he said.

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR BELMULLET LAUNCH

Government Chief Whip, Mr. Jim Higgins will officially launch the fourth Mayo People of the Year Awards at a press reception at Carne Golf Club, Belmullet on Saturday evening at 8p.m.

The event which will be staged in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar on Friday November 15 is organised annually by the Rehab Foundation in conjunction with AIB Bank and the Connaught Telegraph.

In all nine awards will be presented on the night including two overseas accolades.

MONTH'S MIND MASS

The Month's Mind Mass for the late Mr. P.J. Hennelly, Manulla, Castlebar and president of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce will be held in St. Ann's Church Belcarra on Friday at 9.45p.m. As a result the offices of the Connaught Telegraph will not open until 10.30a.m. that morning.

GOP EXHIBITION

Dr. John F. Connolly, managing director Connaught Telegraph will perform the official opening of GOP, an exhibition of new sculpture by Ben Reilly at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar on Friday at 7.30p.m.

KNOCK PRO-LIFE CONFERENCE

A pro-life conference will be held at Knock Shrine on Saturday with the theme"The Culture of death in Ireland today".

The speakers will include Mrs. Kathleen McQuade, secretary SPUC (Northern Ireland), Barrister Dr. Ciaran Craven and Mr. Denis Murphy, PRO, pro-life campaign.

The conference commences at 1030a.m. and concludes will Mass at 3.30p.m. celebrated by Fr. Kevin Doran, Dublin who will preach the homily. Fr. Doran is a founder members of Life Ireland and lectured in Medical Ethics at the national Maternity Hospital, Hollis St., Dublin.

DANCING FEET

The Redmond Academy of Irish Dancing will resume classes at Castlebar Town Hall on Wednesday's and Friday's at 3p.m. and on Saturday mornings at 10.30a.m.

MAPPING SPAC

E An exhibition of paintings, entitled"Mapping Space" by Niamh O'Malley will be officially opened at the Foxford Exhibition Centre on Friday evening at 9p.m. The exhibition will run until October 2.

COMMUNITY GOLD FOR MITCHEL'S

The Castlebar Mitchel's under-10 team took footballing gold for the first time at the Community Games in Mosney.

Having beaten Donegal in the semi-final they went on to a convincing 3-5 to 1-4 win over Dublin in the final. The team, along with the local under-13 and under-15 rounders sides, who also took gold, returned to a great reception yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).

DEEP SEA ANGLING

The Castlebar junior anglers club will embark on a deep-sea fishing competition, the last of the season, on Clew bay on Saturday September 21.

Competitors must be over 10-years of age and must wear a lifejacket. The first sixteen names to Ger Deane on 094-25353 by Friday September 13 will secure their places.



Connaught Telegraph - News - September 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - September 1996