West Fest 2011 took place on the 4th and 5th of June. It was a bank holiday weekend to remember with an amazing line up over the two nights. The music was under a Big Top tent and as you can see from the pictures a great time was had by all. (Just click in one the pictures to open the album)

Imelda May In Red and On stage in Achadh Mór

The Kilkennys in Action

Silhouette on Stage - The Coronas

Niamh Cunnane (Tuairín)... Performing With Local Band The R AND

Sharon Shannon and Big Band... Dezi Donnelly ( Manchester) on Fiddle

Silage fields in Foreground - Big Tent in Background

Tent in the Night

Festival Daisy View

Inside

Local artist Bernie Prendergast Cunnane Presenting Portrait of Imelda May to Imelda May!

Since the Scór stage competitions were started by the G.A.A. in 1970 the Achadh Mór club has regularly participated, especially in the Scór na nÓg ( the junior competitions) and there have been many winners over the years at divisional and county level, as well as success within the province.
For example in 1987 the club took five East Mayo Divisional Titles. The club won both dancing competitions The Rinnce Seit and The Rinnce Fóirne with dancers Patsy Duffy, Georgina Cribbin, Michael Duffy, Bríd Hunt, Debbie Lane, Imelda Hession, and Adrian Murphy. Recitation winner was Andrea Murphy and the ballad singing champion was Geraldine Duffy and the Tráth na gCeist winners were Michelle Caulfield, John Finn and Denis Mulkeen.
The club took the All Ireland Set Dancing Scór na nÓg title in 1990. The members of that winning teaolm were -Georgina Cribbin, Deborah Lane , Elaine Hunt, Imelda Hession, Cathal Duffy, Adrian Hession, Seán Morris and Anthony Finn. Musicians who performed for the dancers on that occasion were, their regular musician Paddy Joe Tighe (accordian), who was joined by Brian Doherty (banjo), Johnny Towey (accordian) and Joe Byrne (flute.). Below is a list of provincial and all Ireland successes.

Scór Sinsir-
Chraobh Chonnachta

Rince Seit.
Achadh Mór – 1994.

Scór na nÓg-.

Craobh Chonnachta.
Rinnce Seit.
Achadh Mór Club. 1988, 1989, 1990,1991.

Craobh na hÉireann.
Rinnce Seit.
1990.

Music fans can look forward to a cool new festival called West Fest, which kicks off over the June Bank Holiday Weekend 2011.

Mayo’s answer to Oxegen/Electric Picnic – without the mud and traffic jams – and Connacht’s biggest music event of 2011, will be held in Aghamore at the Community Sports Grounds.

West Fest will be a two day event running on the 4th and 5th of June. It will be a bank holiday weekend to remember with an amazing line up over the two nights. Camping will also be available for those of you wishing to attend both nights. And there is no need to worry about the weather because all the music is under a Big Top tent (as seen at Oxegen) which has a capacity of 5,000 people. Some of the acts already lined up to perform over the weekend are: Republic of Loose, Sharon Shannon and the Big Band and special guest Damien Dempsey, Ryan Sheridan, The Kilkennys, Bagatelle, The Big Generator, Brush Shiels and i102-104 D.J. Fergal D’Arcy. More to be confirmed..

There is also a chance for young bands to support the big acts on the day. Auditions will be held in the Park Hotel in Kiltimagh on the 16th of January.

Tickets will go on sale on the 6th of December 2010, the perfect gift for those of you wondering what to buy lovedones this Christmas. Available online from: TicketMaster

West Fest will be run in association with Mayo / Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

Donwnload West Fest Brochure

Woodfield Church – New look –  Aug. 2010.

Trees surrounding the church have been cut down and repainting has taken place.

‘Mayo Music and Musings Collection’ – 6 CD’s – 20 Years on Mid West Radio, compiled by Joe Byrne, was launched on Friday Dec. 4th 2009 in the Park Hotel in Kiltimagh.

There was a great turn out at the special event, among them many leading musicians, singers poets and historians.

THE LAUNCH

The Launch was done by Tom Shiel, regional editor of the Connacht Telegraph. Tom was the ideal person for such an occasion as he himself worked in the radio station in Ballyhaunis, was the main voice of the news on Mid West radio for many years and it was Tom who put in place most of the news network and systems in the fledgling station. Tom began by saying ”This is a unique and very special collection of music, song, lore, poems, talk and history that includes contributors from almost every corner of Mayo.” He then went on to praise the efforts made in recording and in gathering up such valuable material, – without the assistance of recording equipment or of any travel expenses. ”However the fruit of the labour is evident and I can only compare it to a diligent farmer who has husbanded his land carefully and is now gathering and saving a rich harvest into a granary.”

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UNDERAGE TRAINING.

Training for the Achadh Mór under 6 and under 8 and under 10 teams has began last Saturday April 17 and continues each Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in the football pitch at Achadh Mór and will continue through uot the season..

Achadh Mór G.A.A. Club Lotto.

The Achadh Mor club lotto has now almost reached 19,000 €!  Try your luck and please support.  Ticket are available in all the usual outlets in the Knock, Achadh Mór and Cill Cheallaigh areas.

Achadh Mór G.A.A. Club – Management and Training Personnel for 2010 Season

Achadh Mór G.A.A Club members are gearing up and preparing for the 2010 football campaign.  Management personnel for the various teams have been put in place already. The following are in charge of training and selection for this year.

• Under 6s – Cathal Duffy.  Under 8s – Philip Lennon and John Hession.
• Under 10s. – Ger Grealy and Liam Lyons.
• Under 12s – Kenneth Walsh,Michael Joyce,Dara Kilkenny,David Morley,and Austin Kenny.
• Under 14s. – Richie Crinnigan, Pádraig Duffy and Liam Brady.  Under 16s – Brian Murphy, Colm Garvey and Noel Prendergast.
• Minors – George Leetch and Brendan Harrison.  Juniors – Tommie Feeney.
• Seniors – Michael Hunt. Seán Byrne and John Duffy.

The 21st edition of Glór Achadh Mór was published as usual before Christmas 09 and is another superb production.  The current edition of the popular annual magazine is another bumper issue.   Containing a whopping 168 pages  it could almost be described as a double issue and yet the price of the magazine has remained the same, at ten euros,  for the past 10 years.
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Glór Achadh Mór, (Voice of Aghamore), is the title of the annual magazine that is issued each December.  It contains articles and photographs old and new from the Achadh Mór, Tuairín, Woodfield, Cill Cheallaigh and Cnoc Mhuire areas.

The first edition appeared in 1988 and was one of the community Projects that was organised by the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge – Glór na nGael, a group that promote the gaelic language, local heritage and community culture.

There has been an issue of the magazine each year since then – except for the year 1993.

The latest edition of Glór Achadh Mór ( the 21st)  was issued at Christmas 2009.

Back copies of the annual are available for the years 1992,1994 to 1998, 2000 to 2001, and 2003 to 2009.  Contact person is Joe Byrne at Achadh Mór, Ballyhaunis , Co. Mayo. Phone 094 – 93 – 67189 or email at trishmb@eircom.net Copies cost 10 euro each with 7 euro pp in Ireland and 10 euro overseas.

Persons wishing to receive future editions of the annual can send us their namees and addresses and will be added to our mailing list.  The new edition will be forwarded in December so as to be received in time for Christmas.

Articles and photographs memoribilia etc. are always welcome and can be forwarded to the above addresses at any time.

CONTENTS  of GLOR ACHADH MOR

The magazine has 3 main sections – A. Contemporary stories and photographs.  B. Arts and Review pieces and Photographs.  C. Reminiscence aand Reflection. Stories  thoughts and photographs from the past.

The Glór Easter Saturday Night Concert in Moran’s, Achadh Mór in aid of the annual magazine was a great success. There was a very large crowd in attendance and plenty of variety and talent.

The night began with music and song from “The Bearded Troubadour“, the inimitable Paddy Joe Tighe and ended three hours later with lively dancing of The Stack of Barley, Shoe the Donkey and some old time waltzes. Singers who performed were Eimear Flatley, Bernie Tighe Lily, John and Vinny Kelly, Tommie Doherty, Niamh Cunnane, local duet Ivan Hynes and Siobhán Wilcox and Scór winning Ballad Group, Sinéad Niland , Deirdre and Michaela Durkin and Emma Duffy.  Recitations were given by Michael Nolan, Martin Forde and the effervesecent Micky Hopkins.  Main guest for the night was multi instrumentalist Tony Howley the noted saxophone player with the Shaskeen Band.  Tony had flown over specially from Manchester and he received a rousing reception.  He went on to give a marvellous performance of traditional music as well as sax favourites such as Stranger on the Shore and Whistling Rufus and some beautiful slow airs.  Joining Tony on stage were Vinny Kelly, guitar, Brian Scahill, banjo and Maébh Rattigan on keyboard.  As usual there were some great displays of dancing – Orna Hession and Ellen Hynes did some superb step dances and there was a brilliant performance from another troupe of sean nós steppers, Mairéad Mooney, The Three Hessions and The Three Frains.  There were three groups of set dancers, the junior set with David and Seán Kenny, Fergal Boland and Damhóg Frain and the multi talented ladies of the ballad group Emma Duffy, The Durkin Twins and Sinéad Niland.  The All Ireland Winning Set of the 1990s has come together again and several members of that famous group took the floor, Imelda Hession Byrne, Michael Duffy, Debbie Lane Lennon, Cathal Duffy, Adrian Hession, Brendan Mc Guinness, Aoife Coyne, Maébh Rattigan and Siobhán Mc Loughlin.  The regular mature set who practise each winter in Moran’s also showed their paces, Mary Caulfield Duffy, Sandra Walsh, Mary O Loughlin, Bridie Cassidy, Mary Jordan Niland, Frances Cunniffe Murphy, Anne Hession and the lone brave man himself Michael Nolan.  Other musicians who took part were Stephen Doherty and David Doocey who play with the band Gráda and other local stalwarts  Anne Conboy, Joe Byrne and Michael Nolan.  Thanks to all who supported the gig and to all who helped in any way.  The following provided free food and sandwiches – Josie Folliard junior, Chris Glavey, Mary Pa Duffy, Sandra Walsh, Eibhlín Loftus Lily, Eibhlín Waldron, Mary Hession, Anne Glavey,(Screig), Mary Niland, Teresa Loftus, Teresa Caulfield, Cláir Robinson and Mary O Loughlin.  Raffle Prizes: Curley’s Chemist Ballyhaunis, Mary O Loughlin and Moran’s Pub.  Raffle Ticket Sellers: Bernie Prendergast Cunnane, Trish Murphy Byrne and Orla O Loughlin.  Doormen: the solid and utterly reliable Gerry Tarpey and Liam Dooley.  Help with sound and travel to O Neill’s in Glenamaddy Risteárd Byrne.  Articles, ideas, photos and memorabilia for Glór 2010 are all welcome and can be forwarded to Joe Byrne , Achadh Mór.  Some copies of the latest Glór annual 2009 are available in Moran’s and in Roger’s PO in Achadh Mor, in The Gem in Ballyhaunis , in Tarpey’s and Cunniffe’s in Kilkelly and in Heneghan’s P.O. in Knock.  Some back issues of Glór from the past 21 years are also available from Joe Byrne , 094 93 67189.