Swinford 250 & More Celebrations
November
________________________
29th November – 8th December – Swinford Shopping Bonanza
December
Cathal Gavin’s Christmas Concert
in memory of Adelle Gavin
Friday – December 6th
Our Lady Help of Christians, Swinford
Tickets: €15
December 8th – Tractor Run
December 28th – Swinford250 Wrap Party – celebrating 2019 and Swinford – 250 years in existence and a year we all came together. Here’s to Swinford300.
December 31st – Time Capsule Burial
29th December – Swinford 250 Closing Night
31st December – Burial Of Swinford 250 Time Capsule
More events will be added as organized
Please visit our stand outside The Gateway Hotel on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th August during this years upcoming Siamsa Sraide Festival. If you wish to get in touch with the committee please use the email address and telephone number below and also, register for our newsletter to keep up to date of upcoming events. This is going to be a fantastic year for Swinford and we look forward to seeing you.
Email: swinford250@swinford.ie
Tel: 00353 876412785
Throughout 2019 Swinford will be celebrating 250 and more years as a bustling market town in the heart of East Mayo. Drenched in history, Swinford has a rich cultural heritage dating back to 1769 and beyond.
Located in the heart of East Mayo just 15 minutes from Ireland West Airport Knock, Swinford is a natural place to base yourself while visiting the beautiful West of Ireland.
Past Events
February Events
_______________________________
7th February – Swinford Late Late Show
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 8 p.m.
Cost: Free Admission
Henry Mc Glade is making a 30 minute programme for television presenting the talent of people in the Swinford area. Great line up of guests from the music, sports and history arena. This show will be broadcast worldwide.
14th February – Swinford Comhaltas group playing in Quinn’s Bar
21st February – Swinford Comhaltas group playing in Horkan’s Bar
23rd/24th February – Croabh EO Woodturners Seminar
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: All weekend
Cost: €60 – Students €30 – to include lunch, coffees and teas.
28th February – Swinford Late Late Show TV Broadcast
Swinford’s 250 & More Late, Late Show is aired on February 28th at 7pm, on Sky 192 and Freesat 161.
28th February – Swinford Comhaltas group playing in Boland’s Bar
March Events
_______________________________
1st – 3rd March – Inaugural Mayo Annual History Conference
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Click link for further details: http://www.swinford.ie/http-www-swinford-ie-250-celebrations-history-conference/
7th March – Swinford Late Late Show Program 2 TV Broadcast
With so much talent to choose from this second show had to be added and will be broadcast on March 7th at 7pm, on Sky 192 and Freesat 161. See link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/619471791798870/
14th March – St. Patrick’s Festival Weekend Press Night
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Admission: Free – Everyone Welcome
The Swinford 250 committee will host members of the press and radio to inform them of the events organized for the year. The clubs and organisations have been invited along with general public who will be able to see the variety of “things to do” in the locality.
15th March – Swinford Drama Group Presents “For Better, For Worse”
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: Doors open at 8.00 p.m. – Show starts 8.30 p.m.
16th March – Launch of “The Lucid” – Conor Walsh’s New Album
Venue: The Front – The Gateway Hotel
17th March – Swinford St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Venue: The Streets of Swinford at 3.00 p.m.
Theme: Past, Present and Future
“People are invited to dress up in a period of their choice” – Please participate to make the day a fun family event.
22nd March – St. Patrick’s Day – Results of Parade Winners
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 8 p.m.
Good luck everyone. Great floats on the day and ye all helped create a brilliant atmosphere.
April Events
_______________________________
7th April – Launch of Swinford Darkness Into Light
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 5 p.m.
If you know of anyone who has not got access to the internet tell them we can sign them up on the Darkness Into Light website on the night if they want to take part. This facility will also be available in the Swinford 250 office until the 11th of May.
11th April – Fairy Trails Wood Walk Launch
organized by Swinford Cruisers in association with Swinford 250
Venue: Children’s Playground
Time: 11 a.m.
In attendence Swinford Secondary School and surrounding Primary Schools, local reps and business owners. Refreshments to follow.
13th April – Swinford Football Club Blitz
Blitz will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – first game kick off at 11 a.m.
Teams involved: Swinford F.C. – Brooklands Dragons (Manchester) – Charlestown Athletic – Straide and Foxford United
We will also have 2010s games in between Under13 matches.
There will be food and refreshments available all day. Burger/food van and refreshments shop in the club house.
13th April – Swinford Comhaltas Spring Show
Theme: Anois teacht an Earraigh
13th April – Swinford 250 Bláth na Feile
Swinford’s Andrea Jordan will be representing the town of Swinford at the Mayo Rose Competition in the McWilliam Park Hotel on Saturday, April 13th at 7.30 p.m.
Bláth na Féile is an event that is organised by Megan Durkan in association with Síamsa Sráide Street & Arts Festival. Bláth na Féile is all about celebrating our local young women – their experiences and achievements. It is a tribute to the late Joyce Sweeney who alongside her daughter Megan started this community event.
Let us all get behind Andrea as she represents our town in this most important year of the Swinford 250 & More Celebrations. #Bláth na Féile #MakeupwithMegan #SiamsaSraide #Swinford250
19th April – Swinford 250 Spring Clean Up
Swinford Tidy Towns are organising their annual two hour Spring Clean for Swinford as part of the National Spring Clean. Meeting in the Swinford 250 office at 11 a.m.
19th April – 21st of April – Rocky Road to Dublin
Stephen Kelly – Peter Cassidy – Martin O’Hagan are taking on the challenge of running from Dublin to Mayo, 250 miles and more 🙂 over a three day period to raise €30,000 for the Beaumont Hospital. Coming through Swinford on the 21st at approximately 3 p.m. Please come out and support the lads on their way through Swinford on Sunday but more important please donate to the following link: On The Rocky Road Again
Click here for more details: https://www.facebook.com/3BucksLeft/
21st April – Kiddies Easter Egg Hunt
May Events
_______________________________
5th May – Swinford 250 Duathlon – ran by the Swinford Tri Club
It starts at the Amenity Park at 10 a.m. Registration can be done on the week from 8 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. There is a 5k run, followed by a 21k cycle, followed by a 2k run. Contact Marie on 087-280-5222
Picture from a previous Triathlon ran by the Swinford Tri Club.
5th May – The Big Hello!
The Big Hello! is going to be a weekend of community celebration. The aim of the weekend is to encourage people to get to know their neighbours, by hosting or attending a Big Hello! event in their local area.
The Railway Players and Swinford Comhaltas are therefore coming together and have invited drama groups from Charlestown, Foxford, Kilkelly, Kiltimagh to join them at 5 p.m. in the Swinford Cultural Centre for a drama variety evening. The groups who will attend will perform a 15 minute play with Swinford Comhaltas providing the half time entertainment. Promises to be a great evening and a great way to meet the drama groups from our neighbouring towns and catching up with friends and family. Mark it on the calendar.
11th May – Swinford’s First Darkness Into Light Walk
Venue: Swinford Town and Brabazon Woods
Time: 4.15 a.m.
Applications available on the Darkness Into Light website. See below link.
https://www.darknessintolight.ie/event/swinford
June Bank Holiday Weekend Events
_______________________________
31st May – 2nd June – History, Heritage, Folklore & Tradition Festival
Friday at 6.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m. – Launch of Swinford Historical and Heritage Guide
Venue: Swinford Cultural Centre
Friday at 8.00 p.m. – Visitors Welcome Home Session
Venue: The White House
Saturday at 5.00 p.m. – Remembrance Mass
Venue: Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Swinford
Saturday at 7.00 p.m. – Screening of “All Our Yesterdays” Feature Film
Venue: The Gateway Hotel – All Tickets Allocated
Sunday Reunion Luncheon
Venue: The Gateway Hotel – Admission €TBC
Sunday at 8.00 p.m. – “An American Wake” – The farewell party that occurred on emigrating to America.
Venue: The White House
3rd June – Culmore National School Swinford 250 5k Fun Run & Walk
Inaugural 5 km Fun Run & Walk in aid of Culmore National School. Proudly organised to celebrate Swinford 250. Registration from 11 a.m. at Culmore National School with the 1.5 km race for children starting at 12 noon and the 5 km race at 12.30pm. Spot prizes & Refreshments served on the day.
All welcome.
June Events
_______________________________
14th June – Síamsa Sráide Street & Arts Festival – Launch Night
Launched by: Michael Commins
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 8.30 p.m.
Síamsa Sráide Street & Arts Festival runs from 1st to 7th August 2019
Visit the new Siamsa Sraide website here – www.siamsasraide.ie
15th June – Swinford Cruisers Pedal Pushers 50k and 20k Cycle
Please support the Swinford Cruisers Pedal Pushers Cycle taking place on Saturday 15th June. The cycle is starting from The Gateway Hotel. Registration from 9.00 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. with the cycle leaving at 10.00 a.m.
Entry Fee €20.00. All welcome.
Refreshments served. This event is fully insured.
21st June – Swinford Agricultural Show Midsummer’s Night Table Quiz
Swinford Agricultural Show are holding a table quiz upstairs in Mellett’s Bar at 9 p.m. on Friday 21st June.
Bring a team or turn up and join a table, Table of 4 – €10 per person.
Spot Prizes and Raffle on the night. Come along and test your knowledge!!!
29th June – Pedal For Hospice Charity Cycle
A Pedal For Hospice Charity Cycle (Loop Cycles – 40k & 80k) in association with Swinford Cruisers will take place on Saturday 29th June starting from Mellett’s Bar, Market St, Swinford at 8.30 a.m.
Entrance Fee is €20 and registration is from 7.30 a.m with refreshments served along the route.
For further information contact Helen on 087 6716202 or Pat on 087 1330515.
30th June – Swinford Agricultural Bake Sale
Swinford Agricultural Show are holding a bake sale in the Parochial House from 10.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. on 30th June.
Your support will be greatly appreciated.
July Events
_______________________________
1st – 7th July – Connacht Fleadh Cheoil
Contact email : cceswinford@gmail.com or Text 0877454032
1st July – Opening of Fleadh Festival Week
Venue: The Coffee Doc at O’Connor’s
Time: 8.30 p.m.
Cost: Free Admission
Michael Davitt Branch Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann & Friends present an evening of traditional entertainment with local and guest artists. All Welcome.
2nd July – Singing Club – Club Na nAmhrán
Our Heritage In Song – Amhráin Iorrais
Venue: Mellett’s Emporium
Time: 8 p.m.
Cost: Free Admission
Síle & Seamus Ó Mongáin from Erris followed by local and guest singers.
3rd July – Blás In Concert
Venue: Cultural Centre
Time: 8.30 p.m.
Cost: €10
Blás Live In Concert – Swinford Cultural Centre
Four piece group Blás consists of Stephen Doherty on flutes, accordion and percussion, David Doocey on fiddle, Anne Brennan on vocals and Shane McGowan on guitars. This promises to be a great night of traditional music and song with one of the most exciting new bands to emerge on the trad /folk scene in recent times.
This concert is sponsored by Campbell’s Lounge and Lambes, Main Street, Swinford.
Tickets on sale now in the Swinford 250 Office, Market Street and also available at the venue on the night.
4th July – Official Opening of Fleadh Cheoil Chonnachta
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Reception: 7.30 p.m.
Official Opening: 8 p.m.
Followed by Rob’s Thursday Session – Togha Cheoil with the cream of local musicians
5th July – Céilí Mór
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 9 p.m.
Music By: The Swallow’s Tail Céilí Band
6th July – The Courthouse Session
Venue: The Courthouse Creative Hub
Time: All Day
Day Long Continuous Live Music – Ceol den scoth.
All Musicians invited to join in – Certificate of Participation for All.
Everybody welcome to attend. Come and enjoy traditional music in historical surroundings.
6th July – Aifreann na Fleidhe
Venue: Swinford Parish Church
Time: 6.30 p.m.
6th July – Joseph McNulty with Cillian Doheny In Concert
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 8 p.m.
Admission: €10
Hear Joseph play music from his acclaimed CD “A Step In Time”.
This concert is sponsored by the Mayo Association Dublin.
Tickets on sale now in the Swinford 250 Office, Market Street and also available at the venue on the night.
7th July – Marching Band Parade
The Midfield Pipe Band will give a recital at 12.30 p.m. and competing marching bands will perform at 3.30 p.m on Swinford’s Main Street.
7th July – Ceolchoirm Mór – Sunday Evening – Closing Concert
Venue: The Gateway Hotel
Time: 8 p.m.
When the competitions are over, ALFI with Alannah Thornburgh, followed by Fr James McDonagh and friends will close the Fleadh with a Sunday evening concert.
This concert is sponsored by P. Moore Ltd, Market Street, Swinford, Carroll’s Consultancy and Audrey & Jamie Griffin.
Tickets on sale now in the Swinford 250 Office, Market Street and also available at the venue on the night.
22nd – 26th July – Cúl Camps TBC/TBO
August Events
_______________________________
21st July – 2nd August – Síamsa Sráide Street & Arts Festival Workshops
Click on image to enlarge.
1st – 7th August – Síamsa Sráide Street & Arts Festival
Click on image to enlarge.
Visit the new Siamsa Sraide website here – www.siamsasraide.ie
9th – 11th of August – Cox Family Reunion
Members of the Cox family (who came from Woods in Midfield) are returning to Swinford to have a once in a lifetime family reunion with family members coming in from all over the world.
12th – 16th August – Musical Theatre Summer Camp/Workshops
If you or your children are interested in musical theatre then Swinford’s Railway Players have a treat in store for you. During the week beginning August 12th there will be a great opportunity for anyone who loves singing,dancing and acting as Flare Musical Theatre Company (Wicklow), in collaboration with the Railway Players, will run a Musical Theatre Camp/Workshop in Swinford National School.
There will be separate sessions for children from 1st to 6th class, young people of Secondary School age and, if there is enough interest, an evening workshop for adults. Information leaflets and enrollment forms will be available shortly but names can be given at the Swinford 250 office. Places will be limited so applications will be taken on a first come first served basis. Email : railwayplayers2018@gmail.com
25th August – Swinford Agricultural Show
You can read more about the 31st Swinford Agricultural Show in our featured article here.
If you have never entered an item in the show before, now is your chance to do so.
Show Schedules can now be obtained from the Swinford 250 Office, Market St, Swinford. For a full programme of events visit www.swinfordagrishow.com or follow ‘Swinford Agricultural Show’ on Facebook.
For further information contact Show Secretary Moira Philbin on 087 7716028
28th August – Paddy Bolingbroke Memorial Mass
Venue: Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Swinford
Time: 10 a.m.
A Memorial Mass for Paddy Bolingbroke will take place on Wednesday 28th August at 10 a.m to mark the 30th anniversay of his death, followed by wreath laying ceremony in Kilconduff cemetery.
30th August – Paddy Bolingbroke Remembrance Night
Venue: Mellett’s Emporium
Time: 7 p.m.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of the late Paddy Bolingbroke (Golly), four-times All Ireland Handball Champion and all-round sportsman, a commemoration ceremony to celebrate his life will be held in Mellett’s Emporium on Friday 30th August at 7 p.m.
The event is open to all and all are welcome.
September Events
_______________________________
6th – 7th September – Market Street & Chapel Street Reunion
There will be a casual gathering in Mellett’s Bar on Friday 6th September at 8 p.m.
On Saturday 7th September at 12 noon there will be a blessing at McDermott’s Corner, followed by refreshments and storytelling in The White House.
At 7.00 p.m. on Saturday 7th September, there is a 4 course dinner in The Gateway Hotel followed by music in The Flying Doc Bar. Tickets are €30 and must be purchased in advance, Tickets on sale in Mellett’s Newsagency or contact Marie on marie@mellettsemporium.com
7th September – Swinford A.C 3/4 Marathon
20th September – Culture Night
October Events
__________________________________
26th – 28th October – Féile Na Samhna
The 9th annual Féile na Samhna will take place in Swinford this Bank holiday weekend October 26th to 28th.
Sessions in local pubs. Events free unless otherwise stated.
Saturday 26th:
Singing workshops – English and as Gaeilge – with Kathryn and Seamus Tiernan.
11am to 12pm – Primary school children.
12noon to 1pm – Post primary students & adults
Venue: Swinford National School
Newly composed tune Competition : 12pm in the Gateway
Everyone welcome to come and hear at least 13 wonderful musicians perform their “Tunes for Swinford”
3.00pm: Fáiltiú and the official opening in the Gateway Hotel will be followed by a very interesting and entertaining interactive presentation with tunes and a chat, “Traditional Music – The power of place”. This will be facilitated by Martin Conlon.
8.30pm : Oíche Amhránaíochta. Enjoy a night of singing, storytelling, recitation and caint in the Meeting Room at Melletts of Market Street.
Sunday 27th
5.00pm: Everyone is cordially invited to “The Rambling House” in The Gateway Hotel. There will be a great party with music, singing and dancing, storytelling and recitation. Everybody who comes to visit and celebrate will be treated to a traditional Irish welcome with the best of traditional fare – we’ll even make boxty! The theme this year focuses on the importance of home to returning emigrants. “Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin”
Admission €5
Monday 28th.
11.00am: Finish the weekend with an enjoyable and informative historical walk around Swinford with Michael Comer. This year our focus is on the famine and the places in Swinford associated with it. Short dramatic scenes enacted by The Railway Players and friends. We will have a cuppa and a chat to bring Féile to a close.
Contact cceswinford@gmail.com or 0877454032 for more information or check Swinford Comhaltas Facebook page.
22nd – 29th of November – Isabel Gallagher Art Exhibition – 8pm in Swinford250 Office
23rd November – Swinford 1st Literary Festival
The Windings of the Moy Book Launch – Sat Nov 23 at 8.30pm
