Activities

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Culture Kids Fun Shopping Sport

Sporting Activities – Suitable for individuals, couples, groups and families.

Fishing on the world famous River Moy, Swinford:

Diarmuid McLoughlin and his 10lb Salmon caught in the River Moy, Swinford

Swinford is situated at the mouth of The River Moy and gains international recognition attracting anglers from all across the globe. Swinford boasts some of the best salmon and trout angling in Europe and has developed easy access to all parts of the river to enable the angler to fish in comfort. The bridges at Cloonacannana, Cloongullane, and Ballylahan provide vantage points on the river and are located just outside the town.

Declan Scanlon and his 12lb Salmon caught in the River Moy Swinford

As well as the awesome points along the River Moy, Callow lakes are located four miles west of Swinford. The twin lakes are joined by a picturesque bridge and both lakes are surrounded by purple heather hills. These lakes hold lively stocks of brown trout and salmon.

For more information on fishing in the East Mayo area,  visit www.eastmayoanglers.com and obtain professional information and advice from local guide Paddy McDonnell at www.moyfishing.com

Swinford Golf Club:

Captain’s Drive-In 2014 Swinford Golf Club

Swinford’s nine hole golf course is located in Brabazon Park, only 5 minutes walk from Swinford town centre is one of the towns finest features.  The course is beautifully maintained and is surrounded by mature woodland.

The course, on paper, is relatively short but this is an extremely tricky course with many blind second shots, severely sloping greens and out of bounds in play off the tee on 5 of the 9 holes.  While many try to overpower the course with the driver, the course can bite back. Accuracy and course management is the key to scoring well around Swinford.

Swinford Golf Club Welcomes New Members

Swinford Golf Club has a great local membership and they also have many members from around the country.  The golf club offers great value for new and existing members and new members are always very welcome.

Swinford golf club green fees are only €15 per day so it is great value for any visitor. The atmosphere in the clubhouse is always friendly and welcoming so you are ensured you will enjoy your day’s golfing in Swinford.

Swinford win Jimmy Bruen Connacht Title

For all information on Swinford Golf Course and Club visit www.swinfordgolf.com.

or telephone: 00353 94 92 51378

What the locals say…

Cathal Quinn Local Member

“I have been a member of Swinford Golf Club since I was 5 or 6 years old.  It is a difficult course that rewards the straight hitter.  In dry weather, the course plays at it’s hardest.  The fairways tighten up because every hole is either tree lined or has an out of bounds running along side it. The eight hole is my favorite hole. It plays 205 yards, usually into the wind, it has a water hazard running across the front of the green and the green runs downhill from back to front.   I would say take an extra club but if you go long you are faced with a treacherous downhill chip so only the perfect shot will do!  I also love the mature trees that are abundant across the course but in particular I think it is the members of the club that makes Swinford Golf Club well worth a visit.

 

I have regularly heard golfing in Swinford described as “millionaires golf” and all I will say is try it and you will understand why!”

Swinford Tri Sports:

Over the last five years marathons have become a very popular sport with clubs being set up across the country.  Swinford Tri Sports was set up in 2009 and offers regular planned sporting events including The Humbert Challenge, Olympic Standard Triathlon, and regular  planned athletics.

The Humbert Challenge involves a 1500 metre swim across beautiful  Callow Lakes followed by a 40k cycle through scenic Pontoon and completion of race is a 10km run finishing at Swinford Amenity Park .

For more information and a detailed calendar of events contact info@swinfordtriports.com   www.swinfordtrisports.com

Walking:

Brabazon woods walk in Swinford

Walk through the woodlands around Swinford Golf Club.

Brabazon Woods are located on the Kilkelly Road just a 2 minute walk from Swinford town centre. A beautiful childrens playground is situated at the base of this walk which starts with a pathway that leads you on a short uphill stroll through the trees.

With forks in the path to choose your route, you will arrive at the top to view the town land below from various vantage points. A perfect place to take a picnic with benches located along the way.

At Easter the woods are used for the Good Friday Stations of the cross and Easter egg hunts on Sunday for the children.

 

Experience nature!

2 Mile pathway leads you around Brabazon park.

The golf course walk spans a 2 mile long pathway through parkland surrounding the perimeter of the golf course and the GAA grounds.

A glorious nature walk, you will take in the sights of the beautiful old trees,the flora and fauna. With a gentle stream flowing through,you can also observe the golfers on various holes along the way.

 

Swinford Swimming Club:

Aras Attracta Community Swimming Club holds classes for all levels and ages Monday to Saturday.

For more information contact Sylvia Doyle or Attracta Gavin 094 9050100

Heritage and Culture – Suitable for individuals, couples, groups and families.

Siamsa Sraide Festival  

Síamsa Sráide means “Fun on the Street” and it is the ideal family festival. It includes an open-air Céilí, Dancing, Heritage Day and International Busking Competition. Siamsa Sraide is a free five day festival and it always takes place on the August bank holiday weekend, it is full of family entertainment including Children’s programmes, sporting events, historical walks and talks.  Every year there is lively entertainment on the street and in the pubs.

This year celebrates the 31st year of Siamsa Sraide. Read the full line up of events here.

Hennigan’s Heritage Centre

Address: Rubble, Killasser, Swinford, Mayo, Republic of Ireland

Hennigan’s Heritage Centre is set in a traditional thatched cottage in Swinford County Mayo. It incorporates various farm animals and a farm museum.

A Beautiful Cottage at Hennigan’s

Hennigan’s Heritage Centre is situated in unspoilt countryside overlooking Creagaballa Lake 6.5km from the workhouse at Swinford where thousands of people from the region died during the 19th century due to starvation, and 20km from The Museum of Country Life, Turlough County Mayo.

Hennigan’s Heritage Centre tells the story of the lives of local West of Ireland people over the past 200 years.

Tom Hennigan by the fire.

Guided tours of this small holding are provided by Tom Hennigan who is the sixth-generation of his family to live here. See and hear how this family survived on less than ten acres of poor land for twenty decades. Information displays range from prehistoric to the 19th century land estates and tenants, through Independence and to present times. Working demonstrations of the implements on display plus archaeological tours of the surrounding historic area can also be be provided.

Hennigan’s Farm also features a lake, which is available for angling, and a beautiful picnic area.

Contact Details:

T:  00353 94 9252505
E: tom-hennigan@hotmail.com

 What the locals say…

Cathal Kelly
Prop. Gateway Hotel

“Hennigan’s Heritage Centre offers a great insight into the past, the hardships and the way of life in Ireland and it is well worth the visit. Regularly we have guests staying with us from all over the world and once they visit Hennigan’s Heritage Centre they have nothing but praise for Tom and his wife Catherine and the whole experience they deliver. The stories behind each facet of the museum are incredibly enlightening. The school room is a history lesson in itself and the setting where the museum is situated makes Hennigan’s Heritage Centre well worth the visit.”

 

 

Swinford Cultural Centre and Library:

Library Opening Hours:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Wednesday: 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am – 4:00pm

Swinford Library and Cultural Centre

Swinford Cultural Centre and Meeting Room is a multi-purpose venue located on Station Road, Swinford. This facility is based where the Railway Station once operated – the Culture Centre was once a goods store for CIE. The railway tracks are still visible behind the building and the station masters house is privately owned and occupied next door. The meeting room is housed in the new part of the building along with the Library.  The Cultural Centre is a fully accessible open space area that can accommodate up to 250 people and the separate Meeting Room can accommodate up to 30 people. There is ample car parking facilities and it is fully Wheelchair accessible.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opened the building on 10^th May 2014.

Events – past & ongoing

Since opening in 2013 a number of events of varying types have been held in the facility.

• Mayo Sings Choral Concert in 2013 & 2014.
• Training events with various organisations.
• Information Evenings
• Presentation events
• Drama production & rehearsals.
• DVD Launch evening
• Movie evening
• Fitness classes
• DIY course
• Personal Development Programme
• End of season junior football event
• Various AGM’s
• Children’s Disco
• Retirement Function
• Sports Coach Education
• Photo Shoot
• Job Club
• Bridge Tournament
• Table Quiz
• Hip Hop Dance Showcase
• Public Consultation
• Photographic Exhibition.
• Monthly Indoor Market
• Youth Club

Bookings or to inquire about an event:

Contact Mayo County Council, Swinford Office in person, telephone 094 9251495 or email tmelia@mayococo.ie or jryan@mayococo.ie.

Swinford Workhouse & Famine Grave:

Located just 5 minute walk from the town centre on the Dublin road.

The remains and site of the Swinford Union Workhouse should be of interest to visitors to the area. The front portion of the workhouse is now a hospital and is typical of all workhouses built at the time.

One of the best preserved mass Famine Graves can be seen at the back of Swinford Hospital, where 564 inmates were buried ‘without coffin, without sermon, without anything which denotes respect for the dead’, as Michael Davitt recalled in his book Defence of the Land League. The site of the Famine Grave is marked by a simple plaque bearing the inscription: Erected by the people of Swinford to the memory of 564 famine victims buried in this place.
May they rest in peace.

Eagles Flying

Portinch, Ballymote, Co. Sligo

Visit the Eagle Sanctuary near Swinford.

Only 40 minutes from Swinford, the IRISH RAPTOR RESEARCH CENTRE is a scientifically managed sanctuary for Birds of Prey and Owls.

Established in 1999 the centre was originally set up for research purposes only, but as a consequence of increasing interest and local awareness, it was decided to open parts of the centre to visitors.

The Eagles Flying Show is both fun and educational for the whole family! Their special method of working with animals makes it possible to allow visitors as close as possible to the birds of prey.

Get up close to birds of prey near Swinford

The scientists on hand present information on each of the birds and raptors in general and if you ever had a question about a bird of prey – well, here you go – just ask!

Situated on 27 hectares, the sanctuary is home to about 350 birds and animals out of 75 species.

People from all over Ireland bring in injured birds and other helpless wildlife and the centre tries to heal all these patients and if possible return them to nature. This hospital and rehabilitation sector is now the most time-consuming and labour-intensive department at the centre.

The centre also cooperates with international Zoos breeding endangered species for re-introduction-programmes.

In 2007 the Irish Raptor Research Centre / Eagles Flying received the accreditation as EU-Zoo.

More information: www.eaglesflying.com

Knock Museum:

Knock, Mayo, Ireland

Knock Museum tells of the transformation of a small Mayo village to a major Marian Shrine after a famous apparition in 1979. Thousands still flock to the site, located on the N17 in County Mayo.

Knock Museum, in County Mayo, captures the unique story of the Knock Apparition of 1879. It profiles the fifteen ordinary people who witnessed an extraordinary event which saw the transformation of Knock, a small rural village in County Mayo, into an international Marian Shrine.

The museum also places the apparition in the context of life in 1879, from living in the thatched house to working in the forge. Other themes include the Knock Shrine Society of Volunteers, Monsignor James Horan, cures at the shrine and a unique collection of pilgrims’ personal memories and stories.

Daily masses and confessions take place at Knock Shrine and there are daily guided prayer sessions from April to October. Knock Summer Youth Festival is held in June and Knock Novena is held in August.

A new museum Café, ‘Café Le Chéile’ is open from 10am to 6pm daily. Knock Museum is a fully-accredited museum in the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland.

Contact details:

Tel:  +353 949375034
Email: museum@knock-shrine.ie

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Shopping and Socialising in Swinford

Food, Shopping and Entertainment:

Swinford town is made up of two central streets, Main Street and Market Street, both of which host a variety of retail, culinary establishments and public houses.

All aspects of the shopping experience are covered in Swinford offering men’s and women’s clothing, pharmacies, hair dressers, beauty salons, home goods and much more.

For entertainment, The Gateway Hotel as well as the eight other public houses in Swinford host bands and functions on a weekly basis. Swinford also has numerous cafes and restaurants that provide fabulous food during the day and in the evening.

Siamsa Sraide Festival  

A preview of Siamsa Sraide 2014

Síamsa Sráide means “Fun on the Street” and it is the ideal family festival. It includes an open-air Céilí, Dancing, Heritage Day and International Busking Competition. Siamsa Sraide is a free five day festival and it always takes place on the August bank holiday weekend, it is full of family entertainment including Children’s programmes, sporting events, historical walks and talks.  Every year there is lively entertainment on the street and in the pubs.

This year celebrates the 30^th year of Siamsa Sraide and they have added a new event to the schedule, Blah Na Feile. Siamsa Sraide will this year highlight the brilliance of our local young woman by drawing attention to their endeavors and achievements in this fun and youthful event.

Childrens Activities in Swinford

Swinford Playground

Swinfords Award Winning Playground

Swinford playground is an award winning children’s play facility which is located only 2 minutes walk from Swinford town centre, at the entrance to Brabazon woods on the Kilkelly road.  It is a beautiful playground that includes a safe soft grounded area with a great selection of swings, slides, climbing frames and many other games to entertain your children.

Guaranteed Fun!

Swinford playground is very popular with families and children of all ages.  Even though it is within 2 minutes walking distance of Swinford town centre, there is ample off road parking provided. This is an excellent facility that is free for all the family.

ECM Dance School

ECM Dance is a new dance school taught by Charlotte Moore and Emma Coleman teaching many styles such as Hip-Hop,

Great fun at hip hop classes!

Modern, Contemporary and Musical theatre. Classes are located in both Swinford and Charlestown throughout the year. Kids from 4-19 years of age with all abilities are welcomed. Charlotte and Emma have trained together for many years and have both won many all-Ireland titles for Hip-Hop dancing in both solo and group categories. They have also been involved in many shows throughout the years in all forms of dance. Charlotte choreographed her university’s musical in 2014 and Emma has trained in America over the past few years. ECM Dance provides a facility for children to come together where they learn and have fun in a friendly atmosphere as well as partaking in a wonderful creative sport. It has already benefited many children in the community allowing them to express themselves and grow in confidence. ECM Dance will be back in September 2014 welcoming new students. If there are any enquires don’t hesitate to contact the girls on 087-6560159 or 087-1246635.

What the locals say…

Megan Durkan local mum and business woman.

“ECM Dance classes have brought massive excitement to our household, my daughter Cora  is never happier than on a Saturday morning heading off to learn some new moves. Charlotte and Emma have devoted their time to these children and have helped them not only develop dance skills but their confidence and social skills too!”

 

 

Morrison School of Dance – Ballet

Swinford Ballerina’s

Under the guidance of esteemed teacher, Leighton Morrison, students at the Academy learn, grace, musicality, good posture, self-expression and the self-confidence that naturally develops when achieving goals.

Leighton Morrison is one of Ireland’s most highly respected ballet dancers, teachers and choreographers.

Leighton states that “We understand that you want the best for your child and at the Morrison School of Dance, we strive to provide the highest quality of care and to teach dance in a fun and healthy learning environment. Our aim is to provide a positive learning experience for each individual child and to inspire a love of the arts in everyone we work with.”

Classes are held in Swinford National School on Saturday mornings, for futher information and a detailed time table contact www.morrisonschoolofdance.com

 

Giggles Drama Classes

Acting Classes in Swinford

Giggles Drama provide drama classes and workshops for individuals and groups. They aim to provide a full range of courses to cover all interests and abilities. Drama is very popular in Mayo and Sligo and they provide regular classes in Swinford: Scoil Muire agus Treasa and in Meelick National School.

 

Giggles provide classes for children to explore drama and the theatre in a fun, safe and creative environment. Classes are grouped according to age to help develop creativity, social skills, confidence and fluency of speech. For adults drama classes are designed to enhance creativity, acting technique, theory and experience in the theatre.

For more information email info@giggles.ie or www.giggles.ie

Maghu’s Castle

Located in Kiltimagh is a state of the art indoor and outdoor play area for children aged 0-12 years old.

Go wild in Maghu’s!

The indoor area provides adventure with its two level maze which incorporates giant slide, punch-bags, rope bridge, aerial runway & ball pond. Funbooster cannon games are very popular and are unique in Ireland to Maghus Castle

 

Maghus Castle and Tir na nOg Funpark have been professionally designed to be fun and stimulating and has separate safe toddler areas in both the indoor & outdoor sections.

 

The Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)is targeted at older children and is used to play a range of sports including football, volleyball, basketball etc.

 

The project is totally enclosed. Access into and out of the facility is controlled by the supervisors so children cannot wander off. Children are supervised by adults at all times. The area is covered by CCTV which coupled with the conformity to the latest standards of safety of equipment and surfaces, makes the project one of the safest in the region in which children can explore and develop themselves.

For more information telephone: 353 94 9374886

 

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