Oct,2024
Pic: The weeds in a bad year
As we come to the close of our Dragon Boat season. We would like to thank the OPW, Shane Flaherty and John Mooney and his team for their assistance to the club this year.
Each year users of Lough Lannagh lake face a recurring challenge with weed growth, especially during the summer months. These weeds pose difficulties for casual swimmers, triathlon participants, kayakers, and particularly our 20-person Dragon Boats, hindering effective training.
As our Club spends the summer preparing for regattas across Ireland, having a clear paddling route is essential for practicing race timing and refining race starts. Our social paddlers also greatly benefit from a weed-free lake. Each year, the Office of Public Works (OPW), with the support of local councillors such as Ger Deere, Jarlath McHale and Blackie Gavin, steps in to help tackle this issue.
A weed-cutting machine, accompanied by a safety boat, is brought in to clear the lake, ensuring it is safe and accessible once more.
This year, the efforts of Shane Flaherty, OPW Engineer, and John Mooney, OPW Foreman and his team, have been instrumental in keeping the lake clear. Our club, Vivienne Kyne and Louise Rodgers would like to thank both Shane and John and the lads for their tireless work in removing the weeds, ensuring smooth waters for all lake users.
Lough Lannagh remains a valuable resource for the community and a source of pride for the town. Keeping the water clear and accessible benefits not only local clubs but also ensures that this beautiful lake can be enjoyed by everyone, all year round.
Oct,2024
Mayo County Council has made significant improvements to the approach and ramp leading to our pontoon on Lough Lannagh, greatly benefiting our club. A special thanks goes to David Mellet, Head of Castlebar Municipal District, and his team for their hard work in revamping the area.
For several years, the Club had to rely on makeshift solutions to access the pontoon, such as using pallets and tyres, especially during the winter months when water levels in the lake rise. These temporary fixes were less than ideal, making it difficult for paddlers to access the pontoon and launch the Dragon Boat.
The recent improvements by the council have transformed the space, providing a much smoother gradient on the slipway and enhancing the surface. Most notably, the installation of a solid 12ft by 4ft concrete base now ensures a stable and safe approach to the pontoon, making access much easier for all.
The Club is grateful to the Council for this essential upgrade, which will improve both safety and enjoyment for paddlers year-round.
Oct,2024
Aar me hearties! The pirates of the Green Isle alias two Gráine Mhaol Dragons – Audrey Maughan and Inara Poca , having the craic along with Medb’s Dragon Warriors at the dragon boat festival in Annecy, France on the Fancy Dress day. They definitely captured the best she pirate of them all.
Anne and Tadgh Murphy, Inna and Audrey travelled to Lake Annecy France Dragon Boat Festival. What a beautiful location fora Dragon boat festival and the the gang clearly had loads of fun.
Oct,2024
Another great regatta, another great day out, another great year for the Gráine Mhaolers…….
Many thanks to Julie Doyle and Mick, Irish Dragon Boat Association and Lough Rinn Sport & Recreation Hub , Lough Rinn Dragon Boat Regatta for putting on a fab day and most of all many thanks to our own paddling team who put in a lot of training for the event.
Mayo Dragons Lough Rinn Regatta team
Sep,2024
Many thanks as always to Cllr. Gavin for his generosity to the Gráine Mhaol Dragon boat Club. It goes a long way to helping us develop the Club every year.
Blackie Gavin has allocated money to the club on the 30th September 2024.
Sep,2024
Sunday 1st September ’24 was selected for our second social outing of the year. Thankfully the weather was very kind to us, and the sun shone through the clouds. We started off with a photoshoot with us alongside Hollywood star John Wayne. We all wanted to be picked up by this Hollywood legend, but another Hollywood legend Maureen O’Hara was already occupying pride of place in his arms. We left them both where we found them, beside the abbey in Cong Village. Everyone arrived on time and we proceeded through the abbey and grounds, where the last High King of Ireland, Rory O Connor lived for the final years of his life and reign. We then ventured over the beautiful Corrib River where we stopped to admire the Monk’s Fishing House. It was here that the monks from the abbey spent time in prayer and meditation and, at the same time, tried out their fishing skills. Angela Dempsey headed up the Walk through the forest of a great variety of trees including Silver Fir, Douglas fir, Sitka Spruce, Scots pine, Coast redwoods, giant sequoia, Monterey pine and many other coniferous and deciduous trees.
We passed “Teach Aille” cave which is reputed to have been used by the monks as a fridge due to its low temperatures in the Summer. “Pigeon Hole Cave” was next to be explored and as true adventurers we descended the stone steps into the bowels of the earth. The water flowing at the bottom is actually the waters of Lough Mask travelling underground towards Lough Corrib.
Angela, keeping an eye on the clock, while reminding us that “time and tide waits for no man,” beckoned us to the surface and off we went back through the forest and on to the exquisite grounds of Ashford Castle. There we were greeted at the bridge entrance to the castle by Patrick Luskin, our tour guide and skipper, with his boat the Isle of Inishfree.
All happily seated on top deck, we sailed out Lough Corrib in absolute awe at the beauty of the lake and its surroundings. With Ashford Castle to our backs, we headed on out to the historic Inchagoill Island.
The name is derived from “Inis an Ghaill Crabhthigh” meaning the Island of the devout foreigner. Dating back to the 5th century AD, the island served as a site for an early Christian religious settlement. Legend has it that the “Devout Foreigner” is none other than St. Patrick himself, who is said to have established one of the island’s two churches.
Alongside St. Patricks church is the 12th century Church of the Saints, and beside that again is the tomb of Muirgheas O’ Nioc, Archbishop of Tuam who died here in 1128.
Ann Bourke created a sensation when she felt “vibes” from the Stone of Lugnaedon, a 6th century standing stone which lies between both churches. Well, we all had to have a go, but unfortunately the stone was only connecting with Ann.
We then ambled about and visited the 6 cottages, now in ruins and beautifully situated by the water’s edge. Patrick, our skipper told us to take as long as we liked as long as it wasn’t any more than 5 minutes, so we returned to the boat and made our way home, and with Ashford Castle coming into view, Patrick related the history of the Castle and its owners.
With our bellies calling to us (absolutely roaring with hunger) we headed to Tí Búrca in Clonbur for dinner. They did not let us down, the meal was delicious, accompanied with live traditional music in the bar. We departed Tí Búrca with an air of satisfaction. The mix of history, nature, and camaraderie really shone through our day.
Another successful excursion for the Grainne Mhaol Dragon Boat Social Group!
