Steppin’ out for Covie Week ’23

Westport’s publishing history will be celebrated during Covie Week 2023, which starts today (Tuesday) and runs until Monday, July 31.
The one-time owner of The Mayo News was FNT (Foilseacháin Náisiúnta Teoranta, or National Publications Limited), which also published books and a newspaper (Inniu) in Irish. FNT will be celebrated on Monday night at 8pm in the Clew Bay Hotel, opposite the original site of FNT on James St. Cormac Ó Cionnaith and Pádraic Geraghty, who both worked there, will be joined by Traolach Ó Coghaile (son of the late Eamon Connolly) and others to reminisce, recollect and ruminate.
Sunday afternoon is scheduled for a visit to Creevagh Cemetery, a Famine graveyard at the Industrial Estate on the Newport Rd. Following the erection of a stone memorial at The Rocky last August to commemorate victims of the Great Hunger it is fitting that more local people become aware of Creevagh. All will meet at 3pm outside Creative Wood in the Industrial Park (Eircode F28 AY68).
A photographic exhibition will be opened in Westport Library on Saturday at 2pm. It will feature school photos from the old boys school and the convent school. It will also feature a few surprises from a one-time James Street family. People are encouraged to name all the faces peering out from the pages of history.
The man responsible for Westport being chosen as the Best Place to Live, Mayo News columnist John O’Callaghan, will speak on the Placenames of Westport and Surrounding Areas on Friday at 8pm in the Clew Bay Hotel. This man will put ‘text into context’. John O has a wonderful relaxed, professional presentation style, and it promises to be a memorable night. Placenames like Killahoor, Sheeaune, Drummindoo, Clerhaun, Attyreece, Carrabawn and others will be suited and booted and their meanings offered up.
Also on Friday, members of Westport Trout Anglers, under the direction of Toby Gibbons (the Mall River’s Neptune!) will give a fishing demonstration to children – meeting outside John Campbell’s, North Mall, at 11am. All are invited to encourage local and visiting boys and girls to attend. The event is always held in honour of the legendary Joe Berry, former Mayo News proprietor.
Thursday afternoon (3pm) is the time for settling into Blouser’s Pub on James Street for ‘Tea, Cakes and Poetry’. Devised by local poet Noddy McKeown many years ago, this is always a popular event when local poets share their lines, a joke or a song. Time and space will be afforded to anyone who wishes to take part. A ‘yellow top’ or two, thanks to Curry’s Cottage Home Bakery and Tearoom, will also be available to all and sundry. There is even a rumour that Curry’s Angels might step forward and do a jig and skip the light fandango. After all, they are all prize-winning noted Irish dancers!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, is the turn of musician Charlie Keating to sing local songs, especially from his new CD ‘Westport of the Welcomes’. The CD features a unique collection of songs written by local people alongside poems (by Mattie Quinn and Paddy Guthrie) put to music by Charlie. There are songs by esteemed locals, late and great, like Robin Cosgrove, Patrick Lyons, Tadhg Hastings, Edward O’Malley, An tAth Micheál Mac Gréil, John Cannon, and Pete Callaghan. Songs written by those still among us include Séamus O’Connell, Piaras Ó Raghallaigh, Eamon Keane, Fr Kieran Burke, Brian Keating, Tommie Lehane and the man himself, Charlie Keating. The Clew Bay Hotel is the venue at 8pm.
Tonight (Tuesday) the great Mayo troubadour John Hoban will launch his book, ‘Sound Men and Women’ in Westport Library at 7pm. The book, John’s second, is a trip alongside him as he travels back in time. Beautifully written and interspersed with his lyrics, the book takes its reader on a beautiful, effortless journey. It chants throughout Mayo, bounces across the border to Galway while also taking in many musical experiences of blessed memory from Dundalk to Dalgan, across the Irish Sea and the wild Atlantic. A night not be missed, with one of our greatest performing singer-songwriters.
Míle buíochas to The Mayo News for support. All events are free. All are welcome.