Mayo children in plea to council to rescue their favourite playtime pursuit

The children of Marian Row and surrounding estates in Castlebar have come together to plead for their favourite playtime activity to be saved.

They have responded to a letter by a concerned citizen published in last week's issue of The Connaught Telegraph under the heading: 'Keeping an old Castlebar tradition alive'.

It referred to the facts that the Hoogie Jumps, which have been played out on the river at Marian Row by generations of children growing up there since the 1950s, was in serious jeopardy due to the fact the river banks have fallen into decline.

The river banks are a central component of the jumps as children challenge themselves on the number of jumps they can complete in one go between the two banks by stepping on a large stone placed strategically in the middle of the river.

The letter pointed to the fact that children were discouraged from doing the Hoogie Jumps because the river banks have deteriorated so badly.

Now the children, aged between three and 15 years, have written to the newspaper to explain why it is so important to them to keep the tradition alive.

They wrote: “We have grown up with the hoogies on the river at Marian Row. Even our parents and some of our grandparents did so too and many an enjoyable day they spent there.

“We agree that the hoogies have been neglected. Due to the neglect of the river walls, it has become harder and harder to run up and down them, using the bricks in the centre of the river.

“We miss the hoogies the way they used to be and the council continue to take away our blocks at the hoogies.

“We have replaced them time and again but they keep being taken away. One of the river walls has collapsed completely.

“We kindly ask the council to repair the walls at the hoogies so we can go back to playing the games we love.

“Anybody who ever did the hoogies knows just how important they are for people living around the area to keep the tradition alive.

“Please, Mayo County Council, repair our hoogies.”

The letter was signed by 'The Children of Marian Row and surrounding areas' and handed to our editor.

Councillor Ger Deere told The Connaught Telegraph he strongly supported the campaign to save the hoogies.

“I know at first hand just how important the tradition is to the children of Marian Row, St. Bridget's Crescent and other nearby estates.

“The river has been neglected by the council for far too long and it's time a plan of action is put in place to repair it and give it new life,” he commented.

Councillor Deere will be raising the matter at the next meeting of Castlebar Municipal District.