Local Notes: All of the latest news from Kiltimagh
Young members of Kiltimagh GAA Club taking part in the St Patrick's Day Parade in the town. Picture: John Corless
Congratulations to Clann Machua Drama group, which has qualified for the All-Ireland Drama Final, with Roddy Doyle’s ‘The Snapper.’
The group is one of three from Mayo that have made it to the finals. They will be joined by Claremorris-based Upstage Players and St Patrick’s Drama Group from Westport in the finals which will be held in Claremorris from April 25th to May 3rd with the Awards Night on May 4th. Glenamaddy Players and Phoenix Players from Tubbercurry brings to five the number of finalists from Connacht.
The group won the festivals in Rossmore (West Cork) and Tipperary and finished with 29 points.
In Doonbeg, Seamus Corry won the Best Actor award and Siobhan Redmond picked up the award for most promising actress. There was also an adjudicators award for Rebecca Farrington as a first-time director.
Seamus Corry picked up a Best Actor award at Mountmellick Drama Festival, and in Kildare, the group won an award for the most entertaining play, with the Best Actor again going to Seamus Corry, along with an award for Best Characterisation.
Seamus also picked up the Best Actor award in Charleville, where the Most Promising Actress gong went to Siobhan Redmond. In Claregalway, Clann Machua won awards for Best Stage Crew and Best Technical performance.
The group secured an award for Most Entertaining Play in Rossmore, with the Best Actor award again going to Seamus Corry. The Best Actress award went to Finola Mellet, with an Adjudicator’s Acting Award going to Layla Carney and Dareen Godfrey, who played ‘The Twins’ in the production. The Best Director award went to Rebecca Farrington.
In Glenamaddy, Denis Charlton won the award for Best Supporting Actor, and in Tipperary, the group won the award for Most Entertaining Play. Best Actor went to Seamus Corry and Best Actress went to Siobhan Redmond and there was an Adjudicator’s Award for Fraser Smith for his lighting cues. Rebecca Farrington won Best Director in Tipperary also.
The 2025 Race2Glory will be held in Kiltimagh on July 12th. As in other years, there are two events – a 20k and a 40k challenge.
The shorter 20k ‘Sprint Course’ takes in the challenges of the Thornhill Trail Run, Treenagleragh Hill and the Glore River. Stage 1 covers 3k mountain run with a 10k cycle making up stage 2. The course is completed with a 7k run for Stage 3.
The full course covers a total of 40km over such challenges as Spankers Hill, The Bog, Craggagh Hill and Glore River. Stage 1 is made up of a 10k mountain run, stage 2 features a 23k cycle and Stage 3 consists of a 7k run.
If you love the thrill of the race and a good adventurous challenge, this is the event you have been waiting for. There are a number of prize categories for top finishers, age categories, and more.
The organisers also promise a day for the whole family to enjoy, with a finish line fully equipped with coffee, ice cream and food trailers, along with an epic BBQ and even face-painting for the little ones.
The participants will be catered for too with refreshing ice baths and physios on hand to help with any aches and pains.
To register, check out the Race2Glory online page.
Seamus Larkin and Tom Begley took first prize at last week’s card game in the parish centre, with Mary and Richard Carney in second place. Third was shared by Michael Costello and Michael Carney and Mary and Jimmy Doyle.
Patsy Flatley and Hilary Foley won the Last 10, with spot prizes going to Martin Regan and Danny Doherty.
James Walsh, Danny Doherty and Tom Begley were the raffle winners.
Anthony Cunnane was the winner of the Kiltimagh 50/50 lotto last week. Anthony collected €614 in the draw.
Siofra McGuinness and Michael Collins were involved with the Mayo Under-16 soccer team last week in the win over South Belfast.
Despite going 2-0 down, the Mayo team drew level in the closing stages of normal time. Siofra scored to give Mayo the lead at the end of the first period of extra-time but the northern side equalised almost immediately. The match then went to penalties and Siofra took the fourth of Mayo's perfect five spot-kicks to seal the win 5-3.
Siofra was part of this same squad that won the U-15 Cup last year, proving that Mayo girls can consistently compete with the best sides on the island.
Michael Collins was an interested spectator at the match, knowing this squad well, having introduced them to Inter League action as their manager at U-13 and also at the Gaynor Cup U-14 level. Sinead Mulhern guided them to the Cup last year at U-15 level and Emma Gibbons and Kian Flanagan looked after them this year.
Kiltimagh GAA will host a Multi-Activity Easter Camp from April 14th to 16th from 10am to 1pm at Gilmartin Park. The camp is for boys and girls aged five to 13.
The camp will be fully supervised by volunteer coaches and will be run as a fundraiser for the Kiltimagh GAA Bord na nÓg. Activities will include football, rounders, soccer, hurling, team building and plenty of fun games. The cost is €35 for one child or €70 for two or more children.
Fees will be collected on the Monday morning of the camp from 9.30am. An application form must be completed by Friday, April 11th. Forms are available on the club’s Facebook page and can be submitted digitally via WhatsApp message or in hardcopy. Completed forms will also be collected from the local national schools on Wednesday, April 9th.
Children attending the camp are advised to bring a snack for break time, and appropriate gear for all weather.
The numbers keep growing for the Kiltimagh Poker League and Round 9 last Wednesday night in Teach O’Hora saw 25 players compete for a prize pool of €830. Martin Regan won first prize with Isaac Boyle second. Kieran McGee was third and Paul Walsh fourth.
The other finalists and their finishing positions were: 5th, Michael Sheridan; 6th, Pat Boyle; 7th, Tom MacDonagh; 8th, Alan Sheridan; 9th, Enda Ruane.
Isaac Boyle has extended his lead at the top of the league table and he now has 188 points, well clear of Michael Higgiins on 138 and Martin Regan on 136. The rest of the top twelve are Enda Ruane 122, Nicky Cunnane 120, Pat Boyle 113, Michael Sheridan 101, Paul Walsh 101, AN Other 100, Derry O'Sullivan 98, Keith Lydon 92, Gerry Groarke 88.
The league runs for 15 weeks with tournaments every Wednesday night at 8pm. Entry is €20 with one rebuy or add-on allowed, also €20. €5 from each entry and rebuy goes towards the league final prize pool with the rest paid out on the night. At the end of the league, the top 12 players qualify for the grand final and they will be joined by two others from a last-chance play-off to play for an estimated prize pool of €2,000.
Cill Aodáin, Choral Society, Kiltimagh presents Spring into Song at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on Thursday, April 24th, at 8pm.
The society had two sold-out nights at the venue last year and is hoping for a full house for this event.
This year the society is privileged to have the very talented Alannah Thornburgh, an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer with a focus on traditional Irish harp, join the society on stage. Alannah's music explores her family's musical heritage, reimagining ancient airs and tunes from the Irish harping and American folk and jazz traditions. The musical director is Finola Higgins.
Tickets for the concert cost €20 and are available online at the Linenhall Arts Centre or by phone on 094-9023733.
Kiltimagh Knock United Masters had a big win in the Masters Cup on Wednesday, defeating Conn Rangers 13-6 in the quarter-final. They now have a semi-final against Snugboro United to be played tomorrow night, April 9th.
Carol O'Flaherty from Aghamore won the jackpot of €275 in the KKU 50/50 draw last week. The continued support of the weekly 50/50 fundraiser is much appreciated by the club.
Bridge is held in the hotel every Tuesday at 7.30. The club is open to new members joining at any time. Casual pairs are also welcome.
Bridge classes are available for beginners and anybody interested can contact John McCrohan on 087-2422945.
