Local Notes: All the latest news from Charlestown
Conor O'Donoghue in action for London against Sligo's Kyle Cawley in the FBD Connacht Senior Football League at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence. Picture: INPHO/Dan Clohessy
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €20,300 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, January 18, and the following were the 4 numbers drawn; 4, 20, 21, and 27.
The winners of the two €50 prizes were Jimmy Haran (lucky dip ) and Maureen Lyons (online). The latest jackpot increased to €20,400 and the draw was held on Sunday night, January 25. Tickets are available for purchase in a number of outlets in the town and they are also available online via the club’s Facebook page.
The club thank all who support their weekly draw.
Former Sarsfields star Conor O’Donoghue is certainly lighting it up for his adopted London at the moment as he played a starring role in their recent FBD Plate final victory over London in the final round of FBD league played at the Connacht Centre of Excellence, Bekan recently. Conor lined out at left-half back and scored a crucial goal early in the second half which put London on the road to victory. He was very influential in all of London’s best moments as he used his pace and athleticism to cut holes through the Leitrim defence with some marauding runs forward.
He is in great shape at the moment and looks primed to nail down one of the starting half-back berths as London look to make a big push in the upcoming Division 4 National League campaign where Leitrim will once again be one of the teams they will come up against.
Conor has always been a very dedicated and committed trainer and has been somewhat unlucky with injuries over the course of the last eighteen months which have thwarted his ambitions on lining out with London in the league and Connacht Championship campaigns. He is on course to rectify that in some style in 2026 and is eagerly looking forward to showcasing his many talents with Mayo travelling to Ruislip to take on London in the Connacht Championship preliminary round in April. All he needs is a modicum of good luck and a good run in the side in the league to make this happen with his many Sarsfields colleagues and teammates keeping a keen eye on his progress as he continues to shine and display his best form and leave the Sarsfields to rue on what they are missing out on. Best of luck Conor for the season and we hope your football continues to go on the undoubted upward curve it is on.
The Achonry Pioneer dinner dance takes place in The Yeats County Inn, Curry on Friday, March 20, at 8pm. Tickets are €40 per person and there will be a three course meal with tea/coffee and music by The Duets. Contact Thomas on 087 2344338 to book your ticket.
For knitters, crocheters, hand stitchers and embroiderers, from beginners to experts, all are welcome and whatever your fabric art may be. Yarn Tales is the place for you. The group meet every Thursday from 10.30am-1pm in the Pastoral Centre, Lowpark, Charlestown. For more information contact Pamela on 089 4795664.
Kilmovee Badminton Club welcome new members to join them in Kilmovee Community Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm.
The next community coffee morning will take place on Friday, February 6, in the Arts Centre Barrack Street, Charlestown from 11am-1pm. There is lift access available. All are welcome to come along for a cuppa and a chat.
Johnny’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, will stage the inaugural Justin Flannery Memorial Pool Competition on Sunday, February 1, in memory of a lovely man who was taken from this world far too soon. The competition will get underway at 6.30pm and 3 ball killer pool will be the format in place for the competition. All proceeds from the event will go to the charity Féileacáin, an amazing organisation and one that is very close to Justin’s and many families hearts. All donations are greatly appreciated.
For those who cannot attend on the night there is a link you can donate on by logging onto Johnny’s Bar Facebook page or the Charlestown Community Facebook page. There will be a monster raffle held on the night with spot prizes galore as the whole community rows in behind this event in recognition of a man who made a great impression on many in the town and who was always a popular and helpful presence in and around Johnny’s Bar where he worked as a barman for many years. Your support would be very much appreciated with the pool competition attracting some big names within and outside the community.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 card drive game held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday night, January 20 and the following were the prize winners; 1st Kevin Maloney and Vera Scally. Raffle winners were Darby Leonard, Miko Sheridan and Joe Mahon. The game takes place every Tuesday night at 9pm and all are welcome.
Join a Museum curator at 12 noon on Saturday, January 31, to learn about traditions and objects associated with St Brigid, at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar. Then enjoy some St. Brigid’s cross-making workshops at 2pm or 3.30pm. Telephone 094 9031751 or visit www.museum.ie for full booking details.
St Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown are hosting a community quiz on Friday, January 30, at 7pm in the CBD Sports Complex, Lowpark, Charlestown, with prizes galore. The cost is €10 per person and a table of 4 costs €40. All are welcome and your support on the evening would be very much appreciated.
The Charlestown Sarsfields LGFA Club and Senior club were thrilled to hear the news that one of their own, Ella Brennan, has been chosen to captain the Mayo senior ladies team for the 2026 season. This is a terrific honour for Ella and her family and is one the club and community are beaming with pride over as it’s recognition of her outstanding talent and commitment which has been there for all to see at club level over the course of the last number of years.
Ella is a very dedicated trainer who keeps herself in mint condition at all times and has been one of the mainstays in the Sarsfields rise to the top table of ladies’ club football in Mayo which sees them competing in the senior league and championship respectively. She has driven the team forward with her passion and intensity and always gives of her best no matter what the occasion or competition. She is a great competitor and has a tenacity and spirit about her that seldom sees her beaten in her individual battles on the fields of play and all these qualities have definitely caught the eye of new Mayo Ladies manager Diane O’Hora hence her selection as captain for the new season. She will lead by example of that there is no doubt and it’s a red letter day for the Sarsfields LGFA Club and main club in general to have one of their own leading Mayo on the field for a season that promises much with a new management team in place.
Ella is a great role model for all young players in the club and her elevation to captain will be something many of the younger players will be looking to emulate in the months and years ahead as she gets to grips with the demands of the job which won’t faze her one little bit. Best of luck Ella and here’s hoping you have many great days in your role as captain and player.
Best of luck also to Clodagh Murphy and Julia Gawalkeivicz who have also been selected as part of a panel of 37 with the club thrilled to see their representation rise to three with a few more very much in the thoughts and minds of the new management team.
New and returning members are welcome to join the parish choir. No prior experience required. Practice takes place each Thursday at 7pm in the Parish Church. Enquiries to Carmel on 086 3271196.
A meeting takes place every Wednesday evening in the Adoration Chapel of St James’ Church, Charlestown. All are welcome. Enquiries to Phil on 086 3946233.
A silent protest against war/famine in Gaza will take place at the N5/N17 overpass in Ballyglass East each Friday from 6-7pm. All are welcome.
Yoga with Trish has resumed in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Tuesday evenings from 7.15-8.15pm. A block of five costs €60 or pay as you go costs €14.
The Ronan Regan Memorial Tractor Run takes place on Sunday, February 8. Registration will take place at 12 noon and the run starts at 1pm. Trucks and vintage cars are welcome. Your support would be very much appreciated.
Have you ever thought about fostering ? Change a child’s life by becoming a Tusla Foster Carer. Talk to Tusla Fostering today by freephone 1 800 226 771 or visit www.fostering.ie to learn more.
Tavneena NS are delighted to announce that enrolment is now open for the 2026/2027 academic year. Enrolment forms are available to download on the school website www.tavneenans.scoilnet.ie or by contacting the school at tavneenans@gmail.com or calling 094 9254910.
Music Circle with John and Isabela Hoban is back in Carracastle Community Centre on Monday, February 9, from 7-8.30pm. This is a free event. Share a song, poem, story or a tune or just sit back and enjoy. All are welcome and no experience is necessary.
The death took place recently of Marion Phillips (nee Forkin), Tavnaghbeg, Cloontia, Ballymote and formerly of Charlestown. Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
Yoga classes with Sophie take place every Tuesday at 7.30pm at Carracastle Community Centre. The cost is €10 per class and there is a free taster class for newcomers. For more information and to book your place, contact Sophie on 083 4798831.
There was one lucky winner of the Curry GAA Lotto jackpot of €5500 in the draw held on Monday night, January 5, with Noah Morley scooping the top prize as his lucky ticket matched the four numbers drawn out on the night which were as follows; 1 ,4 ,12 and 20. The winners of the 3 x €20 prizes were the following; Mary Henry, Helena Kennedy and Theo Kennedy. The club would like to congratulate Noah on his good fortune. The jackpot reverted back to €2000 for the draw held on January 12.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €2000 in the draw held on Monday night, January 12, and the following were the four numbers drawn: 10, 15, 21 and 24. The winners of the 3 x €20 prizes were as follows; Maureen Durcan, Megan Walsh and PJ Connolly.
The jackpot in the draw held on Monday, January 19, rose to €2100 and the jackpot in the draw held last night Monday, January 26, was €2200.
Mayo County Ploughing are looking for a site to hold the County Ploughing on Sunday, April 19. For details contact 087 4167396.
Parke Keelogues Crimlin Gaa Club, in conjunction with Mayo Mental Health Association and The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park and Mayo AC are thrilled to announce February 15, for the 2026 Turlough 8K. Participants are encouraged to run, walk or jog during this event which sees huge participation each year and is very popular. All monies raised go back into Parke GAA Community Initiatives and Mayo MHA Schools Education Programmes. Link to register at https://eventmaster.ie/.
To mark the opening of a new unique exhibition ‘Antique Veterinary Objects, the National Museum is hosting a talk with Dr Michael Doherty at 3pm on Saturday, February 7. The talk will explore the fascinating history of animal care in Ireland and draw on Dr Doherty’s recent research to present ‘The Folklore of Cattle and Sheep through an Ethnoveterinary Lens'. Admission to the talk is free, but booking is necessary, by visiting then website www.museum.ie.
The unique selection of antique veterinary objects has gone on display at the National Museum of Ireland in Turlough Park. In the early 2000s, the National Museum of Ireland and the Veterinary Department of Mayo County Council formed a partnership to establish a collection of veterinary objects in the Irish Folklife Collection. Cathal Walsh was Veterinary Officer with the council, from 1991 until his retirement in 2005.
During his time working in Mayo, Cathal, and his colleagues in the Veterinary Department, Cathy Waddell and Cathy Gallagher, established a collection of antique objects dealing with animal husbandry and veterinary science. Those objects were donated to the National Museum, and a selection is now on display. The display provides visitors with a closer look at the work of vets in Ireland in the past. The display is on Level B of the exhibition galleries. Admission is free and no booking is required.
A Camino Walk Information Night to discuss the proposed Camino Walk to Santiago in early June - walking the Portuguese Camino route - will be held on tomorrow evening, Wednesday, January 28 at 7.30pm in The Novel Bean, Swinford, F12XF60. Everyone is welcome to attend.
There was the usual big turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street on Sunday night, January 18, as the Duke and the Pillock faced off in another tasty instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus had plenty to occupy his mind in his role as referee but kept both men on a tight leash as the action settled down. The Pillock did his usual and blazed out of the blocks to blast his way into a two set lead with the Duke powerless to stem the flow as his opponent hit every double and treble with unerring accuracy.
It was always going to be hard for Kenny to keep this level up and sure enough the Duke played his way back into the contest with some steady and consistent scoring which was enough for him to win the next two sets and set up a one set decider. True to form the set proved an endearing scrap for control with both men enjoying wildly fluctuating fortunes. The Pillock took the first leg but the Duke roared back to win the next two to leave him one away from victory with the tension very much at boiling point.
The fourth leg proved a microcosm of the whole match as initially Kenny looked primed to win it as he won the race to the doubles with ease. His composure deserted him however, at the worst possible time to allow the duke to swoop in and claim the spoils which he duly did as he nailed treble eighteen and double sixteen with all the coldness of a top class assasin to nail his first title of the season and claim all the bragging rights in this most hotly contested local derby. A cracking game that had lots of twists and turns that had the large crowd invested from the off.
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Kilmovee
To mark St Brigid’s Day, Kilmovee Comhaltas are hosting a Family Music Session on Sunday, February 1, from 2-4pm in Kilmovee Community Centre. As special guests, they will be joined by All Ireland banjo champion Martin Woods from Swinford Comhaltas as well as students from Kilmovee NS as ‘Na Brideoga’. Everyone is welcome and admission is free with a raffle taking place on the day. Bígí linn.
Bingo is held in Kilmovee Community Centre every Sunday evening at 8.30pm. The jackpot is €550 on 46 calls or less with the house prize €280 on 4 correct numbers and there is also a 50/50 draw with a guaranteed winner every week.
If you are willing to provide companionship to an older person locally, Alone is seeking volunteers in the area. Full training and support will be provided. If you are interested apply via the ALONE website at www.alone.ie or for further information contact them on volunteer@alone.ie or call 0818 222 024.
A strength and balance programme of pre-set exercises with progression guidance takes place on Thursdays at 11am in Kilkelly Community Centre. Places are limited.
The Badminton Club welcomes new members to join them in Kilmovee Community Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm.
Ethna Fahy T.C.R.G. School of Irish Dancing resumed her classes as follows in Durkin's, Ballaghaderreen, on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays with all classes from 5 till 8.30pm and in Lisacul Hall on Saturday from 2 till 3pm. New members and preschool children are welcome. Contact Ethna for details on 087 6661905.
Classes will be starting in Ballaghaderreen Resource Centre, Ballaghaderreen, on Monday, January 12, from 10 till 11.30 am for fun and exercise and to revive some of the traditional Figure and Céilí Dances. Contact Phil for details on 086 136 0154.
The Kilmovee Parish Pastoral Council would like to invite more parishioners to exercise the Ministries of the Word and of the Eucharist. They wish in particular to welcome the youth of the parish to participate in these Ministries. Contact Fr Joseph on 086-1605373 for further details.
The following events are taking place in Kilkelly Trimoge Community Centre. The Circle of Security 8 week Parenting Programme will commence on February 26, from 10.30-12pm. This is a lovely programme for parents/carers of children aged from 0 to 6 years. This course is free of charge and it is a lovely way of meeting other parents in the area. There is a limited number of places so booking is essential; the Parent, Baby and Toddler Group in Kilkelly takes place every Wednesday from 11am to 12 noon.
All parents and carers are welcome to the group which is facilitated by the local PHN in Kilkelly. Refreshments are available and the cost is €3 per family. Kilkelly Activators Club is an active age group that is open to both men and women. Indoor exercise takes place on Wednesdays at 11am with tea/coffee and refreshments afterwards. If you would like to take part in any of the above activities, contact Bernadette in Kilkelly Family Resource Centre on 089 4179929.
The lotto numbers drawn for Saturday, January 10, were 5, 10, 30 and 36. There was no winner.
Kilmovee Community Centre are looking for volunteers to help deliver Meals on Wheels to local residents in their own homes. Your time would be voluntary but your mileage will be reimbursed. If you can spare some time and would be interested in helping out, they would love to hear from you. Call the centre on 094 964 9484.
The death took place of Vincent Walshe on January 19, peacefully at Whitmore Lodge, surrounded by his family. Vincent was predeceased by parents Vincent and Norrie and his brother-in-law Martin and he is survived by his brothers Liam and Noel, sisters Ann, Paula and Karen, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, relatives and the staff and residents of Whitmore Lodge.
Vincent reposed in The Sharkey Funeral Home, Ballaghaderreen, on Wednesday, January 21, with removal from the Funeral Home on Thursday, January 22, to St Nathy’s Cathedral arriving for Mass of the Resurrection at 11am followed by interment in Kilcolman Cemetery.
May Vincent rest in peace as sympathy is extended to all who are bereaved by his passing.
