Local notes: Ballinrobe Community School victory in the Connacht Colleges Senior A football championship
Luke Muniz, Ballinrobe Community School, is a study in determination during his team’s 1-10 to 0-10 victory over St Jarlath’s College, Tuam, in the Connacht Colleges Senior A Football Championship. Pic. Andy Walsh.
Ballinrobe Community School enjoyed a memorable run-in to Christmas with two significant events proving major talking points – the wonderful staging of Mamma Mia! by the Transition Years (TY) and the victory by the school’s football team over famed St Jarlath’s College, Tuam, in the Connacht Colleges Senior A Championship.
Huge numbers attended Mamma Mia! over three nights, plus three matiness. On each occasion, audiences ended up dancing in the aisles with cast members who came down off the stage into the body of the hall. Mamma Mia!, set in summertime Greece, warmed Ballinrobe hearts this winter.
The lead roles were filled by Ryan Keane (Sam Carmichael), Faith Lally (Sophie Sheridan), Christina Taborszky (Donna Sheridan), Jessica McMurray (Rosie Mulligan), Katie Yates (Lisa), John Gleeson (Alexandrois), Jarred Alngohuro (Sky), Pawel Dzieciatkowski (Eddie), Sophia McHale (Ali), Laura Cusack (Tanya Cresham-Leigh), Dominik Knapinski (Pepper), Thomas Newrones (Bill) and Gian Carpio (Harry Bright).
The full team who brought Mamma Mia! to life was as follows: Production team: Fionnuala Dooley (director); Aoife Lally (assistant director); Elaine Kennedy (music director); set construction - TY students led by Michael Coen and Shane Conlon; artwork - TY students led by Niamh Naughton, Amy Sullivan, Faith Graham and Wiktoria Antoniewicz; lighting/sound - Tony Burdon and Martin O’Boyle; musical accompaniment John Flatley, Donal Hoban, Jonathon Staunton, Craig Donaldson; Programme Breda O’Malley, assisted by Luke Mulloy, Justas Cilisauskas, Alan Lydon, Izzy Madden, Freya Roger, Caoilfhinn Fraser, and Luke Molloy; makeup - TY students with Elizabeth Kelleher and Vanessa Matczak; photography Sean Mortimer; stage managers Shea Sweeney and Robert Flannery.
Stage crew: Sean Hughes, Henry Hughes, Luke Muniz, Dean Macken, William Lynskey, Nithin Biju, Arham Kabir, Mohid Azam, Sami Ullah Rehman, Robert Flannery, Luke Duddy, Róise Burke, Daniela Micule, Julia Denysiewicz, Rose Roberts, Eily O’Malley, Evan Lydon, Kian Feerick, Darragh O’Dea, Art O’Neill, Ben Donnelly, Rian Gilligan, Brian Lynagh, Daithi Butler, Mikey Cleary, Sebastian Burakiewicza, Amy Forde, Matthew McCormack, Sinéad Buchanan, Jack O’Neill, Sean O’Brien, Tony Ryan, Amelia Bielinska, Callum O’Connor, Fionn Barrett, Emilia Gallagher, Nathan Kelly, Ciara Mangan, Billy Monaghan, Jack Philbin, Ryan Tiernan, Rhianna Waters-Moran, Owen Heneghan, Ryan Sweeney, Sequoyah Duffy, Eddie Lennon, Domhnall Ryan, Caoimhín Donnelly, Jack Kelly, Caelan Tansey;
Dancers: Freya Roger, Bláthnaid Grimes, Caoilfhinn Fraser, Cliodhna Connolly, Izzy Madden, Kristina Steinberga, Nathan Loughrey, Emily Butler, Eryn Concannon, Emma O’Shea, Maura Hughes, Róise Burke, Kate Brennan, Alice McCartan, Faith Durkin, Aoife Morrin, Daniel Micule, Julia Denysiewicz, Saoirse McManus, Grace Jennings, Olivia Goodwin, Caoimhe Macken, Emma Sweeney, Aisling Walsh, Niamh McDonnell Connolly, Camille Hautin, Elannah Keane, Nora Sweeney, Rúairí Burke, Cian May, Aaron Crowley, Mikey Maloney, Amy Warde, Laura O’Connor, Emma Burke, Jazmin Reti, Emily Jennings, Cadhla Cunningham, Saoirse Varley, Ali Hughes, Sheveen Mohan Mills, Isabel Whelan, Saoirse Cork, Róisín Tierney, Sime Shqeer, Maddy Walsh, Sinéad Buchanan, George Crisp, Emily Tierney, Jake Lavelle, Theo Bellanger, Santino Treyes, Rossa Burke, Rory Gilrane, Stephen Feerick, Milena Latowska, Johanna Flannery, Róisín Ryan;
Fifth year choir: Wiktoria Zarzycja, Wiktoria Antoniewicz, Marija Jemeljanova, Naoise Hipwell, Ciara Ferguson, Michael O’Malley, Alannah Joyce, Tara Daffy, Leigha Farragher, Eriks Birjukos, Cayla Knox, Jogaila Stoncelis, Ella Reilly, Samantha Knysz, Eva Gallagher, Eabha Murphy, Elizabeth Zackova, Josh Alngohuro, Grace Jennings. The musical was sponsored by McHale.
Meanwhile, The Neale GAA grounds in Cong on Sunday week were also a far cry from summertime Greece, as Ballinrobe and Jarlath’s fought out a Titanic battle in the rain. In the end, Ballinrobe prevailed on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-10. This was the first time Ballinrobe Community School defeated St Jarlath’s in a Senior A championship clash. Evan Lydon, The Neale, got the crucial second-half goal.
However, Ballinrobe still have a road to travel, they will almost certainly need to defeat Summerhill College, Sligo, in their final game on Wednesday, January 10, (likely to be in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence) to be sure of a place in the semi-finals. The game will be broadcast live on Ballinrobe GAA Club Radio (www.facebook.com/ballinrobegaafanpage). The team is managed by Damien Egan, John Stagg, Kieran Kilkenny and Tommy Conroy.
Ballinrobe Musical Society will be having their church gate collection on Saturday and Sunday, 6 and 7 January6 and 7, outside St Mary's Church in Ballinrobe. All support is sincerely appreciated.
Ballinrobe Musical Society will be staging the legendary 'The Phantom of The Opera in Ballinrobe Community School from February 11 to 17. The society wishes all cast members, patrons, sponsors and audience members a happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.
The Green, Ballinrobe, will again host a GOAL Mile on St Stephen’s Day. Come along at 11.30am to walk or jog the mile in aid of a worthy cause. Local organiser is Stephen Rochford.
The annual Robe Rockets presentation evening, postponed on Sunday week last due to Storm Fergus, will now go ahead on Saturday, January 6, at 4pm in Ballinrobe Community School. The special guests will include several players who won Player of the Year awards at the recent Ballinrobe GAA Club dinner-dance.
Results of Christmas prizes competition played on December 14; 1 William Enright and Angela Murphy; 2 Aileen Ward and Mary Dalton; 3 Eileen Comer and Josie Connaughton; 4 Michael McTigue and Nancy Hughes; 5 Mary Keane and Mary Gallagher; 6 Paul Waldron and Patrica McDonagh.
The club’s recent annual general meeting saw the election of officers for the upcoming term. Emer Canny has been appointed as president, with Sean O’Neill taking on the role of vice president. Angela Murphy will serve as secretary, and Maureen Gallagher assumes the responsibilities of treasurer.
The committee members include Mary O’Reilly (ex officio), Paul Waldron, Breege Connolly, Aileen Ward, Stella Nalty, and Marian O’Connor. The club will reopen after their Christmas break on January 4.
Ballinrobe mourns the passing of Desmond (Des) Langan, a familiar presence on Glebe Street, where he grew up. Des, who had relocated to London but retained strong ties to his hometown, passed away peacefully on October 14, surrounded by his loving family. Des remained a well-known figure within the local community.
He was predeceased by his parents John and Gertie, as well as his stepfather Davy Hynes. Left to cherish his memory are his brothers Cyril and Kevin, sisters-in-law Theresa and Catherine, along with nephews, nieces, and an extensive extended family. His final resting place is the family grave in Ballinrobe graveyard, where his ashes were interred following the 11.30am Mass at St Mary’s Church, Ballinrobe, on Sunday, December 17.
The following officers were elected at the annual general meeting of Ballinrobe GAA Club held in Ballinrobe Racecourse recently: president, Sean Murphy; chairperson, John Sweeney; vice-do, Annette Conway; secretary, Annette Conway; assistant treasurer, Paul McElarney; PRO, Sarah Gibbons; county board delegate, Gerry O’Malley; south board delegate, Dermot Keane; children’s officer, John Culhane; coaching officer, Dave McDonnell; Bord na nÓg joint chairpersons, Kevin Tuffy and Pat Kennedy; Robe Rockets chairperson, Eamon Keane; ladies club officer, Mary Langan; players’ reps (men’s and ladies) – to be confirmed; Irish language and culture officer, Kathrina Heneghan. Several vacant roles will be filled by the club’s executive committee early in 2024.
Membership of Lake District Athletic Club is now due for renewal. It is currently available only to existing members and can be renewed on ClubForce, the club’s communications app. Membership with Athletics Ireland runs from January 1 to December 31.
Ballinrobe RFC have asked members of the public who avail of The Green for walking and other pursuits to adhere to the policy of not allowing dogs to use the sports pitches at the venue.
‘We are deeply concerned about the increasing presence of dog litter on our pitch and training area. We have a substantial number of young players, ranging from ages 5 to 11, who diligently train on Saturdays,’ said a club spokesperson.
‘The safety of these children is of utmost importance to us. Therefore, we implore all dog owners and enthusiasts to kindly adhere to our policy of no dogs on the pitches and to clean up after their pets’.
‘By doing so, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all our players and prevent any potential accidents or harm caused by the presence of dog litter. Your cooperation and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.’
Ballinrobe Community School students Adam Kennedy and Ben Egan were silver medal winners in the Mayo debating competition, held in Castlebar.
***************************
Mayo Abbey Centre CE scheme has community employment vacancies in the following areas; office administration, heritage, cook, gardener, childcare, maintenance and cleaner. Call Ger/Craig on 094 93 65987 for information, or email your C.V to support@mayoabbey.ie.
The card game is held in Mayo Abbey Resource Centre every third Thursday of each month at 9pm. All are welcome.
The Mayo Gaels lotto jackpot is now €6,600. The numbers drawn on Tuesday, December 19, were 13, 15, 21, and 24. There was no jackpot winner. Consolation prize winners were; Aidan McDonagh, Claremorris, (annual ticket), Gina Lyons c/o Pauline Wilson, Siobhan Jennings c/o Pauline Wilson, Barry Commons, Derrowel, (online ticket).
