Local Notes: Ballinrobe 'veterans' spring surprise in festive showdown
The O25 and U25 teams and officials pictured after the Aidan Golden Memorial Cup at Flanagan Park, Ballinrobe, on St Stephen’s Day.
There was a sweet win for the O25 team over their younger counterparts in the annual St Stephen’s Day showdown for the Aidan Golden Memorial Cup, at Flanagan Park, Ballinrobe.
The U25s had triumphed last year but the recruitment of a number of players hovering around the 40-45 mark had a transformative impact on the performance of the O25s.
In the end, they ran out comfortable winners, prompting a great deal of bewilderment among the large attendance who turned up expecting a different outcome. Afterwards Aedamar Golden, wife of the late, lamented Aidan who passed away suddenly on a family holiday in Portugal in 2019, presented the cup to Keith McTigue, captain of the O25s.
Club chairperson John Sweeney thanked all who attended the game to remember Aidan, a distinguished wearer of the club’s colours, and to enjoy the company of current and past players, members and their families.
The Lakes Gift Card, a shop local campaign launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, reached the €1m sales target just before Christmas. This means that €1m that might have gone elsewhere through alternative vouchers or gift cards has been retained in the local business community over the past three years.
A major push was launched in the run-up to this Christmas to achieve the target. Approximately 90 per cent of cards have been redeemed since the inception of the scheme which indicates the value buyers and recipients place on the card.
Next Friday night’s Dancing at the Crossroads in the Crossroads Community Centre, Cong, will be a special fundraiser for the Campbell family, Hollymount, whose newly renovated home was destroyed in a fire a week before Christmas.
Kenneth and Tracey Campbell, their daughters Sienna (14), Leah (13), Cadence (8) and Isabella (6), and the children’s great-grandmother Kathleen, lost their home in a sudden fire at nine o'clock in the evening. Thankfully everyone got out safely, but the house was damaged extensively. It will need to be totally gutted and renovated all over again.
The Dancing at the Crossroads on Friday night, January 5, will see organisers Paddy and Marilyn McTigue waive the admission fee in favour of donations, all of which will be donated to the fund. Music on the night will be by Pat Daly.
Fr Denis Carney, PP, marked his first Christmas in the parish by thanking everyone for the “welcome, kindness and support that I have received”. He paid special tribute to all involved in parish ministries, Cathy Lydon in the parish office, Jarlath Walsh (sacristan) and all who care for the churches in Ballinrobe, Kilmaine and Gortjordan.
Fr Carney also thanked the various community schemes in the area and invited parishioners to “make God present to others by our words, actions and attitudes”.
Annette Griffin, John Staunton, St Joseph’s Primary School and Bright Beginnings pre-school and after-school all performed for residents of Friars Lodge Nursing Home, Ballinrobe, in a special pre-Christmas show.
There was a large turnout in Ballinrobe Town Park on St Stephen’s Day morning for the annual GOAL mile hosted by Stephen Rochford, the assistant manager of the Mayo senior football team. Young and old walked or ran the mile and contributed to the charity.
Staff and friends of Tacú Family Resource Centre, Ballinrobe, enjoyed their annual Christmas lunch at the Bowers Restaurant and Bar, Abbey Street.
There was a note of sadness as the gathering bade farewell to Claire McNally, who has taken up a new post with Tusla, Peter Garvey, who spent the last three years supporting young people in the Maple Youth Centre, and to Emer McGloin, who completed her placement with Tacú.
Ballinrobe Town’s annual Santa Claus trip saw the big man escorted to estates and roads in Ballinrobe, The Neale and Cong just before Christmas. This is a hugely popular event each year and underlines the strong relationship the club have with Santa Claus, a keen football follower.
The club have thanked Tesco, Ballinrobe Tool Hire, MJ Conroy and McDonogh’s Hardware for their generous support of the event.
Music lovers were treated to a customarily excellent Christmas concert by Glór na Róba in St Mary’s Church, Ballinrobe, on the last Sunday before the festive season. As always, a huge crowd turned out to enjoy the concert.
he following are the winners of the prizes in the recent Ballinrobe Foróige Club draw:
Ken Murphy’s hamper - Clare Langan; Rapunzals hair styling tool - Niall Tiernan; GAA and Ballinrobe Racecourse hamper - Noreen Jennings; Ballinrobe Soccer club hamper – Kevin; Ballinrobe Rugby club hamper - Jaden McNamara; McHugh’s vouchers - Orla Tiernan; Me Time hamper - Róisín McCormack; Lakeside Lakers basketball top - Jacqueline Brady; Images Shellac nails voucher - Anna Sheeran; Martin Murphy’s vouchers - Lorraine Grimes (Cornmarket).
The club have thanked businesses and local clubs who didn’t hesitate to sponsor the prizes when asked.
Currently sitting second from bottom in the Connacht Junior One (A) Division, Ballinrobe will hope to get back to winning ways when they play two crucial home fixtures this month.
On Sunday, January 28, Ballinrobe will host Dunmore at The Green in a round six fixture, before University of Galway visit south Mayo the following Sunday, February 4, in round seven.
Both fixtures will kick off at 2.30pm and your support for the black and white would be appreciated.
Ballinrobe Musical Society hold their church gate collection on Saturday and Sunday next, January 6 and 7, outside St Mary’s Church. All support is sincerely appreciated.
The annual Robe Rockets presentation evening, postponed before Christmas due to Storm Fergus, will now go ahead on Saturday next, January 6, at 4pm in Ballinrobe Community School. Special guests will include several players who won Player of the Year awards at the recent Ballinrobe GAA Club dinner-dance.
