Local Notes: Former Charlestown teammates pay tribute to Colm
Former Charlestown Sarsfields' team-mates of the late Colm Horkan are pictured at the match that was held to mark the opening of the pitch and walkway in his memory at Fr O'Hara Park.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Lotto jackpot of €11,900 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, June 9th, when the numbers drawn were 20, 29, 33 and 35.
The winners of the two €50 weekly prizes were Kevin Egan and the staff of Colleran’s Pharmacy.
Next week’s jackpot will increase to €12,000. Tickets on sale in a number of outlets in the town and are also available on the online platform which can be accessed via the club’s Facebook page.
The club would like to thank all who support the weekly lotto.
Croí Heart and Stroke Charity, in collaboration with Benecol Ireland, will run a Croí Heart Day event on Tuesday, June 18th, from 10am to 2pm at the Charlestown Community Complex.
The event aims to bring the community together to tackle common concerns about cholesterol and its impact on heart health and stroke prevention. There will be expert talks, free blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing and plenty more on the day. All members of the community are encouraged to come along to this free event.
The Butterfly Garden in Swinford, in collaboration with artist Tom Meskell, invites you to take part in a project for Wave of Light 2024.
You are invited to volunteer in the sculpture of butterflies and lanterns which will be guided by artist Tom Meskell. These lanterns will be displayed and lit up in pink and blue in the Butterfly Garden for this year’s Wave of Light remembrance event on October 15th.
There are a number of workshop dates for this initiative, all of which will be held in the Charlestown Arts Centre on the following dates: June 18th, from 7 to 9pm; June 25th, from 7pm to 9pm; and fortnightly thereafter See Charlestown Arts Centre Facebook page for more details.
The Sarsfields junior team lost out to Breaffy in their latest outing in Division 3 B of the Mayo Senior League with the West Mayo men prevailing on a score-line of 1-11 to 1-8.
The Sarsfields battled hard throughout but their lack of numbers came against them with several members of the panel unavailable for a plethora of reasons.
Those that turned in put in a real shift and competed with passion and no little commitment for the hour or more that the two teams were on the pitch with Breaffy having to dig deep to claim the points as the Green and White lads pushed them all the way to the final whistle.
The club are in a bit of an injury crisis at the moment, which is impacting at senior and junior levels respectively, thus rendering it difficult to win games against teams with more depth and numbers hence why the Sarsfields are struggling with their form at the moment in what is an ultra-tough and competitive division.
Best for the Sarsfields were Niall Towey, Ben Conway, Niall Drudy, Paddy Lenehan and Joe McBrien.
The Sarsfields suffered an agonising 1-11 to 2-7 defeat to Ballinrobe in round 5 of Division 1A of the Mayo Senior League played at Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown recently.
Both teams were very depleted in their line-ups with the Sarsfields, in particular, down to the bare bones in terms of numbers with players injured or unavailable for selection, which left them with a very reduced hand and this ultimately came back to bite them in the closing stages of a frenetic encounter.
The visitors, playing with a stiff breeze at their backs in the first half, made most of the early running as the Sarsfields struggled to get any kind of traction and momentum in their forward line.
The South Mayo men kicked six points in a row and were running lanes through the Sarsfields defence as the home side continued to malfunction when in possession and looked in real danger of being cut adrift such was the dominance being displayed by the visitors.
The Sarsfields got a life-line 20 minutes in when they strung together their first move of any real quality as the ageless Aidan Higgins found marauding full-back Gerry McLoughlin with a deft hand pass and he crashed the ball to the net to get some Green and White on the score-board and give the homeside something to grab onto.
The goal ignited the Sarsfields as they kicked the next three points to get back on level terms as Paddy Goldrick landed two good frees with Niall Fleming kicking a beauty from play to rouse the home crowd as half-time approached.
Ballinrobe, however, had the final say as they took full advantage of a mix-up in the Sarsfields back line to score a goal right on the stroke of half-time which left them 1-6 to 1-3 in front at the first whistle.
The second half brought more spills and thrills as both sides went at it hard in search of those priceless two league on offer.
The Sarsfields, despite their lack of numbers, played with conviction and spirit in the opening 20 minutes as they slowly overturned their three-point deficit with some good football.
Early points from Paddy Goldrick, Gareth O’Donnell and a cracker from sweeper keeper Patrick Walsh set the tone nicely with Walsh’s point almost raising the roof in bringing parity to the contest as the visitors struggled to contain the green wave that was coming in their direction.
Things got even better for the Sarsfields when Paddy Lenehan got on the end of a high ball into the ‘Robe square with his scuffed shot somehow trickling over the line to put the Sarsfields three in front and in prime position for victory.
They could and should have been further ahead thereafter but butchered several gilt-edged chances as Ballinrobe, sensing they were still in this game finally sprung to life and got their first score of the half 20 minutes in to bring the game back to a one-score contest.
Another good point from play from Paddy Goldrick pushed the lead back to three for the hosts but they again failed to capitalise as balls were turned over and passes misdirected which kept the visitors’ challenge live and relevant as they slowly began to take control as the Sarsfields began to wilt in the closing stages.
The ‘Robe men kicked the next three points to level the game going into stoppage time as the Sarsfields tried desperately to cling on and get at least something out of the game. It didn’t transpire, however, as the ‘Robe men continued to probe around the fringes and from one such raid they found one of their attackers in a pocket of space and he duly landed the winning score with a composed kick to put them one in front with time almost elapsed.
The Sarsfields had one final chance to fashion an equaliser but it ended in mayhem as two players collided going for the same ball with the resultant spill landing in the hands of a grateful Ballinrobe player with the final whistle bringing to an end a game that had a breathless conclusion.
The Sarsfields had much to rue over in the final summation but they literally ran out of numbers when the game drifted away from them, allied to some poor use of the ball in the final minutes, were ultimately the main reasons for their demise.
Credit to Ballinrobe, however, they hung in and never went away and stayed at it right to the last whistle with this two points proving invaluable in the grand scheme of things as it pushes them onto the five-point mark and away from the basement end of the table.
The Sarsfields had good performances from Ruairi Cullen, Niall Drudy, Gerry McLoughlin, Patrick Walsh, Gareth O’Donnell, the peerless Aidan Higgins and Niall Towey with the loss of centre back Jack Corley in the opening ten minutes a hammer blow to their hopes and robbing them of one of their most influential players.
Are you interested in spending time with the residents in a nursing home? Maybe you enjoy playing cards, knitting, bingo or music and would like to offer your skills? If yes, please contact St Attracta’s Residence, Hagfield, Charlestown on 094-9254307.
Congratulations to local councillor Gerry Murray who topped the poll in the recent local council election as he begins a sixth term as our sole representative in the corridors of power, representing the Sinn F€in party.
Gerry has been in the council chamber since 1999 and continues to go from strength to strength with his work on the ground in the Charlestown and East Mayo area currying great favour with the electorate who recognise his work ethic and ability to get things done at local and community level.
Gerry ran a good campaign being very visible on the doorsteps and hustings as he looks to continue his agenda of work and give the community of Charlestown a strong voice in the council chamber.
Gerry is a very passionate and ardent supporter of all things local with some major works having been completed in his last tenure, with the local community walkway one of the standout projects that he saw to fruition. We wish Gerry well in his new term as he continue to fight and raise the issues that impact on us all on daily and weekly basis.
The Charlestown Swimming Pool has re-opened for the new season and is sure to be a hive of activity in the coming weeks and months as people flock to the splendid facility to improve and develop their swimming strokes.
For further information on season tickets, lessons, etc, check out the excellent Swimming Pool Facebook page which gives updates on all activities/events connected to the pool with lots of information on special offers that are also available. A swim costs €2, which is a steal and one of the best offers you are likely to get within a 50-mile radius and beyond.
You can also book your swim time by logging on to the Facebook page and clicking the link which will tell you exactly what times are available on what days.
The town is lucky to have a fantastic facility and the pool deserves your support as the committee continue to make improvements with the heated water making it a real winner with the general public.
The Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club had a strong connection with the New York team who lost out valiantly to New York in the recent Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final clash played at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise recently.
Jack Reilly, son of Clement and Fiona Reilly, Pine Grove, Charlestown lined out at full-forward and acquitted himself well, scoring a point and assisting in the New York goal as the boys from the Big Apple threatened a huge upset for large periods with little or nothing between the two teams right up until the closing stages.
New York would have cause to rue some missed chances at key stages in the contest with the Stars and Srripes also holding a numerical advantage as the Laois lads were reduced to 14 men early into the second half, which added another layer of difficulty to a task they never really got to grips with until deep in the second half as New York’s challenge started to wilt on the concession of that all important goal as the home side had just enough in the tank to withstand any late New York rally.
Sean Reilly, son of Kenneth and Val Reilly, formerly of this parish, made an appearance late on to join his cousin Jack with New York lacking for nothing in spirit and passion with their fitness levels holding up remarkably well considering their lack of match practice against top-quality opposition.
There was plenty of support for Jack and Sean in the stands with a nice contingent from the town travelling to offer their support with the two lads mingling with family and friends on the pitch immediately after the final whistle was blown. Jack’s loss to the Sarsfields is incalculable as he continues to play some good football in Gaelic Park and it was nice to see two men with strong connections to the town and Sarsfields GAA Club line out for the Stars and Stripes with New York`s gritty performance justifying their place in the Tailteann Cup as they continue to get better and improve with each passing year.
We wish them well in their future endeavours on the playing fields of New York as they continue to exhibit their skills and talents as they look to guide their clubs to championship glory later in the summer.
Congratulations to well-known local man and pharmacist Ian Johnson who received his Irish citizenship at a citizenship conferring ceremony held in Killarney, Co Kerry recently.
Ian has been very much immersed in the community of Charlestown for over 27 years and runs the very well-known O`Donnell`s Pharmacy business with his good wife Nuala, as well as running their second premises in Swinford.
He has always been active in the community since his arrival to these shores and subsequent marriage to Nuala with the O’Donnell brand one of the longest established businesses in the town stretching back well over 70 years and more.
Ian is well known in basketball circles and has invested a lot of time in the coaching of various basketball teams at club and schools level and is very much involved with the Charlestown Cubs Basketball Club, which is one of the fastest growing and most successful fledgling underage basketball clubs in the county. He also doubles up as a referee of some renown and officiates at matches the length and breadth of the county.
He is also a keen golfer and is the current captain of Tubbercurry Golf Club and strikes a mean drive off the tee and is quite the putter too with his touch and subtlety in and around the greens making him quite the formidable player indeed. And he is a dab hand at administering a vaccine!
Ian’s many friends in the town congratulate him on becoming an Irish passport holder and a proper Paddy to boot. Well done, Ian, and here’s wishing you continued good wishes as you come to terms with your new status.
The Sarsfields host near neighbours Ballaghaderreen in Fr O’Hara Park in the East Mayo Under-16 A championship on Thursday, June 20th, with the throw-in timed for 7.30pm.
The Sarsfields host Kiltimagh in Fr O’Hara Park in the East Mayo Under-14 C Championship on Saturday morning, June 22nd, with the throw-in scheduled for 11am.
The Sarsfields travel to Breaffy to take on the hosts in Round 7 of Division 1A of the Mayo Senior League on Saturday, June 22nd, with the throw-in provisionally fixed for 7pm (check sports pages for confirmation).
Charlestown Sarsfields host near neighbours Swinford in the Fr O’Hara Park in the East Mayo Under-14 A championship on Monday, June 24th, with the throw-in timed for 7.30pm.
Sarsfields Shamrocks travel to Gilmartin Park, Kiltimagh to take on the locals in round one of the East Mayo Minor A championship on Tuesday, June 25th, with the throw-in timed for 7.30pm.
Carracastle Cemetery Mass will take place on Sunday, August 4th, at 10.30am . Please tell your relatives and friends who are living outside of the community or elsewhere.
The first summer bridge game of the season took place in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday, June 5th, and the following were the prize winners: 1st, Mary Lynskey and Ton Dunne; 2nd, Nora McVeigh and Maura Kilcoyne; 3rd, Tom Ginty and Mary O’Connell; 4th, Paddy and Patricia Colleran The game takes place every Wednesday night at the usual time of 8pm in Walsh’s Bar and players from other clubs are more than welcome to come along and pit their wits against the locals and there will be a full results service in next week’s column..
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 Card Drive held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, June 11th, when the prize-winners were: 1st, Darby and Breege Leonard; 2nd, Michael and Mary Lynskey.
The raffle winners were Vincent Brennan, Paul Flannery, Breege Leonard and Pearse Henry.
Game takes place every Tuesday night at 8.30pm in the Yeats County Inn, Curry and all are welcome with new members especially welcome.
Mayo Cancer Support offer a range of emotional supports to people with cancer and their families. For more information, call 094-9038407 .
Life after bereavement can feel very lonely. Trained facilitators conduct a weekly bereavement support meeting at the Family Centre, Knock Shrine, each Wednesday at 11am.
There is also a special meeting for bereaved partners/spouses on the first Thursday of each month at 11am. No appointment needed. Further information from Monica Morley on 094-9375320.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA Lotto jackpot of €3,800 in the weekly draw held on Monday night, June 10th, when the numbers drawn were 2, 6, 24 and 27.
The winners of €20 each were Roisin Walsh, Annette Bruce and John Niland.
Tickets can be bought in a number of outlets or via the online platform and also by logging onto the club's Facebook page.
The Legion of Mary meets every Tuesday evening in the Charlestown Pastoral Centre at 8pm. All are welcome.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh's Bar on Sunday night, June 9th, as The Egg and the Dynamo locked horns in another instalment of the weekly classic.
Governor Gus was imperious as always in his role as match referee and encountered few if any problems with either of the two protagonists.
The Egg galloped into a two-set lead with some prodigious throwing as he nailed every double that came his way with the Dynamo unable to match his level or numbers. The Dynamo finally got his eye in, so to speak, in the third set and took the set with some good finishing as the Egg lost his way somewhat after a whirlwind.
It didn't take him long, however, to re-discover his form of the first set and began the fourth set with his eye firmly and consequently bagged the first two legs with some neat finishing. This left him one leg away from victory and any hopes the dynamo had of extending the match to a deciding set were firmly quashed as the Egg sprinted to the double in the third leg leaving his opponent trailing a long way behind.
He came to the ochie with just 48 left on the board nailing single sixteen with his first dart leave him with two shots at the double as the crowd held their collective breath in anticipation. He stared intently at double 16 before releasing a dart which never deviated from its intended flight path landing plum in the middle of the double 16 bed to set off screams of unbridled joy as the Egg finally ended his long losing streak in finals to claim the title in fine style.
The Dynamo was gracious in defeat as both men shared a warm embrace with the Egg on cloud nine as he moved into the top ten in the rankings on the back of this victory.
