Local Notes: Fr Tommy Johnson retires as Charlestown Parish Priest.
Fr Tommy Johnson pictured with his family at a recent function held in the CBD Sports Complex, to mark his retirement as Charlestown Parish Priest.
The parish tuned out in big numbers to celebrate the life of much-loved Tommy Johnson on Sunday, July 27, to mark his retirement as parish priest of the parish. Mass was celebrated in St. James’ Church with tea and a myriad of refreshments served in the local CBD Sport and Recreational Centre afterwards with a huge crowd turning out for both lovely occasions. The Mass was a celebration of Fr. Tommy’s life in the priesthood and parish and it was specially organised along those lines with lots of contributions from parishioners and fellow priests who turned out in big numbers with his family and extended family also in attendance and delighted to be part of this most reverend of occasions.
Fr Tommy executed his duties with great decorum and respect during his tenure as parish priest and dedicated his life to the service of God and was a very kind and gentle man who was full of humility and modesty. He had an innate sense of decency about him who treated everybody with respect and dignity and these qualities were always on display during times of celebration and sadness as Fr Tommy always knew what notes to hit to cover all occasions. He had a real sense of compassion about him and had a genuine interest in people and exuded a real sense of warmth in all his dealings with the public.
The parish council and parish in general pulled out all the stops to ensure Fr Tommy got a good send-off and this they did with aplomb as they had the church and complex prepared to a tee to mark Tommy’s final engagement as parish priest. He will be sorely missed in the community as he was always visible and on the ground with his warm, friendly demeanour endearing him to all. He always had a friendly word and greeting on offer in all social settings and lived a life of great dedication and commitment and fulfilled his duties and allegiance to the church to the very best of his abilities. He also served as chairman of the Board of Management of St Attracta’s NS and was steadfast in his support of the school and the various principals he worked and liaised with and was always a purveyor of sound advice who enjoyed meeting and engaging with the staff and children during his many visits through the doors.
He was responsible for the upkeep of the church during his time at the helm and oversaw and completed many restoration and renovation projects at minimal cost to the parishioners and had a good feel and command of what people could and couldn’t afford and was very prudent in the way he managed the church’s finances. Fr. Tommy was a good man in every sense of the word and there were glowing tributes paid to him from all corners of the community and beyond.
Tom McLoughlin acted as master of ceremonies while the refreshments were being served in the CBD Sports and Recreational Centre and did a super job ensuring the occasion moved smoothly and swiftly with several presentations made to him in honour of his stellar service to the church, parish and its people. Fr Tommy may be retiring from front line service, but he will still be available to help and support his successor Fr John Maloney who will be taking up his official position as Fr Tommy’s replacement in the coming days and weeks. We salute Fr Tommy on a life of great service to the church and wish him many happy and fruitful years in retirement as he turns a new page and gets ready to embrace all that life will throw at him in the coming months and years. We wish him continued good health and happiness and look forward to still seeing him on the ground going about his work in that very quiet, unassuming manner of his that so characterised his time in our midst.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €17,800 in the weekly draw held on Sunday, July 27, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 5, 21, 27 and 32. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were John Paul Doherty and Susan O’Connor. The latest jackpot increased to €17,900 and the draw was held on Sunday, August 3.
Charlestown Sarsfields host Cil Chomain in Fr O’Hara Park in the U14 Development Championship on Saturday, August 9, with the throw-in timed for 11am.
Charlestown Sarsfields U14 team, competing in the division2 championship suffered a narrow 3-12 to 2-12 defeat to Burrishoole in round 2 of the county U14 B championship played at a damp Fr O’Hara Park recently.
This was a gripping encounter throughout the full sixty minutes plus as both teams slugged it out and threw their best shots at each other in their pursuit of victory. The West Mayo lads had to do it the hard way having been reduced to fourteen men midway through the second half which looked like it had dealt a mortal blow to their victory hopes as the player concerned was their very influential midfielder.
The Sarsfields were always chasing the game having trailed from an early stage as Burrishoole brought plenty of intent to the paddock. They looked to be in control when they led 2-6 to 1-3 with eight minutes left in the half with Liam Giblin bagging the Sarsfields goals as he once again underlined his predatory instincts. The Sarsfields roared back into contention however in the closing stages of the half with Freddie Doherty central to their comeback as he tagged on 1-1 with his goal a superb effort and almost David Clifford like in his execution as he lobbed the visiting keeper in expert fashion with the Sarsfields delighted to be going into the break just one in arrears 2-7 to 2-6 having played second fiddle to the Newport lads for most of the first thirty.
There was no let up to the relentless pace in the second half as both sides made their play for victory. Burrishoole looked to have set sail for home when they led by six with fifteen remaining with the score reading 3-9 to 2-6 as the Sarsfields struggled to make any inroads against an abrasive Burrishoole back line.
The Sarsfields are nothing if game however as, boosted by the visitors being reduced in numbers, they thundered back into the game with five unanswered points with Ryan Rowley, Sean Cassidy, Alex Pugaciov among the score getters. Indeed the Sarsfields looked to have all the momentum allied to the fact that they had the extra man for the final quarter, they looked odds on to claim the victory with everything pointing in their favour.
Burrishoole stood tall in the closing stages however and utterly refused to entertain any notion of defeat as they started to secure possession around the middle and used it very intelligently as they found their shooters in the most advantageous scoring positions who made no mistake when they ball was put in their hands. They rode out the Sarsfields storm and held their composure when the need was greatest to fashion a wonderful victory in a game that kept both sets of supporters and mentors heavily invested in from gun to tape. It was a super contest played in a tough but fair manner with the two teams deserving great credit for the way they went at it as they left everything on the field of play.
This defeat means the Sarsfields can’t qualify from the group having lost to Claremorris in round one but they acquitted themselves very well at the higher level of competition and can be immensely proud of their effort and looked very much at home at this grade and in no way looked out of their depth at any stage.
The Sarsfields travel to Clogher to take on Ballintubber in the Division 1 county U16A championship on Thursday, August 14, with the throw-in timed for 7pm.
Charlestown Sarsfields host Ballintubber in Fr O’Hara Park in the county U16 Development championship on Sunday, August 10, with the throw-in timed for 11am.
Charlestown Sarsfields begin their bid for the Moclair Cup with a tough opening assignment as they travel to Clogher to take on the might of Ballintubber in round 1 on Friday, August 8, with the game having a 7pm throw-in time. The Sarsfields will be hoping to field their strongest possible selection for a game that has a lot riding on it with victory setting up either team for a good shot at qualification from the group with defeat, in contrast, putting either team on the back foot and leaving them with ground to make up heading into the second round of fixtures. The sides haven’t much history in terms of previous clashes with the score standing at one apiece with the Sarsfields winning in 2008 while Ballintubber prevailed in the most recent outing between the teams in 2016. The Sarsfields will be looking to county star Paul Towey for a big performance and he goes into the game in superb form having racked up some big tallies in the Sarsfields final rounds of league games. Others the Sarsfields will be looking to for inspiration include the likes of Gareth O`Donnell, Jack Corley, Jack Mahon, Matt and Paddy Lenehan, Ben Conway, Ruairi Cullen and Patrick Goldrick, all of whom will have to play at the peak of their powers for the Sarsfields to have any reasonable chance of upsetting the formbook so to speak.
Ballintubber still retain a formidable aura in the championship albeit their powers have waned slightly in the last couple of years. They possess a solid bank of top-class players with the O’Connor duo Cillian and Diarmuid spearheading their challenge ably supported by the veteran Jason Gibbons with Michael Plunkett and Brian Walsh also very much key cogs in a game they go into as warm favourites with both sides enjoying contrasting fortunes in the senior league. The challenge facing the Sarsfields is a big one but not insurmountable with David Tiernan and his management team hoping for a good showing from the squad who go into the game in the box seat as big underdogs. Hopefully a large Sarsfields support will turn out on the night to cheer the lads on as the curtain comes up on another senior championship with the Sarsfields always capable of coming up with a big performance especially when their backs are to the wall so to speak.
Look who’s back! Cloonacool Players with John M. Synge’s “The Tinker`s Wedding” on Sunday, August 24 at 7.15pm. The performance will take place, as before, outdoors in the centre of the Cloonacool village. The production has gained an ever increasing audience and word-of-mouth means that many are just catching up with the news that this is a comedy not to be missed.
Charlestown Sarsfields U13 girls recorded a very good 3-7 to 2-6 victory over Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin in division 3 of the county U13 league played at the Parke GAA grounds recently. The girls dug deep to eke out the victory in a tight contest all through with their ability to score goals proving crucial to the final outcome. A good victory for the young Sarsfields starlets and one which follows up their comprehensive victory over Kiltimagh in the previous round last week.
The untimely death took place at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar of Anna Lavin, Glann, Charlestown. Her remains were removed from Horkan’s Funeral Home, Lowpark, Charlestown to St James’ Church, Charlestown and burial took place after solemn requiem Mass to the Cemetery of the Resurrection. She is survived by her husband Tommy, daughters Sheila, Marina, Catriona and Nicola, sons-in law, grandchildren, brothers-in law, sisters-in law, relatives, neighbours and friends.
The late Anna, who was pre-deceased by her parents Jim and Annie-Kathleen and daughter Annemarie, was a lady in the true sense of the word who was much loved and respected by all in the communities of Glann, Charlestown and beyond. She was devoted to her family and together with her husband Tommy, ensured their needs were met and provided for at all times. Anna forged a great bond with her husband Tommy and they made for a good team. She was a good neighbour and friend to all in the community of Glann and had a lovely and kind disposition and could always be depended upon to help out in times of need and crisis. Anna had a smile on display and a good word to offer whenever you encountered her in the public domain and these were qualities which endeared her to so many. The large crowds who attended the removal of her remains and subsequent burial was ample proof of the esteem and affection in which she was held. The communities of Glann and Charlestown have lost one of their best and nicest citizens and we tender our deepest sympathies to the bereaved.
The Annual Eugene McLoughlin Memorial Run takes place on Sunday, August 10. Registration takes place between 11am-12.30pm at McLoughlin’s Bar. There will be music from 3pm till late with Pat`s Country Roadshow, Sean Fahy and Chloe Sweeney. Kiddies Fun Run will also be held on the day. Bring your pedal bikes, go-karts and tractors. A monster auction will take place after the run with all donations to CROI.
MacFest in the West – The Big Mac Reunion is a reunion gathering of the descendants of Judith McDonagh (Barnacogue) and Thomas McNicholas (Bohola/Curryaune) and is taking place in Swinford on the weekend of August 8-10, in association with www.mayo.ie. Judith McDonagh was the daughter of Owen McDonagh and Nora Morris who migrated to Barnacogue at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Owen and Nora Morris had nine children – Judith, Kitty, Maria, Nancy, Patrick, Tom, John, Bryan and Margaret. Their daughter Judith McDonagh married Thomas McNicholas (in Kilbeagh parish) after which they settled in Curryaune, Swinford. They had eight children – Patrick, John, Mary, Michael, Bernard, Thomas, Martin and Honoria McNicholas. Records show that some descendants settled in Sonnagh/Lowpark/Bushfield areas.
Over 100 members of the worldwide McNicholas family diaspora will visit Swinford for MacFest in the West for which several events have been planned. The Big Mac Reunion itself will take place in Mellets on Saturday, August 9. The Swinford event organisers Julie Doyle, Jackie O`Rourke and Joanne Kilroy have been working on the family tree/genealogy record and are keen to hear from any of the descendants of Owen and Nora Morris and /or Judith and Thomas McNicholas to get in touch before the event to help fill in the gaps in the genealogy record and to come along to the Big Mac Reunion in celebration of the shared McDonagh/McNicholas Heritage. Contact Julie Doyle on 087 9150787 for further details.
Charlestown Sarsfields U16s suffered a 1-13 to 1-9 defeat to Breaffy in round one of the division1 county U16 championship played at Fr O`Hara Park recently. The Sarsfields went into the game minus the services of their talisman Sean Breheny who had to sit out the game due to a suspension and his absence was keenly felt as the Sarsfields came up just short at the final whistle.
They battled well throughout and were always in contention and put it up to West Mayo men in every area of the field but the loss of Sean and a few others proved too much of a blow as ultimately they came up short at the final whistle.
They can be proud of their overall effort however and made Breaffy work for the victory with the outcome in doubt right up to the very last kick.
The management can take plenty of positives from the performance as the Sarsfields showed they were very much at home at this level and with a stronger team available to them they will prove more than a match for Ballina Stephenites who are next up on menu so to speak.
The Sarsfields goal scorer was Shea Haran who played very well along with Danny Breheny who accounted for the bulk of the scores with Dylan Pilcher, James Cassidy and Ethan Honeyman carrying the fight to the opposition at all times.
Johnny’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, hosted a big pool competition recently. It was played in a champions league like format with the early round losers going into a shield completion which was run alongside the main competition proper. It all concluded over the weekend of July 25/26 with Dylan Craig winning the Champions Cup defeating Simon Barlow in a thrilling final while Elaine Frain came out on top in the shield final defeating Simon Craig in another good contest. Both winners and runners-up received cash and cups to commemorate their successes in what was a very well organised event with host Johnny Finn delighted at the response as the competition certainly captured the imagination during the ten weeks or so it was played off in. Two good finals ensued with the standard of potting and positional play right up there with anything you might see on Sky Sports or TNT. Well done to all the winners and finalists and hats off to Johnny for organising such a top-class event with another competition in the offing for the late Autumn /Winter period perhaps?
There was a good turnout at the summer bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday,July 30, at 8pm, and the following were the prize winners: 1st Anne Walsh and Maura Kilcoyne, 2nd George Brennan and Tommy Banks, 3rd Tom Ginty and Mile Wingrove and 4th Mary Banks and Nancy Keevans.
The following were the winners of the 25 Drive game held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, July 29, at 9pm:1st Miko Sheridan and Vera Scally, 2nd Mary O`Hara and Kevin Maloney. Raffle winners were; Mary O’Hara, Mary Costello and Breege Leonard.
Bushfield Cemetery Mass takes place on Sunday, August 10, at 9am.
Charlestown Sarsfields minor team recorded a 4-12 to 2-9 victory over Kilmeena in the County Minor D Championship played at the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch, Charlestown. Goals from Danny Breheny with a brace, Cian Towey and Shea Haran proved crucial to the overall outcome and ensured the green and white had enough to withstand a second half Kilmeena rally. This victory keeps the Sarsfields in the competition with date against Ardmoy next up on the roster.
The death took place in London. England of Eileen Mary Towey, formerly of Carracastle, Co. Mayo. Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
The annual Walk n Talk to remember Rónán Duffy’s birthday will take place on Saturday, August 30, starting at 5pm from Benson’s, Rooskey. Further details nearer the date.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday, July 27, as The Pillock and Boom Boom scrapped it out in another interesting instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus had his cushy in the referee’s chair as he exuded his usual authority and kept both men in check seamlessly. The Pillock blazed out of the blocks and raced into a two-set lead with some bizarre yet marvellous throwing. He posted some big numbers and hit some of the strangest finishes you will ever see as he finished on double one, four and six to set up on his way to a two-set cushion. Boom Boom was mesmerised by what was playing out in front of him and things didn’t get a whole pile better in set three. Kenny continued to pile up the legs with Breheny staring a three nil whitewash square in the face. Boom Boom did manage to make it a fight of it winning the next two legs to set up a one leg shootout in the hope of taking the game to a fourth set. It didn’t work out for him however as the Pillock stepped up when eye balled by the his opponent and blasted his way to victory taking out 136 in the process with two bulls and double eighteen seeing him over the line in some style as Boom Boom shook his head in stunned disbelief. The Pillock milked the victory for all it was worth with Boom Boom, after he recovered his composure, quite measured and sporting in his congratulations with Kenny delighted to seal his second victory in four weeks and leave him in good shape to have a tilt at the lucrative end of summer campaign.
