Local Notes: Seven Claremorris people to abseil from Croke Park
Some of the Claremorris participants in the fundraiser for Mayo Cancer Support, which will involve abseiling from the roof of Croke Park in Dublin, from left: Damien McHugh, Lorraine Dolan, James Preston of Mayo Cancer Support, Gabrielle Clesham and Ethan Jordan. Picture: John Corless
For more than two decades, Mayo Cancer Support has been offering emotional support to people affected by cancer in Co Mayo. To raise awareness of its services, as well as to raise money, the group has organised a unique event where 100 people, including seven from Claremorris, will abseil 150ft from the roof of Croke Park in Dublin on October 10th.
Claremorris resident James Preston is treasurer of Mayo Cancer Support.
“All of the services we provide are available free of charge to service users who can visit our centres in Castlebar, Ballina and Achill in confidence, knowing that they will be met by someone who understands what they are going through and can offer comfort and help,” James told the last week. “This is the major fundraiser for Mayo Cancer Support, but it's also a brand awareness campaign. A little over a year ago, when I was asked to join the board, I really didn't know what Mayo Cancer Support did and how it differed from Hospice. And it's only getting to know that, that I eventually joined the board.
“So many people actually didn't know what Mayo Cancer Support was and confused it with other supports. So this event is also about brand awareness.
“Mayo Cancer Support is based at Rock Rose House in Castlebar. We rely on donations for 90% of our funding. The remainder comes from various grants that we get."
James described the response to the abseiling event has as “absolutely amazing". The descent is limited to 100 participants and has been significantly over-subscribed.
“We have seven people from Claremorris taking part. All have different reasons for doing so. Tommy Murphy, Darren Hennelly, JJ Costello, Gabrielle Clesham, Damien McHugh, Ethan Jordan and Lorraine Dolan are all taking part, which is fantastic. Several of the participants spoke to the .
“I'm doing it because I actually knew very little about Mayo Cancer Support and Rock Rose House,” Lorraine Dolan said. “They provide fantastic services and supports that are there for people that are bereaved by cancer or that are going through cancer treatment or that have been diagnosed with cancer. It is a fantastic service and I want to highlight that to people that maybe mightn't know that it's there or mightn't know that it exists.”
Damien McHugh said he was meeting the challenge for his mother.
“My mother was diagnosed with stage four cancer and that kind of drove me to do this, just give something back. Because mum will eventually, when she gets a little bit stronger, she will avail of Rock Rose House services and Mayo Cancer Support’s services.”
Ethan Jordan joked that someone had offered to push him off Croke Park!
“I know it's a fantastic cause,” he said. “It’s in aid of what is something that many people go through in their lives and only know that they need a service like this when they're going through that. I think it's good to get up and do something for something that is so powerful for the community.”
Gabrielle Clesham has a slightly different story to tell.
“I'm doing it because when I was diagnosed with cancer, I was at home in shock and I kind of said, 'what will I do next',” she explained. “And I said, 'will we just go down to Mayo Cancer Support at Rock Rose House in Castlebar and see', because I didn't know what the next step was. So I knocked on the door, went into Rock Rose, and from then on I got such brilliant support.
"There was so much help on offer. They had a kind of a beauty demonstration on for people who would be going through cancer; their facial features and hair and everything changes. So they were doing that.
"So I went to that and since then I have done well-being, I have done reflexology, I have done choir, I have done loads of things all at Rock Rose House and I have met friends - people who were going through the same thing as me. And if you hear somebody say, 'oh, I have that, or I have a good doctor, I have a good masseur' that gets you through this, you get to know things.
"So it's the connections that I had through Rock Rose that, for me, I wouldn't have got through.”
All seven have fundraising pages set up online and are actively seeking donations for this worthwhile cause. Details are available on their personal social media pages.
Claremorris Golf Club celebrated a long-awaited triumph last week, securing their first Connacht Pierce Purcell Shield in 12 years with a 3–1 victory over Enniscrone at Athlone Golf Club. The win sees the Mayo side advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Claremorris qualified for the final by defeating a Portumna side widely regarded as one of the competition’s strongest teams. Led by captain Derek Reilly, Claremorris rose to the occasion, earning a spot in the final.
In the championship decider, the first Claremorris pairing of Brian Burke and Enda Gurren faced what was considered Enniscrone’s strongest duo. The match remained tight throughout, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage until Gurren holed a 15-foot putt for par on the 18th green, securing the half point that ultimately ensured victory.
The second Claremorris pairing, Martin Murphy and Mike Lohan, set the tone early. With seven pars from their first eight holes, they established control and went on to claim a 5 and 4 win on the 14th green. Tom Fanning and Damien Connolly followed with consistent play of their own, completing a 4 and 3 victory on the 15th green to add a second point to the club’s total.
Meanwhile, the final pairing of John Finn and Rossa Higgins maintained a narrow two-up lead with three holes to play, contributing to the team’s overall dominance. Once the result was confirmed, the fifth match was called in, cementing the final score of 3–1 in favour of Claremorris.
The Connacht title marks a significant milestone for the club, ending a 12-year wait and propelling the team into the All-Ireland quarter-finals. It is a triumph that highlights the skill, composure, and teamwork of the Claremorris players, guided by the leadership of Derek Reilly.
A new ‘Living Well’ programme will begin this autumn, offering free support to people living with long-term health conditions. The six-week course, which is run by the HSE, will start on Wednesday, September 17th, at 10.30am in Claremorris Primary Care Centre and continue each week at the same time until 1.00pm.
For more information or to register, contact Liam Gildea on 086-0142675 or email lgildea@southmayo.com.
Kevin Doolan from Dublin won last week’s Claremorris GAA 50/50 jackpot, taking home a prize of €963. Kevin’s winning ticket was purchased in Gilligan’s. The club extended sincere thanks to all who entered the draw, noting that every ticket sold directly supports youth development and ongoing improvements at Claremorris GAA.
Tickets continue to be available both online and in local pubs and shops.
Claremorris AFC’s weekly 50/50 draw brought good fortune to Ann Creighton, who won €550 with her winning online ticket.
The club extended its sincere thanks to Ann, and to all who continue to support the draw week after week.
The Women’s Collective, Claremorris, is now inviting expressions of interest for its next Women in Leadership Programme, beginning this September.
The free eight-week course offers women the chance to develop leadership skills and play an active role in their community. Following the success of last year’s programme, organisers are keen to welcome a new group of participants. For further details or to register, contact the Women’s Collective Claremorris on 094-9362096.
A new six-week block of Tai Chi will commence on Monday, September 8th, running from 6.30pm to 7.30pm each evening. The course fee is €60.
Places are limited, and early booking is advised. To reserve a place, call Cúram on 094-9362096.
The Claremorris and District Lions Club will hold its annual table quiz on Thursday, September 19th, in the Dalton Inn.
President James Preston described it as “a quiz night for all members of the family,” with questions spanning a broad mix of general knowledge.
Funds raised will go towards the ‘Dance Memory Club’, held every Wednesday morning in Cúram, which provides music, dancing and companionship for people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Teams of four are welcome to enter, with registration from 8.30pm and the quiz beginning at 9pm. Entry is €40 per table, and there will be plenty of spot prizes throughout the night.
On Saturday, September 27th, the Lions Club will also join forces with Claremorris Red Cross for a free diabetes and blood pressure awareness event in the Square, from 12 noon to 3pm. Participants can have their blood sugar and blood pressure checked, with most receiving results on the spot. James thanked the Red Cross for their partnership and Mayo County Council for their support.
The Lions Club continues to welcome new members, with meetings held on the first Wednesday of each month at 8.30pm in the Dalton Inn.
A special fundraising concert in aid of the proposed Claremorris Community Sports and Recreational Centre will take place at the Town Hall Theatre, Claremorris on Friday, November 21st. The event, part of Tony Christie’s ‘Farewell to Amarillo’ tour, is being hosted with the support and dedication of the Fitzgerald family as a contribution to the development of this new local facility.
Tony Christie, whose family has long-standing roots in the area, will return to Claremorris for what is his only Irish concert outside Dublin. The performance will form part of his final tour, marking over five decades in the music industry.
Ticket sales from the Claremorris concert will support the development of the new community sports and recreational centre. Standard tickets are priced from €45 and premium tickets at €100 (plus booking fees). Premium ticket holders will receive front-row seats, a gift bag with signed memorabilia, and access to a meet-and-greet session with Tony Christie after the performance.
Tickets are available at www.townhall.ie. Accommodation offers for the concert weekend are being provided by the McWilliam Park Hotel, with bookings available directly on 094-9378000.
