Local Notes: Successful Lip Sync in aid of East Mayo Athletics and East Mayo Special Olympics.
Encouraging the crowd at the recent Lip Sync Event held at the Park Hotel Kiltimagh in aid of the East Mayo Athletics and East Mayo Special Olympics Club Charlestown
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €16,200 in the weekly draw held on Sunday, April 6, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 11, 16, 25 and 26. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Andrea Frizzell and Attracta Coleman. The latest jackpot increased to €16,300 and the draw was held on Sunday, April 13.
Charlestown Sarsfields began their 2025 Division 1A senior league campaign with a trip to Ballindine to take on Davitts in what was the first game for the new Sarsfields management team. Unfortunately, defeat was their lot as they came out on the wrong side of a 2-18 to 4-8 scoreline in a game played in glorious conditions as the sun beamed down on the two teams from start to finish.
The Sarsfields were shorn of a number of regulars as indeed were the hosts with several players getting the chance to impress the new management. The home side dominated the opening exchanges for the most part and kicked a flurry of scores early doors as the Sarsfields struggled to establish any kind of a platform in the middle of the park.
Davitts were dominating in all the key areas and had amassed a 2-7 to 1-2 lead at the interval which was a fair overall reflection as they were much the better team throughout. Ciaran Honeyman bagged the Sarsfields goal with Jack Mahon landing two frees which left the green and white men with plenty to ponder on as they made their way to the changing rooms.
The Sarsfields needed something at the start of the second half to kick start their challenge and it duly arrived in the shape of a Patrick Lenehan goal which was added to minutes later when Jack Mahon clipped over a good point to put five between the sides and inject new spirit into the green and white challenge.
Davitts were in no mood to relinquish control however and responded to the challenge laid down by the visitors by kicking five of the next six points to restore their nine point cushion. Jack Mahon kept the Sarsfields interested with three white flags in a row, but Davitts fired over four more quick fire scores to keep the Sarsfields at arm’s length as the clock ticked down to what looked like an inevitable home victory. Davitts continued to work the scoreboard and had extended their lead to eleven points at one stage but the Sarsfields finished with a late if futile rally as Ruairi Cullen hit two late goals with Patrick Goldrick slotting a consolation point to put a better gloss on the score board from the green and white perspective.
The Sarsfields will console themselves with the fact that they breached the Davitts goal four times and threatened danger when the ball was put deep into the Davitts square. They were porous at the back however and leaked a big score which is something they need to work on going forward with the games coming thick and fast in the coming weeks.
An Easter Duck Race in aid of MODL Mini Company Kilbeagh Community First Responders takes place on Easter Sunday, April 20, at the Charlestown River starting at 1.30pm. The cost of a duck is €5 with a family of five costing €20. Prizes galore with €100 for coming first, €50 for second and €20 for third with €15 for the last duck to cross the finishing line. You can enter online via https://www.idonate.ie/crow.../MODLMiniCompanyEasterDuckRace or via entry sheets across various businesses in Charlestown.
Charlestown Athletic FC Easter training camp for boys and girls 2012-2020 inclusive takes place from April 22-24 (inclusive) at Bellaghy Park, Charlestown. Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. 1st child €60, additional siblings €50. For more information check out the Charlestown Athletic FC Facebook page and follow the link(s).
The death took place at Bailey’s Nursing Home, Tubbercurry of Mary Henry, Curry, Co. Sligo. Her remains were removed from Howley’s Funeral Home, Curry, to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Curry, and burial took place after solemn requiem Mass to Bunnacrannagh Cemetery. Mary is survived by her brothers Mike, Francis, Noel, Fintan, Kevin and Declan, sister Aileen, nieces, nephews, relations, neighbours and friends.
The late Mary, who was pre-deceased by her parents Michael and Kathleen, was a lovely lady with a very kind and gentle demeanour. She forged many strong friendships in the community of Curry and beyond and was deeply respected by all who knew and admired her. 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. Her death comes as a great blow to her family but she leaves plenty of memories which they will cherish and cling dear to in these deep, dark hours and days. May she rest in peace.
The Sarsfields host Aghamore in Fr O’Hara in round one of the Canon Henry Cup on Friday, April 18, with the throw-in timed for 6pm (check sports pages for confirmation).
Well done to Aoibhe Breheny, daughter of Paddy Breheny, Tample, Charlestown who lined out in the half-time exhibition game at the recent Mayo v Sligo Connacht Championship clash at McHale Park, Castlebar recently. This was quite the thrill for Aoibhe and she acquitted herself very well and displayed the full range of her talents and abilities and looked very much at home on the hallowed soil.
Aoibhe is quite the talented young sports lady as she is a talented boxer as well and is one of the most promising young talents in the Charlestown Boxing Club. She had little difficulty guiding the ball between the posts unlike her auld fella who always found it difficult to locate the posts on the few occasions he lined out for the Sarsfields at the county ground headquarters. Rather it was a case of hands over your eyes when Paddy got the ball in front of the sticks as it was liable to end up anywhere in the vast open expanse but glad to report Aoibhe’s a lot more accurate and perhaps she might consider giving her dad a lesson as it’s never too late to acquire a basic or simple skill. I better draw the line there but I’m sure we’ll hear and see Aoibhe featuring many more times at McHale Park as she’s a young lady with a lot of talent who is a making great progress at underage level with the Charlestown LGFA club.
The Sarsfields junior team began their division 3B of the county league with a 3-6 to 2-7 victory over Hollymount/Carramore played at the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch, Charlestown. This was a tightly contested encounter throughout with little or nothing between both teams as they played out an entertaining encounter in glorious conditions with the sun and heat adding an extra layer of intrigue to a game that contained plenty of goalmouth incident. The Sarsfields edged the scoring in terms of green flags netting three as opposed to Hollymount/Carramore’s two with Sean Kilroy, Colm Maye and Ben Crean getting on the mark. The Sarsfields should have scored a lot more but butchered some big chances which kept the visitors in the game as they hung around doggedly to the final whistle.
The Sarsfields did enough to eke out the win however which was pleasing for the large local support in attendance. The green and white had good performances from the likes Daniel Harrington, Eoin Flannery, Alex Cullen, Sean Kilroy, Aidan Higgins, Mark Lowther, Ben Crean and Paddy Joe Dunleavy.
Entries for the 2025 Colm Horkan Memorial Run are now open with the East Mayo Athletic Club once again the main drivers behind what will be the fifth annual run as it continues to grow and evolve and become one of the mainstays in the club and town’s recreational calendar. All details regarding entry and races available to participate in can be found by logging onto the East Mayo Athletics Club Facebook Page with further updates available in this column in the days and weeks ahead.
Sympathy is extended to Lorcan Leavy, Clooncoose, Charlestown, on the death of his brother Michéal Leavy Delvin, Co. Westmeath whose death occurred recently.
Charlestown Sarsfields U16 team suffered their first loss in division 2 of the county U16 league when they were defeated by Gaeil na Dabhaidi (Davitts/Mayo Gaels amalgamation) in round 2 played at the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch, Charlestown recently. The Gaeil na Dabhaidi side are one of the strongest in division 2 and showed their pedigree with a 4-16 to 3-15 victory in a high-quality encounter that had all that were in attendance invested in from the very start.
The Sarsfields played very well with never more than a score separating the two sides at any stage but the South Mayo visitors held a slight edge at all times with their ability to score goals at key times providing a great fillip for them to go and clinch the victory. The Sarsfields lost nothing in defeat and battled like demons to the very end but just came up short with plenty of positives to be taken from the game as the two teams may well clash again further down the line. The Sarsfields goal scorers were the Breheny twins Danny and Sean with Ethan Honeyman netting the other in a game that had so much to recommend about it with the scoreline only revealing a glimpse of what played out on the field.
The pretty wedding took place at St James’ Church, Charlestown, of Noel McLoughlin, son of Kathleen and the late Eugene McLoughlin, Barrack Street, Charlestown and Jacqueline Brennan, daughter of Thomas and Mary Brennan, Glann, Charlestown. The ceremony was performed by Fr Tommy Johnson PP, Charlestown.
Bestman was Declan McLoughlin, brother of the groom and groomsmen were Richard Murphy, friend of the groom, Enda Marren and Enda McLoughlin, cousins of the groom. Maid of Honour was Louise Kennedy, friend of the bride and bridesmaids were Rebecca Lenehan, friend of the bride, Mary-Kate Casey and Bronagh Brennan, cousins of the bride. Flowergirls were Kayla and Sophie Flatley, nieces of the groom. Pageboy was Alfie McLoughlin, son of the bride and groom. The reception was held in the Radison Blu Hotel, Sligo. We wish Noel and Jacqueline every good wish for the future, health and happiness and many years of wedded bliss.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Wednesday, April 2, at 8pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Hilary McDonagh and Tom Ginty, 2nd Nora McVeigh and Maura Kilcoyne, 3rd Robert and Frances Healy, 4th Paddy and Patricia Colleran 25 Card Drive. The following were the winners of the 25 Drive game held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, April 8, at 9pm; 1st Mary Costello and James Cafferty, 2nd Teresa McIntyre and Veronica McCarrick. Raffle winners were; Vera Scally, Kevin Maloney and Breege Leonard
Easter Fun Club takes place on Saturday, April 26, from 10am – 2pm at Carracastle Community Centre with dance, drama, music, fun games, Easter Egg Hunt and more. Cost €20. For more information contact Thomas at 086 3266146 or email dasacademybookings@gmail.com.
Bingo takes place in the CBD Sport and Recreational Centre, Lowpark, Charlestown on Friday, April 18. Doors open at 8pm. A raffle will be held on the night with spot prizes galore with all proceeds in aid of Charlestown Swimming Pool.
The AGM of the Charlestown Drama Club took place in the Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown on Thursday, April 3 and there was a nice crowd in attendance with the committee presenting a number of detailed and comprehensive reports to all present. The committee which was elected in February 2024 remain in situ for the coming year which was a source of much joy and relief to the club members as they did a stellar job in their various roles and were instrumental in the restoration of drama to the town after an absence of some twenty-seven years. The following officers were elected for the coming year; chairperson Tony Henry, vice-chairperson Gerry Murray, secretary Natalie Maloney Byrne, treasurer Pamela Henry, PRO/entertainments officer Gerard Groarke, committee members; Naoimi Clarke, Nuala O’Donnell, Catriona Harrington, Margaret Henry, Mairead McDermott, Anita McNicholas, and Carmel Parsons.
The highlight of the year was the staging of their play “Going Away/Echoes of Eternity” over two nights in early March before packed houses with the play generating much in the way of enthusiasm and positive comment among all who attended. The cast were brilliant on the night and hats off to the production team spearheaded by Gerard Groarke and Naoimi Clarke who put in a huge amount of work in the direction and production of a play that was based on the theme of emigration which impacted on all families in the community in one form or another going back the decades. The standard of acting was memorable over the course of the two nights with the play being streamed live across the globe and attracting a large viewership and audience from many far-flung places. The club’s main target is to build on this success in the coming weeks and months and they are looking to attract new members who may be interested in getting involved in some shape or form be it on or backstage in whatever role their talents may be best suited to. The club intend to put on two one act plays per year one in mid November and another in the spring with scripts being sourced and read as we speak.
The club also hope to develop the Arts Centre and use it as hub for the arts in the community with grants and funding being accessed and tapped into during the coming weeks and months. Charlestown has long had a proud and long tradition of drama stretching back the best part of eighty years and more with the name of the late Paddy Henry fondly remembered and recalled as he drove drama in the town and was responsible for the club picking up many awards the highlight of which was winning the All-Ireland Title in 1991 with “Buried Child” which was a marvellous achievement and a testimony to his brilliance as as a producer/director.
The club are here to stay and look forward to using the Arts Centre as a springboard to staging many more successful plays and dramas in the coming years with some wonderful acting talent in the community at the moment all of which was on display in their recent excellent production as they wowed the large crowds with their theatrics and pageantry. The club are currently mulling over some plays for their next production in Mid-November with readings taking place on Thursday nights from 8pm starting on May 1, with all welcome to take part and try out as the club look to broaden the net and tap into the vast potential that exists in the community at the moment.
The two semi-finals in the 2025 Honour of the Village competition hosted by Walsh’s Bar are expected to take place in the coming week. The last four are very much there on merit with reigning champions Glann/Sinolane being perhaps the form team in the competition as they have been very impressive in getting to this stage of the competition. They are expected to face a stern test however against a very good and well balanced Lowpark side skippered by the veteran Padraig Kivlehan who knows a thing or two about setting out a team having won the competition numerous times back in the halcyon days of the 1980s and 1990s. Lowpark have been very much the dark horses of the competition to date and they are quietly confident of causing an upset with all the smart money still being no Glann/Sinolane to make it through to the finals.
The other semi-final also has plenty of intrigue and interest around it as Hagfield(2) powered by the Duke come face to face with another team with a long and proud tradition in the competition, Lavey Beg who, too, have rolled back the years and become a force once again in the competition as one harks back to the days when the late Pat Caulfield used to manage the team and inspire them to past successes. This is a difficult game to call with Lowpark, perhaps, holding a slight edge but it could go either way hence the great excitement being felt by players and supporters of both teams who march to the ochie with big expectations of qualifying for the final proper with large crowds expected to descend on the splendidly appointed venue for two games which promise much in the way of drama and tension. There will be a full report in next week’s issue of results and a date for the final as all darts enthusiasts gear up for some emotional rollercoaster over the course of the next week or so.
The Charlestown Sarsfields club were represented in the Connacht Championship preliminary round fixture in Gaelic Park, New York recently with well known former green and white star Jack Reilly, son of Clement and Fiona Reilly, Pine Grove, Charlestown being part of the New York panel defeated by Galway. Jack was listed in the substitutes as New York competed well with the last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists and were just three points in arrears after the opening thirty-five minutes. Galway, however, upped the ante in the second half with their fitness and match practice having an obvious impact as they piled on the scores to run out comfortable winners.
New York can be proud of their display however as they acquitted themselves very well and did the stars and stripes proud before a huge crowd who came from all corners of Ireland and America to be part of a great spectacle. There were a number of Charlestown people at the match, many of whom have made their home in New York over any number of years and they were delighted to meet up with Jack and the New York and Galway panel with a great atmosphere very much in evidence as the New York GAA community put their best foot forward and ensured the iconic Gaelic Park was looking its absolute best.
Jack was, perhaps, unlucky not to have got some minutes but his chance may well come as New York can now switch their attentions to the Tailteann Cup with Jack sure to make a bold bid for inclusion in the starting line-up when the draw is made known in the coming weeks.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday night, April 6, as Governor Gus and Podsie scrapped it out in another intriguing instalment of the weekly classic. With Gus at the ochie, it was left to the Duke to step into the referee’s chair and this he did seamlessly as he ensured good sportsmanship and manners prevailed at all times. Gus looked to be on a roll when he took the first set against the odds with Podsie a little off with his radar. All it succeeded in doing however was poking the bear and Podsie duly roared back as Gus hardly got a look at a double in the next two sets such was the accuracy on display from the number one seed. Gus was in a spin at the beginning of the fourth as he had lost six legs on the bounce and needed a good start to the set in the hope of stymieing the momentum of his opponent. It didn’t materialise as Podsie continued to hammer the treble twenty bed hard and handsome with Gus unable to match the big numbers posted by his rampant opponent.
The number one seed took the first two legs in comprehensive fashion and although Gus hinted at a revival by taking the third one, Podsie swatted aside any comeback hopes in ruthless fashion as he closed out the match with a sizzling 170 finish with his final dart landing plum in the middle of the bulls eye bed to set off wild scenes of celebration and jubilation among his large band of supporters. This was vintage Podsie with Gus most sporting and honourable in defeat as he offered a warm hand of congratulations with Podsie.
