Local Notes: The ladies enjoy Christmas Community Dinner in Kilmovee Community Centre.
Enjoying Kilmovee Community Dinner in Kilmovee Community Centre were Bernadette Courtney, Mary Courtney, and Margaret O'Donnell. Picture James Hunt Photography.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €19,800 in the weekly draw held on Sunday, December 14, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 12, 27, 20, and 33. The winners of the €50 prizes were Sharon O’Donnell and Tommy Quinn. To coincide with the Christmas season the club gave away a number of shopping vouchers for local businesses in the town and the following were the winners; €150 Supermac’s voucher - Toni McCaffrey; €150 Delaney’s Mace voucher -Mick O’Connell; Mulhearn’s Candy Store voucher (€50) - Sandra McCudden; Charlestown Tool Hire voucher (€50) - Joe Irwin.
The jackpot increased to €19,900 and the draw was held on Sunday night, December 21. Tickets are available in a number of outlets in the town and the lotto can also be played online by logging onto the Charlestown Sarsfields Facebook page and follow the link. The club thank everybody who support their weekly draw with excitement very much building as it reaches the magic €20,000 figure.
The death took place at the Mayo Hospice, Castlebar of Ann Goldrick, Corthoon, Charlestown. Her remains were removed from Horkan’s Funeral Home, Lowpark, Charlestown, to St. James’s Church, Charlestown, and burial took place after solemn requiem Mass to the Cemetery of the Resurrection. Ann is survived by her husband John, daughter Margaret, son John (jnr), brothers John and Kevin, son-in-law Liam, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
The late Ann was a very well known popular member of the communities of Corthoon and Charlestown respectively. She worked in the old St Ann’s Nursing Home, Sonnagh, Charlestown and was a valued and key member of the staff who provided sterling and dedicated service during her long tenure and was always courteous and popular with the residents and loved to share a joke and a laugh with them each and every day. Ann always bore a smile on her face and was renowned for her good humour and this was always on display in both her work and social interactions. She was also a keen supporter of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club and was a staunch advocate of the club’s weekly lotto draw as she raised a large amount of money through her weekly sales in both her workplace and the community of Sonnagh. She was a good family woman and formed a good bond with her husband John and made sure their family’s needs were met and provided for at all times. Her death has robbed the community of Sonnagh of one of its best and nicest citizens and we tender our deepest sympathies to the bereaved.
The death took place at the North West Hospice, Sligo recently of Deirdre Gillespie (nee McDermott), Powellsborough, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, and formerly of Rooskey, Charlestown. Her remains were removed to St Patrick’s Church, Moylough and burial took place after solemn requiem Mass to Rhue Cemetery. She is survived by her husband Pauric, daughters Ciara and Aoife, son Ruairi, sister Rufina, brother Michael, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, relatives, neighbours, colleagues and a wide circle of friends.
The late Deirdire, who was pre-deceased by her parents Seamus and Christina was a lady in the true sense of the word who was much loved and respected by all who knew and worked with her. She was vice-principal of Scoil Iosa NS, Carracastle for a number of years and was renowned for her kindness, empathy and professionalism and was a terrific team player who was a great source of support and a purveyor of sound advice to all her colleagues and other members of staff. Deirdre brought great energy and dynamism to the classroom each and every day and enjoyed a wonderful rapport with her pupils and was a pillar of the school and someone who commanded enormous respect from all sides of the school community. She was a lady of class and dignity and the classroom was her domain where she excelled and brought her many and multiple skills to bear.
She was devoted to her family and they were central to her every interaction as she and her husband Pauric made sure their needs were met and provided for at all times. Deirdre was a genuinely nice lady who made a deep impression on everyone she got to know in and out of school and the huge crowds who attended the removal of her remains and subsequent burial was ample proof of the esteem and affection in which she was held. She bore her illness with typical determination and battled bravely to the very end. Powellsborough, Rooskey and Scoil Iosa, Carracastle have lost a gem in the true sense of the word but she leaves a legacy of outstanding memories which her family will cherish and cling dear to in the deep dark, days, weeks and months that lie ahead. We tender our deepest condolences to the bereaved.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge held in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday, December 10, and the following were the prize winners; 1st James Mooney and Mary O’Connell, 2nd Hilary McCrohan and Carmel Moffitt, 3rd Teresa Ward and Patricia Colleran, 4th Nora McVeigh and Maura Kilcoyne. Weekly game takes place every Wednesday night at 8pm at Walsh’s Public House and all are welcome.
The first Community Coffee Morning of 2026 will take place on Friday, January 2, in the Arts Centre from 11am-1pm. Lift access available. All are welcome to come along for a chat and a cuppa.
Well done to St Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown, U16 girls team who qualified for the All-Ireland play-offs following their superb regional finals success recently. This was quite the achievement and one which the girls and their coaches can be rightly proud of as they look forward to contesting the All-Ireland play-offs early in the new year when school resumes. Well done to all involved with the team as the school adds yet another chapter to its storied history as they once again displayed their ability to punch above their weight against schools with much greater numbers.
An Irish Trad Night in aid of Cancer Care West will be held in Davey’s Bar, Carracastle, on Saturday, December 27. Your support for this worthy and vital service on the night would be very much appreciated. Note the date and support where possible.
Want to write your memoirs? Create poems or stories? Craft plays or films? Or see your writing on stage or screen? World class teaching on your doorstep this Wednesday, January 14, from 8-10pm. Booking - €219 / concessions. For more information contact 087 6007100 or www.martinkeaveney.com.
Michael Byrnes Memorial Game will once again take centre stage in Fr O’Hara Park on St Stephen’s Day with a full programme taking place. The ladies club will kick off proceedings at 11.45am with two teams containing the young and not young going head-to-head in what should be an interesting contest. The men will take centre stage next with the throw-in for the eagerly awaited annual over-35s versus under-35s tussle expected to take place around 12.15. The identity of the two teams remains a closely guarded secret with neither side prepared to give anything away as the under-35s plot the downfall of the older cohort. The build-up to the game has been very low key to say the least with the younger generation keen to do all their talking between the white lines as they look to block out all the outside noise in the hope of unsettling the older more experienced over-35 brigade who generally speaking, have never been found wanting when the ball has been in play.
The game always draws a large crowd to Fr O’Hara Park as players, past players, supporters and all connected with the club rally around the Byrnes family and lend their support in any way they can. Michael’s memory still burns brightly in the hearts and minds of all who knew and played with him and the day always commands a special place in the hearts and minds of all Sarsfields members and affords people the opportunity to re-connect and share some funny and amusing stories from times past.
The action on the field of play is always interesting and intriguing for want of a better word as the great and the good from the past and present collide and serve up some juicy fare with the tackles and collisions always worth a gawk as lads work off the excesses of Christmas Day and expend some sweat and perspiration as the older generation look to confirm the classic old Bill Shankly line ‘Form is temporary but class is permanent’ something which has certainly worked in their favour in recent times. The under-35s have been on a secret training camp in the hope of changing the narrative as they look to halt a run of four successive defeats.
The stage is set for another joust between two teams sprinkled with plenty of star dust so it will be very much a case of survival of the fittest as energy and youth pit their wits against craft and guile. The game always has a charitable undertone the details of which will be released in the lead-up to the throw -in but for now all roads lead to Fr O’Hara Park for the latest rumble in the jungle with reputations and pride very much on the line for both sets of players. You have been served notice so see you all in the park from 11.30am onwards.
The club are trying to revive interest in the game at senior level and are looking to re-enter a team in the Mayo league for the 2026 season. The club haven’t fielded at junior level for a number of years and are looking for expressions of interest from any would be players within and outside the community who might be interested in playing soccer for Charlestown Athletic at some level of competition in the Mayo League next season. Anybody who may have an interest in playing or getting involved are asked to contact any of the club’s executive or get in touch via the Charlestown Athletic Facebook page with the club very keen to have representation at adult level again in order to maintain interest at underage level and keep their players within the community and confines of the club structure.
Charlestown Community Coffee Morning is seeking volunteers to assist with its monthly event. The time commitment would involve three hours on a Friday morning about three times a year. You would be working with another volunteer setting up tables and providing light refreshments. The committee can guarantee a truly enjoyable and valued experience. Contact 086 8514682 if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.
Looking for a last minute gift for Christmas? Why not check out Tony Fitzgibbon Art on his Etsy store which can be accessed by clicking on the following link https://tonyfitzgibbonart.etsy.com. He has created some fantastic prints of many of the town’s most iconic shopfronts which can be viewed on his Facebook page. He has a wonderful talent and his prints would make a lovely gift for a loved one this Christmas so his page and prints are well worth viewing.
Curry GAA Club’s annual St Stephen’s Day Tractor and Vintage Run takes place on Friday, December 26, from 1pm. Registration in the Curry GAA grounds at the clubhouse from 12 noon. A monster auction will be held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry later in the evening with doors open at 8pm. It promises to be another busy and bumper day for the club with a large crowd expected to turn out for what’s a big day for the club and the community. All support will be very much appreciated.
The Legion of Mary meeting takes place every Wednesday at 7pm in the Adoration Chapel of St James’s Church, Charlestown. All are welcome. For more information contact Phil on 086 3946233.
The Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club wish to remind their many and dedicated members that membership for 2026 will increase from €50 to €70. The increase is the first of its kind in well over a decade and more and the club, while very aware of the cost of living pressures on all households, are hopeful of a positive and favourable response from their members with the membership fee playing a crucial role in the club’s overall fundraising arm and helps offset the many expenses it incurs on a daily and weekly basis. The closing date for the payment of the same is the usual March 31, deadline and your support would be very much appreciated.
Congratulations to Ivan Maloney and James Cafferty who were the winners of the Monster 25- Drive game held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, December 16 last. Special thanks to Michael O’Hara and Maeve Figg who sponsored the prizes. The game will resume on Tuesday, January 6, at its usual 9pm starting time and the players are wished a happy and peaceful Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.
Michael Davitt CCE (Swinford Comhaltas) is taking part in a nationwide effort to revive the traditional St Stephen’s Day pastime of “Hunting the Wren”. Michael Davitt CCE invites everyone who is interested to join them at the statue in the Square at 12 noon. If you play an instrument, sing a song, dance or just come along to clap to the music they would really love to have you with them on St Stephen’s Day. Don’t forget to dress suitably for the occasion (next year it is hoped to have sourced some straw hats) and they promise no wrens will be harmed.
In the words of Dr. Labhrás Ó Murchú, Ardstiúrthóir for Comhaltas “We are incredibly excited to bring Hunt the Wren back to so many communities this year. Hunt the Wren is very much a community event, and it is an opportunity for people to come together this Christmas Season to celebrate all that is good about our culture. We encourage people of all ages to dust off their dancing shoes, bring along their instruments and have great fun in their local community.” Any donations received will be divided between the Hospice, the Women’s refuge and Michael Davitt CCE. Michael Davitt CCE look forward to seeing you on the 26th.
There was a big turnout at the weekly darts classic held in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday, December 14, as Podsie and the Duke squared off in the latest gipping instalment of a long standing rivalry. Governor Gus was imperious as ever in his role as match referee and ensured good order prevailed throughout. The Duke made the better start, taking the opening set with a breathtaking 161 finish in the fourth leg thus whipping up the crowd into a frenzy. Podsie, as only he can, stormed right back to take the next two sets as he plundered the doubles and trebles with rapier- like accuracy.
The Duke’s goose looked cooked at the start of the fourth with Podsie seemingly holding all the aces. The number two seed’s character should never be questioned however as he dug deep into the vast reservoir of character and spirit and promptly blazed his way through the set without dropping a leg with Podsie in a state of stupor as the Duke hit every double with his first dart. The fifth set was a classic in the true sense of the word as both men shared the first four legs to set up a single leg decider. The crowd were gripped at what was playing out before them as both men tossed for the honour of who would throw first in the sudden death leg. The Duke won the toss but the advantage of throwing first proved minimal as both men finished deadlocked on double one with chances galore being spurned on both sides. In an extraordinary twist, as several more chances with awry, Podsie and the Duke came to the amicable decision to share the title which, while hard to fathom, proved very popular with an enthralled crowd as both men received a standing ovation from all sides of the house. It was a decision very much in keeping with the Christmas tradition and one which broke new ground in the long and stellar history of a competition that continues to attract audiences from all across the globe. Both men shared the podium and were happy to have played their part in an absolute belter of a contest.
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The death took place of Donal Gallagher,Rathgar, Dublin and Aughadeffin, Kilkelly, peacefully on December 15. The family thank the staff at the Mater University Hospital and the Fairview Community Unit who took great care of Donal during his illness. Donal was predeceased by his father Seamus and his brother Des and is survived by his mother Bernadette, his children Aoife, Rachel, Jack, Katie and Lily, their mother Anne, beloved granddaughter Thea, brothers Michael and Shane, son-in-law Max, sisters-in-law Martina, Teresa and Angela, his nephews Kevin and John, his niece Helen, his aunt Nellie, Antoinette who shared his later years, his relatives and wide circle of friends.
Donal reposed in his home in Rathgar on Wednesday, December 17, and in The Sharkey Funeral Home, Ballaghaderreen on Thursday, December 18, from 5pm followed by removal at 7.15pm to St. Joseph’s Church, Urlaur arriving at 8pm. Mass of the Resurrection was held on Friday, December 19, at 11am followed by interment in St Bridget’s Cemetery, Urlaur. Deepest sympathy is extended to all who mourn his passing. May Donal rest in peace.
Bingo is held on Sunday evenings at 8.30pm, The current jackpot is €2,150 on 53 calls or less and the house lotto is €280 on 4 correct numbers and increases by €40 per week until it is won. There is also a 50/50 draw with a guaranteed winner on the night. Bingo is continuing unbroken through the festive season with bingo being held on December 28. The patrons thank the committee who work on a voluntary basis all around the year to provide bingo every week. Thanks has also been extended to Kilmovee Housing Ltd for the use of the community centre to enable the weekly bingo to be held. The committee take this opportunity to thank their loyal patrons for their support of Kilmovee bingo. They are all wished a very Happy Christmas and all the best in 2026. Finally condolences are extended to all who have been bereaved in 2025.
Kilkelly Church Choir invite new members to join the choir for Sunday Masses at 11.30am.
Lotto and membership packages are now on sale. Starting at €50 for 50 draws plus entry into a bonus draw for €1000 in The Four Ways, for those who purchased before December 21. There are three packages available; Standard - €50. Year's entry to the weekly lotto draw. The jackpot is currently starting at €6000 and increases any week it’s not won. Silver - €70 lotto as above but also includes club membership for the year. Gold - €150 lotto, club membership and county board draw ticket. Tickets are on sale online on their Facebook page and in local businesses. The lotto numbers drawn for Saturday, December 6, were 15, 16, 27, 41. There was no winner.
The Badminton Club welcomes new members to join them in Kilmovee Community Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm.
Better Balance January 2026, a strength and balance programme for 10 weeks of pre-set exercises with progression guidance. Booking and registration is online through Mayo Sports Partnership Eventbrite page, Kilkelly. Booking opens on January 5 and classes start Thursday, January 15, at 11am in Kilkelly Community Centre. Places are limited.
Would you be interested in sharing your home and supporting an individual with a disability for a few hours per week or month, or more regular? Western Care is looking for single people, couples or families to provide respite breaks for children and adults across County Mayo in your own home. If you are interested or want more information, please contact Ruth Kneafsey, Home Share Co-Ordinator, at 094 9029148.
