Local Notes: Winners of the jive at the annual Tony and Bernie Towey Dance competition.
At the Tony and Bernie Towey Dance Competition in the Brusna Inn were jive winners Ann Shiel and John Hynes being presented with their trophy by Kathleen Horan proprietor of the Brusna Inn. Picture James Hunt Photography.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €19,400 in the weekly draw held on Sunday, November 16, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 2, 4, 19 and 25. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Liam Breheny and John Paul Doherty. The latest jackpot increased to €19,500 and the draw was held on Sunday, November 23.
St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown Christmas Market takes place in the school, Lowpark, Charlestown on Thursday, December 4, from 6-8pm with the transition year mini-companies leading the way so to speak. Among the items on display will include homemade Christmas cards, calendars, cribs, decorative acorn, Christmas trees and lots more. All are welcome and it promises to be a super evening with plenty on offer to the general public who may well fancy an item or two in the market that would make a nice Christmas present for a loved one.
The AGM of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA club will take place on Friday, Noevmber 28 at 8pm in the meeting room over Supermac’s, Airport Road, Charlestown. All members are invited to attend as the club reflect on another busy and successful year on and off the field. Nomination papers for the various positions on the executive are available by logging on to the Charlestown Sarsfields Facebook page or by contacting the secretary Kevin Deignan at secretary.charlestown.-mayo@gaa.ie.
Senior exercise classes takes place in the in the Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown on Friday mornings at 11am and all are welcome.
The Cubs basketball club enjoyed some terrific successes in the last number of weeks with some super performances in their various leagues and grades of competition. Well done to the U16 girls who made it four from four with a very impressive display against Castlebar Pacers recently in division one to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. They played some sparkling stuff in securing the victory and are riding high at the top of the table and in a commanding position.
The U14 girls were also very much to the fore as they matched their U16 counterparts by defeating Westport in division 2 of the league with a very spirited and gutsy performance getting the job done against a much touted Westport side.
To round off a fabulous week for the club, the U16 boys defeated Ballyhaunis in the league to remain very much in contention for the play-offs with the lads showing plenty of skill, class and aggression which proved too much for the Ballyhaunis lads who found it hard to compete against a very good and well coached Charlestown side.
A week to savor for the club and one they will be looking to back up in the coming days and weeks as the leagues are in full swing at the moment for all grades and genders.
Arts and Craft classes take place in the Arts Centre on Wednesday mornings from 11am-1pm and new members are most welcome.
There are a limited number of spaces available in the Beaver and Cub Scouts divisions of the Carracastle Scouts who meet every Monday evening at Carracastle Community Centre at 7pm. The Beavers age range is 6-8 while the Cubs age range is 8-11. This is a fun and friendly meeting place for all and for more information on joining email mayoscoutscarrcastle@gmail.com or contact Eimear on 085 2133013.
Complex Coffee which has firmly established itself in the hospitality and service industry since its foundation over two years ago have their winter opening schedule posted on their social media Facebook page. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday but are providing a full service of their finest brands of coffee, treats, buns and the likes from Wednesday through Sunday with plenty of delicious offerings available to the general public. Their menu is proving hugely popular with the general public and the community at large as they have created quite a niche for themselves in the whole area of coffee with their brands hitting the palate nicely it must be said.
Women’s Box-Fit classes (fun fitness for all ages and levels) take place every Wednesday at the Charlestown Boxing Club headquarters, Old Cloonfane School, from 7.30-8.45pm. The cost is €60 per eight week block or €10 per session (pay as you go). The instructor is Keely Stevens, five times national champion. Call 089 4977388 for more details.
Family Carers Ireland is currently recruiting for community homecare workers. Work hours are flexible based on availability. Essential qualification requirements are QQ1 Care of the Older Person and Care Skills modules completed and must have their own car and full driving licence. Send your CV to jobs@familycarers.ie or contact Carol on 049 8511051 or 086 4183949 for more information.
Yoga class is held at Carracastle Community Centre every Tuesday at 7.30pm, and the cost is €10 per class. Free taster class for newcomers. For more information and to book your place, contact Sophie at 083 4798831.
Charlestown Sarsfields made their exit from the County U21C championship at the hands of near neighbours Kilmovee Shamrocks who came through on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-10 in a tight contest played at Fr O’Hara Park recently.
This may or not be classed as a surprise depending on the form book but the Shamrocks were quietly confident of taking the Sarsfields down on their own patch and this they duly did with victory securing their passage to the last four of the competition. There was plenty of grit and pluckiness in evidence in the opening exchanges with the visitors holding the upper hand courtesy of a goal midway through the half thus providing their challenge with just the fuel it needed to unsettle the Sarsfields who were finding it hard to make any real inroads in attack despite winning plenty of possession.
Kilmovee kept their noses in front for the remainder of the half with the half -time score reading 1-4 to 0-3 with James Conway and a brace from Cian Towey the only white flags the Sarsfields managed to raise in a disappointing first half showing from the home side’s point of view.
The Sarsfields needed to come out firing in the second half and whilst they did improve somewhat, they never managed to get their noses in front with Kilmovee continuing to display plenty of menace and threat in attack. They continued to chip away at the scoreboard with the Sarsfields having to play catch-up as chances came and went in front of the posts.
Kilmovee were much more economical with theirs when in possession and they kept their lead to a two score game entering the final ten minutes.The Sarsfields finally caught a break in front of goals with James finishing clinically to the net to revive the Sarsfields ailing hopes and give them one final shot at mounting a late charge to wrestle the initiative away from the Shamrocks.
The visitors were in no mood to surrender their grip on a game and responded in the best possible fashion, hitting two points on the bounce to provide them with enough of a cushion to keep the Sarsfields at bay as the clock ticked in the red.
The Sarsfields did stage a few desperate late raids on the Kilmovee goal but the visitors kept a tight defensive line and kept their goal intact with the final whistle igniting contrasting emotions in both camps. The Sarsfields, to be fair, were much more at it in the second period but their conversion rate left a lot to be desired with missed chances very much the rock that they perished upon.
They had good performances from Daniel Harrington, who was excellent at the back with Tadhg Horkan, Eoin Flannery and Paddy Joe Dunleavy also showing up well as they went toe to toe with a lively and decent Kilmovee attack. James Gallagher was solid and competent between the posts and dealt admirably with all that came his way. Eoin Murphy had some good moments in the middle as did Mike Marren while in attack James Conway and Cian Towey were the scorers in-chief with Conor McArdle showing up well on occasions but lacking the support to make it count on the scoreboard.
Word of mention to Anthony Conway and his management team of Ruairi Cullen, Ben and Hugh Conway and Lewis O’Connor who got the best out of the talent available to them with the timing of the competition once again being called into question as the county board continue to show a total lack of respect for a grade that deserves a much better shop window than mid-November.
The Christmas Craft Fair will be held at Carracastle Community Centre on Sunday, November 30, from 10am-2pm, featuring a wide variety of handmade crafts and bakes. Tea and coffee will be available and there will be a raffle on the day. Please support the local crafts people.
St Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown host Elphin Community College at Fr O’Hara Park in the Senior E Schools Football Championship on Wednesday, November 26, with the throw-in confirmed for 12.30pm.
Have you ever thought about fostering? Change a child’s life by becoming a Tusla Foster Carer. Talk to Tusla Fostering today by calling Freephone 1800 226 771 or visit www.fostering.ie.
Sásta Learning Centre annual general meeting will take place on Thursday, November 27 at 7pm in the Town Hall Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown. All are welcome to attend.
Mayo’s new monthly indoor market will start on Sunday, December 14, from 11am-4pm at Julian’s Midfield and every second Sunday of the month thereafter. If you would like to trade at this event monthly, call 087 7957190. Stalls will be €20 and €25 if electricity is required (spaces limited). No hot food sales. All traders must have relevant insurance.
The annual general meeting of Curry GAA Club will take place on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm in the clubhouse. All members are requested to attend as the club look back on a busy year on and off the field.
Carracastle Trad Session takes place every Wednesday night at Davey’s Bar, Carracastle, Co. Mayo starting at 9pm. An old fashioned rambling house session with no microphones or speakers. All musicians/singers welcome.
Congratulations to the East Mayo Athletics Club who held their first official training session for their athletes in their splendid new fully lit flood lit facility on Tuesday, November 18 last. This was a red-letter day for the club and the culmination of years of hard work and fundraising but the magnificent new facility is a testament to the work of so many who soldiered through good times and bad to bring this project to fruition with the end result a facility that will provide so much for the future generation of athletes and competitors with the club one of the fastest growing in Mayo. One can applaud the vision and ambition of the people who came up with the idea as they sensed and identified the need for a facility of this scope and size in the community. The amount of people who have taken up running in the community and beyond over the course of the last decade has been shorting of phenomenal hence their vision proved very much correct as the East Mayo Athletes are regularly contending for honours and medals at all grades of competition and genders. There was a great turnout to mark the occasion with the weather just about playing ball as people from all ages flocked to the facility to watch the many young athletes going through their various drills and paces. What a night for the club and one that will linger long in the memory with the committee adamant that this is just the beginning with plenty of targets and dreams to be fulfilled in the years ahead with a facility that will provide them with so much in terms of realising ambitions as they look to drive the club forward and put it on a par with the best in the county and province. Well done to all and the future looks very rosy for a club who have created and established a venue that is the envy of many throughout the length and breadth of Connacht.
New and returning members are asked join the parish choir. No prior experience required. Practice takes place each Thursday at 7pm in the parish church. Enquiries to Carmel on 086 3271196.
Exercise classes returned with Tracey in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Friday, November 21, at 12 noon. All welcome. €2 contribution per class. Lift access available.
The East Mayo Athletics Club have a Christmas Challenge available for all would be athletes/joggers and walkers. The aim is to run/jog/walk 3 x 5km a week in the five week period leading up to Christmas with the initiative expected to get underway this coming week. It costs €20 to take part which represents very good value and team WhatsApp groups have been created with more information on the same to be had on the East Mayo Athletics Club Facebook page. This challenge is well worth taking on and is sure to prove popular to many within and outside the community as people look to get/keep in shape ahead of the busy Christmas period.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Wednesday, November 12, at 8pm, and the following were the prizewinners; 1st Paddy and Patricia Colleran, 2nd Charles and Mae Quinn, 3rd Nora McVeigh and Maura Kilcoyne, 4th Tom Ginty and Paddy Gallagher.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25-card game held at the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, November 18, at 9pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Joe Mahon and Kevin Maloney. Raffle winners were Joe Mahon, Teresa McIntyre and Veronica McCarrick.
Tavneena NS are delighted to announce that their annual Christmas Concert will take place in the school on Friday, December 12, at 6.30pm. This year the children will perform ‘Straw and Order’, a children’s nativity with an amazing fun twist on the original Christmas story. It promises to be another fantastic evening filled with singing, laughter and brilliant acting.
Everyone is welcome, so bring your family and friends and join us as we begin to celebrate the festive season together. Looking forward to seeing you there on the night.
Irish dancing takes place for beginners and advanced in the CBD Sports Complex, Lowpark, Charlestown, every Thursday evening from 5pm.
Little Puckers meet in the CBD Sport and Recreational Centre on Sunday mornings at 9am.
Carracastle Annual Remembrance Service will be held on Friday, November 28 at 7.30pm at St James’ Church, Carracastle, to remember all the deceased loved ones and friends. All are welcome to come along for an evening of prayer, reflection and thanksgiving.
If anyone in the parish would like to receive their silver, gold or diamond pioneer pin, or become a member email achonrypioneers@gmail.com or contact Theresa on 086 1360154.
The Drama Club were back on stage in the Town Hall Arts Theatre recently as they put on three one act plays which drew large crowds to the splendidly appointed venue. The cast and crew put on some show with the plays taking place over three separate nights. The crowds flocked to the venue and were treated to some spectacle with each of the three plays providing any amount of terrific content as they mixed the serious with the light-hearted which entertained the audiences and provided plenty in the way of laughs and fun. There were some tremendous performances form all the actors in the three plays with crowd glowing in their praise of what they viewed as the drama club continues to enthral and entertain and provide a real niche in the market for people with a talent for acting.
Well done to Gerard Groarke and his production team for putting together three excellent productions with all their hard work and nights of rehearsing and reading and learning lines paying off in spades as the cast and crew lit up some dark dreary November nights with three spectacular performances. The full house signs were up long before the actors took to the stage which underlines the attraction the stage holds for many in the community with some very gifted and uniquely talented people displaying their full range of abilities when the curtain went up. Congratulations to all in the drama club with March 2026 promising more of the same with the group and club already working on their next production which will be a play, the name and details of which will be decided in the coming weeks.
The Gerry Coleman 25 Card Drive will take place in St Mary’s Community Centre, Curry on Friday, November 28, at 8.30pm. Entry fee is €10 per person. Playing pairs. Raffle and refreshments on the night. All proceeds to go the upkeep of defibrillators in the parish.
Music Circle with John and Isabella will be held at Carracastle Community Centre on Monday, December 8, from 7-8.30pm. All are welcome to attend to sing a song, play a musical instrument, recite a poem or simple listen. Free to attend, tea/coffee and refreshments served.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €4800 in the weekly draw held on Monday, November 17, and the following were four numbers drawn on the night; 1, 5, 9 and 26. The following were the winners of the €20 weekly prizes; Catherine McCormack, PJ Connolly and Jean Walsh. The latest jackpot increased to €4900 and the draw was held on Monday, November 24.
Christmas cards are available through messaging their page and can also be sourced through accessing their upcoming website. A percentage of the proceeds made from their cards will be donated to Mayo-Roscommon Hospice which helps to support care in the local community. They thank you for your continuous support and look forward to unveiling their exclusive seasonal designs over the coming weeks.
Senior Line is Ireland’s national telephone service for older people open every day of the year 10am-10pm. Freephone 1800 80 45 91. Callers may feel isolated, alone and may wish to discuss a problem in confidence, or for company during the day. Senior Line’s older volunteers are trained to listen, to support, to discuss options and to refer callers to other helpful services, if necessary. Senior Line 1800 80 45 91 is open every day of the year at the above times.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday night, November 16, as The Duke and The Dynamo fought out another intriguing instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was a model of composure in the referee’s hut and kept both men in tow expertly. The Duke made the better start and surged into a two set lead with some terrific throwing. The Dynamo fought back however in game fashion, winning the next two sets to pave the way for a fifth set decider. The Duke began the fifth set impressively taking the opening leg with a super 136 finish. The Dynamo kept his composure however and hit back to take the next two as he looked to cause something of an upset and claim his third title of the season.
The Duke was having none of it, however, as he stormed back in typical swashbuckling fashion to claim the spoils and the title with some mighty throwing in the third and fourth and fifth legs respectively. He nearly took the roof off the house with his 170 finish in the final leg with his bull finish like a dagger through the heart of his opponent who looked poised for victory as he mulled over double eighteen with three arrows in his quiver. The Duke rose to the occasion however and made the big checkout to shatter the Dynamo’s hopes of victory as he sank to the floor in despair. Another epic ending to a classic contest with the Duke displaying all his swagger to eke out a win that looked nigh impossible. This was his eighth victory of the season and one which sets him up nicely for the lucrative Christmas season which is fast approaching.
