Local Notes: Winnie Harrison celebrates her 90th birthday in St Attracta's Nursing Home, Charlestown.
Winnie Harrison, Bushfield, Charlestown, who celebrated her 90th birthday in Saint Attracta's Nursing Home on March 28, surrounded by her daughters. Mary, Kate, Imelda, Ena and her granddaughter Aishling Brennan. Winnie has read the Western People every week for the last 50 years.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €11,100 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, April 14, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 1, 21, 24 and 25. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Etain Clarke and the staff at Colleran’s Pharmacy. The latest jackpot increased to €11,200 and the draw was held on Sunday night, April 21.
Classes take place at 12 noon in the Charlestown Arts Centre, Barrack Street on Friday, April 26 and Friday, May 10. The cost per class is €4 and all are welcome.
Congratulations and best wishes to Charlestown Sarsfields legend David Tiernan, Lurga, Charlestown, who celebrated his fiftieth (50th) birthday recently. The word legend is often bandied about somewhat loosely but David or Ginger as he’s affectionately known is a bona fide one as he enjoyed a decorated career in the green and white of the Sarsfields and was pivotal in the rise to the top of the club football in Mayo in the golden decade that was between the years 2001 and 2010 respectively. He skippered the Sarsfields to their iconic 2001 County and Connacht club championship successes and was quite the inspirational leader as he turned in some brilliant performances in the middle of the park and drove the team forward with relentless energy and determination. He was a leader in the true sense of the word who supplied passion and desire every time he pulled that green jersey over his head and these are qualities that have served him well on an off the field with ambition and a willingness to get the best out of himself at all times seeing him forge a great career for himself in an Garda Sioichana where he has reached the rank of Inspector.
David represented Mayo at all levels, winning a Connacht U21 championship medal in 1995 and played league and championship with the senior team in 2002 and 2003 with man of the match performance against Roscommon in the qualifiers in 2002 one of many excellent performances he turned in for the red and green during his time on the panel.
The competitive animal still burns brightly in him as he switched his attentions to long distance running following his retirement from football. He has completed a number of marathons and set some astounding times in the process as he continues to pound the roads with the same manic tenacity and obstinacy that so characterised some of his greatest days in the green and white. His body fat is off the charts with not a spare gram of flesh to be found on the waist line as he continues to defy father time and still looks like he could put in a shift in the middle of the field with his fitness levels rivalling any high achieving, elite athlete. He remains a big presence in and around the club and community as he imparts many nuggets of advice and words of wisdom to the next generation of Sarsfields players who would do well to heed all that he says as he made the best of his talents and won pretty much every medal in the game with an All-Ireland club medal the only one to elude his much coveted collection.
Behind every good man is a good lady and his wife Caroline must take a lot of credit for having her man in tip top shape as he gets ready to embrace all that life will throw at him as a quinquagenarian. The thatch has long since disappeared but the physical features remain in prime condition and there isn’t a better beating heart in such terrific shape anywhere in the community as Ginger continues to push the boundaries and set new targets for himself in the tough demanding pursuit that is long distance running. I’m sure Caroline and the family had a cake at the ready to commemorate the event but I bet it was a sugar free one as the calorie count and healthy eating remain key planks in his dietary intake. The candles stood no chance when Ginger put those lungs to work as the flame was quenched in milliseconds. I’m not sure if I qualify for a slice or not on the back of this mention as it could well end up with a summons but I’ll be lying low until the heat is off save to say here’s wishing Ginger every good wish for the future, health and happiness and many more years of good policing and fast running!!
Sarsfields Shamrocks were defeated by Knockmore in round 4 of division 2 of the county minor league with the North Mayo lads prevailing on a score line of 2-10 to 1-9 in a well contested encounter played at the Kilmovee GAA grounds recently. The Sarsfields Shamrocks combination have been very competitive in each and every one of their four games but the results just haven`t gone their way with one win from four not an accurate reflection of their overall performance level. They are in a tough division stacked with quality teams and things don’t get any easier with Davitts next up on the roster.
Hatha Yoga takes place on Tuesday nights at Carracastle Community Centre from 7.30pm-8.30pm (classes may run over a few minutes). Remember the five for €50 deal is valid for eight weeks starting from the first class. This means you can skip a few weeks within that time frame, if you need to. Alternatively you can just drop-in for €12 per class.
Charlestown Sarsfields U14 team recorded a whopping 5-9 to 0-6 victory over Ardnaree in the latest round of fixtures in division 7 of the county U14 development league played at Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown. The Sarsfields had too much firepower for their North Mayo visitors with goals from Cian Haran, Jack Burke, Tom Naughton, and Cillian O’Grady with a brace paved the way for a comfortable victory for the green and white.
There was another exciting contest in the Honour of the Village competition held in Walsh’s Bar last week when Sonnagh and Curry (2) beat Sonnagh in a cracking contest with the game going all the way to the wire before Curry prevailed to clinch their semi-final spot in terrific fashion. Sonnagh fielded a very experimental line-up with Gareth O’Donnell doing his best Luke Littler impression as he galvanised his Sonnagh squad and led from the front with some inspirational throwing. Curry were not to be denied however as they withstood everything Sonnagh threw at them and kept their nerve in admirable fashion with Seamus Murphy leading his Curry troops over the line with vital in the key singles match. Curry have been motoring nicely in the competition and are the real dark horses left in the draw as the competition reaches the final four. The crowds have been flocking to Walsh’s to witness some classic contests and this is going to swell further in the weeks ahead as the Village nears its conclusion. More results and draw news next week as the pressure and drama cranks up another notch.
RHS Home Care is a non-commercial home care provider bringing professional home care services to those who need assistance to remain living in their own homes. RHS Home Care are now recruiting new healthcare assistants in the area and would love to hear from you. Potential applicants must have the required QQI Level 5 (two modules completed care skills and care of the older person). Email your CV to jobs@rhshomecare.ie or call Aoife on 090 662 5988.
Classes are held at Carrcastle Community Centre every Wednesday morning at 11am, involving chair-based exercises and using light weights. For more information and to book your place, contact Sarah at 086 3879635.
Keep Fit classes are held at Carracastle Community Centre every Friday evening at 7.30pm, focusing on cardio, stamina, core work, fitness, self-confidence and self-defence. For more information and to book your place, contact Sarah at 087 6014197.
Salsa classes continue in the Town Hall Arts Centre on Wednesday evenings at 7pm and all are welcome.
Catholic Marriage Care is seeking facilitators to volunteer to train as presenters for Marriage Preparation courses. If you feel you would like to help contact Aisling at the Accord Centre, Maynooth, Co. Kildare on 01 5053112 or email marraigecourses@accord.ie.
Bingo takes place every Tuesday night at 8pm. Play in the hall and online. The jackpot game for €2000 is on 41 calls or less. Game 5 is for €1000 on 40 calls or less. There is a total prize-fund of €10,500 on offer with lots of surprises and additional ways to win in the hall. There is a new Game 11 with a separate Super Snowball Jackpot only in the hall and a new €500 ‘Lucky Date’ prize.
Charlestown, Bellaghy and Districts Development Association are holding their next Community Coffee Morning on Friday, May 3, in the Town Hall Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown, from 11am-1pm. There is a lift access available. All welcome for a cuppa and a chat.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Wednesday, April 10, and the following were the prize winners;1st James Mooney and Mary O’Connell, 2nd Charles and Mae Quinn, 3rd Hilary McDonagh and Tom Ginty, 4th Mary Lynskey and Tom Dunne, 5th Kathleen Lennon and Jack Pidgeon, 6th Michael and Patricia Brennan, 7th Ruth Connor and Noelle Spellman, 8th Elsie Jackson and Hilary McCrohan, 9th Frances and Robert Healy, 10th Nora McVeigh and Maura Kilcoyne. The weekly game continues on Wednesday evenings at 8pm in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, and all are welcome.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 Card Drive held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry, on Tuesday, April 9, and the following were the prizewinners; 1st Mary O`Hara and Colm Gallagher, 2nd Miko Sheridan and Vera Scally. Raffle winners were Joe Mahon, Miko Sheridan and Kevin Maloney.
The game takes place every Tuesday night at 8.30pm in the Yeats County Inn, Curry, and all are welcome with new members are especially welcome.
Well done to the Charlestown Sarsfields U16 team who squeaked out a narrow 3-7 to 2-9 victory over Mayo Gaels in the latest round of fixtures in division 2 of the county U16 league played at the Mayo Gaels GAA grounds recently. The Sarsfields had to dig deep and survive a late Gaels rally to cling onto the victory as they continue to improve and pick up points having drawn with Ballaghaderreen in their last outing in the division. The team has a sprinkling of nice talent available to it and they will be looking to back up this victory in their next outing at home to Ardnaree with another win putting them in with a decent shout of making the play-offs.
Sarsfields Shamrocks host Davitts in round 6 of division 2 of the county minor league in Fr O’Hara Park on Tuesday (this evening), April 23, with the throw-in confirmed for 7pm.
Charlestown Sarsfields U16 team travel to Brickens to take on St Jarlath’s on Thursday next, April 25, in the county U16 league with the throw-in timed for 7pm.
The Sarsfields open their 2024 Division 1 A senior league campaign on Saturday, April 27, with a home game in Fr O’Hara Park against the hardy men from Davitts with the throw-in timed for 7pm. The Sarsfields find themselves pitted in a tough and ultra competitive division with little or no margin for error so victory is imperative with the South Mayo men sure to make life difficult as they too will be keen to launch their return to the top division with win. There will be plenty riding on this encounter as the Sarsfields look to back up a promising pre-season period by bagging the vital two points on offer.
The 4th Annual Colm Horkan Memorial Run takes place on Sunday, May 19, with plans already at an advanced stage for a run that continues to capture the imagination like no other within and outside the community. This year’s renewal promises to be the best yet with the Sarsfields GAA Club and East Mayo Athletic Club working in tandem to bring everything to fruition. Both clubs have done a terrific job advertising the run through their social media and digital pages with people flocking to sign up from all corners of the globe with the virtual option making great appeal to the diaspora as it allows people who can`t take part in the physical race to post their time from their various locations all over the world. This year’s run has three options available to all competitors with the 5km, 10km and half-marathon all on the menu so to speak with the entries for each event attracting a wide range of athletes and casual runners and joggers from all walks of life. This is the beauty of the run with a high percentage of walkers and families also signing up to take part hence it promises to be a great day for the organisers, clubs and community of Charlestown as a whole as the man the event continues to moves minds and hearts like no other.
This year’s main sponsor is Brian Forkan Construction who were only too glad to come on board and offer their support which was greatly received and appreciated by the hard working and visionary committee. Honourable mention to local businesses Delaney’s Mace and Supermac’s who are also key players in the overall race sponsorship which the committee are delighted to acknowledge and recognize. Entry to the event is now open where you can register to take part either physically or virtually by visiting popupraces.ie/race/colm-horkan-memorial-run-2024/ or by logging on to the East Mayo Athletics Club and Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club Facebook pages where you can follow the link. Entrants who sign up to take part will receive a custom designed t-shirt made from 100% recycled materials. Custom designed ¼ zip tops are also available for purchase and these are flying out the door as I speak such is the demand and interest. Family 5km entries are also available. The event is worthy of your support with all proceeds going towards the completion of the various stages of the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch and Walkway and East Mayo AC track development. More news in the coming weeks but for now hit that button and sign up and join the hundreds more who will make their way to the town to take part in an event of an outstanding man whose memory continues to burn brightly in the hearts and minds of so many who knew and admired him.
Mayo Cancer Support offer a range of emotional supports to people with cancer and their families. For more information call 094 9038407.
Age Friendly Mayo is delivered by Mayo County Council and works to improve the services that older people have identified as being important to them, and the wider community, as they live healthy and active lives. The projects they offer, in conjunction with other organisations include; outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, respect and social inclusion, social participation, communication and education, civic participation and employment and health and wellbeing.
The key contributors to this programme are the Age Friendly Alliance and Mayo Older Peoples Council. The Age Friendly Alliance brings together older people, service providers and businesses to change thinking about aging and how services to our older people are planned and delivered.
If you would like to find out more about this programme email agefriendlymayo@mayococo.ie.
Life after bereavement can feel very lonely. Trained facilitators conduct a weekly ‘Bereavement Support Meeting’ at the Family Centre, Knock Shrine, each Wednesday at 11am.There is also a special meeting for bereaved partners /spouses on the first Thursday of each month at 11am. No appointment needed. Further information from Monica Morley at 094 9375320.
On Friday, April 12 last St Attracta’s Residence, Hagfield, Charlestown, proudly opened its latest addition - a sensory room. The occasion was marked with afternoon tea with some special friends of the nursing home and a number of residents. The room, which is called the Coco Sensory Room is in the Sunflower Suite and provides a calm and quiet space with specific soothing equipment to help residents relax and feel comfortable and safe. It is especially useful if someone is feeling overwhelmed or anxious. The sensory room is adjacent to the recently refurbished Sunflower Suite lounge areas and they hope it will provide many peaceful hours of sensory relaxation for the residents.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €3,100 in the weekly draw held on Monday night, April 15, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 18, 19, 22 and 24. The following were the winners of the €20 prizes; Nada Duffy, Helen Keavney and Colm Connolly.
The latest jackpot increased to €3,200 and the draw took place on Monday night April 22. Tickets can be bought in a number of outlets or via the online platform and also by logging onto the club’s Facebook and twitter pages.
Grow is a mental health support program based on lived experience. This mean Grow groups are a meeting of peers, who are striving to develop and maintain good mental health. If you would like to know more, call your local Grow office on 1800 558 268. You can also register for ‘Welcome to Grow’, the online orientation session. This will give an introduction to how meetings work and an opportunity to ask questions. You can also search for a group close by to you by using Find a Group and just turning up. No registrations are needed.
Senior Line is Ireland’s national telephone service for older people open every day of the year from 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.
The death took place in Bradford, England, recently of Peter Halligan, formerly of Barnalyra, Charlestown. Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
Congratulations and best wishes are extended to Deirdre O’Neill, Barnalyra, Charlestown, on her recent marriage to Fergal McDonagh Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo which took place at Bushfield Church recently. Deirdre and Fergal are wished every good wish for the future, health and happiness and many years of wedded bliss.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday night, April 14, as The Pillock and The Duke locked horns in a spicy instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was put to the pin of his collar to exert control as both men got a little tetchy and cranky at times but the Gus just about kept them in check as the ochie resembled an inferno on occasions. It was the Duke who exploded out of the blocks as he surged away with the first two sets with some brilliant scoring and terrific finishing with the Pillock unable to muster any kind of a response to the level being exhibited by his rampant opponent. Things got a bit better for the number four seed in set three and he managed to snatch it from under the nose of the Duke as he plundered double eighteen with his final dart just as the Duke looked poised to close it out in three. That was as good as it got for the Pillock however as the Duke, stung by his third set reverse, bounced right back in the fourth as he reeled off three straight legs to wrap up the match and take the bragging rights with both men sharing something of a frosty handshake at the end. Things thawed out after a while as tempers settled down with the Duke keen to milk his third victory of the season as he celebrated in typical swashbuckling style with his large army of supporters. This was the Pillock’s third straight defeat in finals since the turn of the year as he continues to hit the crossbar in terms of converting the huge chunk of chances that keep coming his way as his doubles continue to let him down.
