Local Notes: All the latest news from Charlestown
Members of Charlestown Foróige Club are pictured at the Mayo Foróige 3rd Years Prom Ball, held at the Great National Hotel, Ballina. Picture: Trish Forde
Congratulations and best wishes are extended to Jimmy Garvey, Cloonfane, Carracastle who celebrated his seventieth (70th) birthday recently with a party for family and friends in Garvey's Dew Drop Inn, The Square, Charlestown.
There was a good turnout to commemorate the occasion with hosts Willie and Kathy Garvey leaving no stone unturned as they laid on a lavish spread of food and refreshments which went down a treat with the large crowd gathered for the celebrations.
Jimmy is in good shape as he gets ready to embrace all that life throws at him as a septuagenarian.
Behind every good man is a good lady and Jimmy's wife Patricia has to take some of the credit for having her man in such pristine condition as the music, song and dance went on long into the night. There was a cake unveiled to celebrate the occasion with all the guests getting a chance to sample the fine piece of cuisine.
We wish Jimmy continued good health and happiness in the future and many more celebrations of this nature for many years to come.
Bellaghy Community Group is holding its annual Spring Clean on Friday, May 15th, between 6 and 8pm The committee is hoping for a big turnout as they do their bit for the community and do a general clean and tidy-up of the area.
Equipment will be provided and they look forward to seeing you on the day.
There was a good turnout at the weekly Bridge game held in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday, April 29th and the following were the prize winners: 1st, Tony Salmon and Paddy Gallagher; 2nd, Michael and Pat Brennan; 3rd, Maura Kilcoyne and Nora McVeigh 4th, Mary O’Malley and Teresa Ward.
The game takes place every Wednesday night at 8pm in Walsh’s Public House.
The death took place recently at his residence, Shamrock House, Lurga, Charlestown of Francis O'Doherty. His remains were removed from Horkan's Funeral Home, Lowpark, Charlestown to St James' Church, Charlestown for Requiem Mass and burial took place in the Cemetery of the Resurrection, Charlestown.
Francis is survived by his wife Sheila, daughters Caroline, Claire and Sinead, brothers Padraic and Tom, sons-in law, grandsons, mother-in law, sisters-in law, brothers-in law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
The late Francis was a well known and popular member of the community of Tavneena and beyond and had forged many strong and fine friendships in the area. He was a devoted family man who enjoyed regular and frequent interaction with them.
He was a hard-working man who knew the value of a good day's work for a good day's pay and this work ethic stayed with him right throughout his life. His loss to his family is incalculable but they will cherish and hold dear the many outstanding memories he created and enjoyed with them over many years.
We tender our deepest sympathies to the bereaved.
Well done to the Charlestown Sarsfields Under-12 girls team who recorded a big victory over Moy Davitts in the Mayo Under-12 League played recently.
The Sarsfields starlets amassed a whopping 4-5 in reply to Moy Davitts 0-5 with goals being the key currency by which the victory was achieved. The Sarsfields had plenty of sharp shooters in their ranks with the attack enjoying a fruitful day in front of goal as they took all the chances that came their way and ran out comfortable winners at the final whistle.
Charlestown Sarsfields began their Junior A Championship campaign with a home tie against Westport in round one of the group stages but sadly defeat was their lot as they were outgunned by a well drilled and slick Westport side who took home the bacon so to speak as they romped to a convincing 4-12 to 0-10 victory.
The Sarsfields were on the backfoot pretty much from the throw-in as the visitors turned up the heat and had 2-4 on the board in the opening 15 minutes with the Sarsfields raising one solitary white flag in reply.
The Sarsfields did manage to steady the ship somewhat by half-time as they leaked no further goals but they still trailed by eight with Westport sitting pretty on a 2-6 to 0-4 lead.
The Sarsfields shuffled the deck somewhat at the start of the second half but they had a proverbial mountain to climb and truth to tell never looked like scaling it as Westport held all the aces in terms of attacking personnel with their pace, movement and overall slickness of their play causing all kinds of problems for the Sarsfields as they continued to pile the pressure on the scoreboard.
The Sarsfields did enjoy the occasional foray into the Westport half and Niall Fleming kicked a couple of fine scores as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
Westport were in no mood to offer up any gifts however and added another 2-6 to their first half tally as they went about their business in very authoritative fashion and looked every inch a quality team and one that will take some stopping on the evidence of this showing.
The Sarsfields did their best in trying circumstances and kept trucking to the final whistle but the gulf in class was there for all to see as Westport had much greater depth and numbers available to them in terms of panel and team selection.
Those that kept the home fires burning included Niall Fleming, Tadhg Horkan, Paddy Joe Dunleavy, Enda McLoughlin, Eoin Murphy and Eoin Flannery.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA Lotto Jackpot of €3,600 in the weekly draw held on Monday night, May 4th.
The numbers drawn were 2, 18, 19 and 27, and the winners of the three €20 prizes were Liz Haran, Maura Curcan and Cathy McCarrick.
Next week's jackpot will rise to €3,700 and the draw will be held on Monday night, May 11th. Tickets on sale in a number of outlets in the community, price €2 and the draw can also be played online via the club's Facebook page.
Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club will hold a scrap metal collection on May 16th, 23rd and 30th from 10am to 5pm beside Applegreen, Foxford with all proceeds going towards the new building, which is near completion.
Carracastle 11th Mayo Scouts meet every Monday evening in Carracastle Community Centre - Beavers (6-8years) from 6 to 7pm and Cubs (9--11 years) from 7 to 8.15pm. If anyone is interested in volunteering to be a scout leader, if their child is interested in joining or would like more information, please call 085-2133013 or email mayoscoutscarracastle@gmail.com.
Mass in Bushfield Cemetery will be held on Friday, July 24th, at 7.30pm.
New and returning members are welcome to join the Parish Choir. No prior experience required. Practice takes place every Thursday at 7pm in the parish church. For more information, contact Carmel on 086-3271196.
Mayo-Roscommon Hospice would appreciate your kind assistance in helping them to raise funds on National Sunflower Days for Hospice on Friday and Saturday, June 12th and 13th.
Any time you can give on any of those dates would be much apppreciated. Contact 094-9388666 or email info@hospice.ie.
Charlestown Sarsfields Under-16 team suffered defeat at the hands of Kilmeena in the latest round of fixtures played in Division 3 of the Mayo under-16 league played at the Kilmeena GAA grounds recently.
The Sarsfields lost out on a 2-15 to 0-9 score line and were no match for a home side who played with a real swagger throughout. The Sarsfields tried hard to get something going in the second half but found the hosts in an uncompromising mood as they kept the Sarsfields' efforts at bay rather comfortably it must be said and ran out convincing winners with the Sarsfields left to pick over the bones of another tough defeat to swallow.
The death took place recently of Brian Banks, Drimbane, Curry, Co. Sligo and formerly of Erdington, Birmingham, England.
We tender our deepest sympathies to the bereaved.
Charlestown Athletic FC suffered a 3-1 defeat to Kilmore in Round 2 of the Premier Cup played at Bellaghy Park recently.
Charlestown Athletic's form rather dipped from previous weeks and they weren't quite at it from the kick-off in contrast to their opponents Kilmore who presented a tough challenge for the home side and one which they couldn't conquer with Mark Lowther getting the consolation goal for Athletic.
They will be hoping for better luck in their next outing against Westport in the quarter-final of the McDonnell Cup.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 Card game held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday night, May 5th, and the following the winners were Joe Mahon and Kevin Maloney.
Game takes place every Tuesday night in the Yeats County Inn at 9pm and all are welcome.
The death took place recently of Gerry Duffy, Rooskey, Doocastle.
Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts held in Walsh's Public House on Sunday night, May 3rd, as Podsie and Boom Boom went head to head in another gripping instalment of the weekly classic.
Governor Gus played a blinder in his role as match referee and ensured law and order prevailed seamlessly.
Boom Boom flew out of the blocks and had two sets on the board before Podsie had time to draw breath as every dart he fired had a real sense of purpose about it as he hit trebles and doubles with wonderful accuracy. His darts were terrific with Podsie hardly getting a look in such was the accuracy he displayed from the off.
Podsie remains a true champion, however, and showed all his class and steel to haul himself off the canvas to set up a one-set shoot-out with all bets off in terms of who might emerge victorious. It wasn't that Boom Boom threw badly in sets three and four, far from it, his levels held up but it was Podsie who raised his which led one to believe that all the momentum was with him at the start of the fifth.
Boom Boom has a deplorable head-to-head record against Podsie in finals and the script had an all too familiar feel to it but Breheny was in no mood to surrender and showed his bottle by taking the opening two legs of the fifth to leave Podsie on the brink of defeat.
The number one seed remains a formidable match player and loves nothing more than a battle as he snatched the third leg with a brilliant 161 check-out with Boom Boom on the brink of victory as he had three darts at double eighteen which is his favourite number. He remained unflappable however and got stuck into the fourth leg and hit some big numbers to win the race to the double.
Podsie was unable to match his scores which left Boom Boom with six darts at 54 as Podsie toiled way back in the high 200s. Breheny came to the ochie with a real focus in his eyes and hit single eighteen with his first dart to leave double eighteen as the crowd held its collective breath. He paused and gathered his composure before releasing the dart, which never deviated from its flight path as it nestled plum in the centre of the eighteen bed, which set off some real emotion in Boom Boom as he finally managed to get one over on his opponent in a final.
The roof nearly lifted off the auditorium as Boom Boom sank to his knees with Podsie once again showing his class and grace as he shared some kind words and a warm embrace with the victor as he toasted his third title of the season. A gripping end to a classic contest between the two rivals and friends with Boom Boom finally getting his just desserts.
The countdown to the sixth annual Colm Horkan Memorial Run is just days away with a large crowd expected to descend on Charlestown for one of the jewels in the crown of the town's social calendar. Entries have been flying in the door on the East Mayo Athletic Club website/Facebook page with huge numbers expected to line up at the starting lines of the three events, namely the 5k, 10k and half marathon options.
The East Mayo Athletic Club have been busy these past few weeks and months putting everything in place and the stage is set for an event that has a magnetism of its own in terms of attraction with Colm Horkan's name continuing to hold great gravitas and burn brightly in the minds and hearts of all who knew him socially and professionally. Hopefully, the weather will be set fair as people from all corners of the county and province get ready to take part and celebrate the memory of a great man. There's still time to sign up with each and every entry very much welcome and appreciated with the proceeds from the event going to a number of different clubs in the community.
Charlestown Sarsfields under-14 team maintained their fine run in the under-14 development league with a resounding victory over Carras in the latest round of fixtures played in the Kilmaine GAA grounds recently.
The Sarsfields were too strong for the home side as they surged to a 6-16 to 2-3 victory.
The Sarsfields started brightly and were 2-3 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes and looked set for a landslide victory.
Things didn’t materialise however as they hit a fallow period from there to half-time as Carras battled back and started to make some inroads on the scoreboard and had the deficit reduced to a much more manageable 2-5 to 1-3 at the interval which was due reward for their spirit and perseverance as they battled back in commendable fashion.
The home side got the start they craved for at the beginning of the second half as they scored a fine team goal to reduce their arrears to two points with the Sarsfields minds still very much in the dressing room. The Sarsfields needed to respond and they duly did with a two-goal burst from Luke McDermott wrestling back control of the contest as the visitors started to fire again as they regained their poise.
There came a flurry of scores thereafter with Senan Tiernan, Ted Munnelly, McDermott and and Ted Munnelly all on the mark as the Sarsfields took the game away from their opponents with some tidy finishing.
The Sarsfields closed it out with a few more green and white flags as the Carras challenge had long since been quenched with the final score, while reflecting somewhat harshly on their efforts, was probably a fair reflection on how things panned out in the second half.
The Sarsfields had good performances from several players with the likes of Rian O’Grady, Callum Kenny, Conor Davern, Ted Munnelly, Rhys Hopper, Senan Tiernan, Luke McDermott, Conor Breheny, Joe Irwin, Frank Muldoon and Mick Bombser all contributing handsomely to a good team performance.
Sympathy is extended to Valerie Cunnane, Brackloon, Charlestown on the death of her sister Marian Gildea, Knocks, Killasser, which occurred recently.
The Sarsfields host Belmullet in Division 2 of the Mayo Minor League in Fr O’Hara Park on Tuesday (this evening), May 12th, with the throw-in confirmed for 7pm.
The Sarsfields host Moy Davitts in the under-12 spring league in O’Hara Park on Wednesday, May 13th, with the throw-in confirmed for 7pm.
The Sarsfields host Ballaghdereen/Kilmovee in Division 3 of the Mayo Under-16 League in O’Hara Park on Thursday, May 14th with the throw-in timed for 7pm.
The Sarsfields travel to Ballindine to take on Davitts in Round 4 of Division 2 of the Mayo Senior League on Saturday, May 16th, with the throw-in confirmed for 7pm
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €21,800 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, May 3rd.
The numbers drawn were 2, 16, 21 and 32. The winners of the three €50 prizes were Andrew Marren (lucky dip), Jackie Doherty (lucky dip) and Chris Burke (annual ticket ).
Next week's draw will be held on May 17th and tickets are on sale in a number of outlets in the community, price €2 or three for €5.
The draw can also be played online via the club’s Facebook page. The club would like to thank everybody who supported their weekly draw.
National Epilepsy Week 2026 takes place from May 18th to 25th (inclusive).
For further information, visit www.epilepsy.ie.
Lough Derg 2026 commences with a series of one-day retreats in May on selected dates.
The annual three-day pilgrimage season commences on Friday, May 29th until Saturday, August 15th. More details on the church noticeboard.
