Local Notes: Ballinrobe's 2000 heroes honoured at Mayo IFC final.
Ballinrobe’s 2000 Heroes are honoured at the Mayo IFC final at McHale Park, Castlebar, on Sunday, October 19.
Ballinrobe GAA Club enjoyed a wonderful weekend of celebration as the club’s 2000 Mayo Intermediate Football Championship-winning team was honoured at Sunday’s Mayo IFC Final in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar. The 25th anniversary celebrations began on Saturday night, October 18, when players, management and club officers gathered for dinner in Flannery’s Bistro. It proved to be a marvellous reunion - full of laughter, stories, and friendship - as the group looked back on one of the great eras in the club’s history.
On Sunday, the focus turned to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, where the 2000 team was introduced to the crowd at half-time in the Kilmeena versus Moy Davitts intermediate final. It was a proud and emotional moment for everyone involved.
Ballinrobe has claimed three Mayo Intermediate titles in 1979, 2000, and 2002 and many of the 2000 panel also featured again two years later.
Ballinrobe GAA Club has expressed sincere thanks to the Mayo County Board for honouring the team, particularly Fran Downey, the board’s Health and Wellness Officer, who was a highly efficient and thoughtful coordinator.
The late Aidan Golden, right half forward on the 2000 team, was represented in MacHale Park by his nephews Jamie and Billy Donnellan, players with Ballinrobe GAA Club.
“The value of these jubilee reunions cannot be overstated. They rekindle friendships, reconnect people with their club and county and remind us all of the joy of being involved in the GAA. Most of all, they celebrate the spirit of the players whose bond still shines through a quarter of a century later,” said Ballinrobe GAA Club chairperson, John Sweeney.
“We’ll do it all over again in 2027 when we’ll be honoured as the Jubilee Team for our 2002 Intermediate Championship win. We are looking forward to that reunion already.” A huge word of thanks goes to Flannery’s Bistro for their excellent food and warm hospitality.
The full 2000 panel was as follows: Paul Tiernan; Colm Jennings, Paul Finnerty, Donal Costello; Ruairi Keane, Fergal Costello, Harry Murphy; Sean Grimes, Fergal O’Loughlin; Aidan Golden (RIP), Tony Walkin (captain), Adrian Flannery; Keith McTigue, Maurice Horan, Micheal Keane; Sean McCaughey, Colm Killeen, Jim Staunton, Liam Butler, Declan Costello, Kieran Sheridan, Tom Sweeney, Pat Kennedy, Anthony O’Toole, Peter Walkin, Alan Flannery, Pat Malone, Vincent Cummins.
Management: Peter Ford (Manager), Martin Walsh, Billy Burke, Sean Fahy, Dick Langan (selectors). Club Officers 2000: Martin Murphy (chairperson), Katherine Butler (now O’Loughlin, secretary), Seamus Macken (treasurer).
Pictures from the weekend celebrations, along with cuttings and other memorabilia from 2000, are available here: https://www.ballinrobegaaclub.com/2020-jubileeteam-2025/.
Mayo Mental Health Association extends sincere thanks to all who contributed to and assisted with the recent church gate collection in Ballinrobe. A total of €762.29 was raised locally, contributing to a countywide sum of €25,370.65. The funds will be used to support Schools Education Programmes and a wide range of mental health promotion initiatives across Mayo. The association greatly appreciates the generosity and community spirit shown in helping to promote positive mental health and wellbeing throughout the county.
Congratulations to Mary Feeney who was the winner of €80 in last week’s 50/50 draw conducted by the Tacú Family Resource Centre.
A special Halloween bingo will take place in the Parish Centre, on Tuesday, October 28, at 8.30pm.
There was no winner of the €10,200 lotto jackpot draw which was held on Monday, October 20. The numbers drawn were 1, 11, 26 and 32. The match three winner (€100) was Colette Macken.
Well done to Ballinrobe Town U12 players Emily Ryan, Saoirse Gill and Connie Feighery on being selected for the Mayo U12 girls inter-league squad. The club wish the Mayo management and players the very best of luck for the season ahead.
The Ballinrobe Town U12 girls team suffered a 3-1 defeat against Claremorris in the U12 girls’ cup final, which was played on Sunday, October 12, in United Park, Westport.
There was no separating the sides during regulation time and extra-time was required to determine a winner, with Claremorris snatching the lead towards the end of the second half of extra-time. Ballinrobe tried their level best to get back into the game, however, some excellent counter-attacking football by Claremorris saw the green and white add two further goals, with Emily Ryan netting a goal for Ballinrobe. Overall, the Ballinrobe U12 girls’ team have had a memorable season by winning the league and were undefeated until the cup final.
The recent end of season mixed scramble results held at Ballinrobe Golf Club are as follows: 1st Michael McManamon, Marek Doubravsky, Jim Sheridan, Gabrielle Clesham (43.4), 2nd Chris Loftus, David Slattery, John Gibbons, Margaret McHugh (43.8), 3rd Alan Tuffy, John Lavelle, Tom Conlisk, Blanaid Dempsey (43.9), 4th Daniel Merrigan, Tommy Fahy, David Fahy, and Ita Cawley (44.1).
The results of a competition held on October 16 are as follows: 1st nett Marie Flanagan and Patrica Hennigan; 1st gross William Enright and Angela Murphy; 2nd Kathleen and Phil Walsh; 3rd Maureen Donnelly and Mary O’ Reilly; 4th Vera Bray and Kitty Farrell; 5th Emer Canny and Irene Walkin; 6th Ita Langan and Carmel Costello.
Ballinrobe Musical Society will be holding auditions for principal characters for their production of Michael Collins - A Musical Drama, in the Ballinrobe Parish Centre on Sunday, November 30. The show will feature many characters based on real historical figures, including Collins himself, Éamon de Valera, Kitty Kiernan and Harry Boland.
Described as 'The Irish Lés Misérables', Michael Collins - A Musical Drama charts Michael Collins' life from the 1916 Rising through to the Irish Civil War.
The score, written by the late Bryan Flynn, features a number of rousing numbers, including 'Every Heart Awaken' and 'Fly The Flag of Freedom'.
Auditions can be booked by emailing ballinrobemusicsociety@gmail.com or through the booking link available on the society's social media pages. Ballinrobe Musical Society will stage Michael Collins - A Musical Drama from Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, to Saturday, April 11, in Ballinrobe Community School.
There was no winner of the €22,600 lotto jackpot draw which was held on Monday, October 20. The numbers drawn were 1, 13, 32 and 36. The €20 winners were Eoin Nagle, Nora Treacy, and P. J. Heffernan.
There was no winner of the €30,000 lotto jackpot draw which was held on Monday, October 20. The numbers drawn were 8, 9, 16 and 18. The €25 winners were Cathy McEvaddy, Trina Connolly, Laura Kelly, and Maire Loughlin.
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The numbers drawn for the lotto which was held on Tuesday, October 21, were 4, 10, 11, and 19. There was no jackpot winner. The €30 consolation prize winners were Ruth Devlin, Rathnacreeva (online ticket), Padraic Burke, Carrowhall (annual ticket), Mary Flanagan, Gortaphuill (online ticket), Peter and Martina McGing, Acres (online ticket). The jackpot for the draw to be held today, Tuesday, October 28 is €16,200.
Nuala Heneghan and Bernie Reilly thank most sincerely everyone who supported their Hospice Coffee Morning, on Sunday, October 12, at Ballyglass Community Centre when €2,500.05 was raised on the day.
Facefield Halloween Concert will take place in Facefield NS on Monday, October 27, with music by Macvey and Ann Jordan and friends and special guest Gerry Carney. The show starting at 8pm and entry fee €5, will be in aid of Facefield First Responders and Community Group. There will be a raffle on the night.
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The next Islandeady Community Council new community centre fundraiser was launched called “Win 26K for 2026” with a cash prize of €26,000 on offer. Tickets are €20 each / €50 for 3 / €100 for 7 and will be sold online on www.win26k.ie, at numerous shops until February 14, 2026 or from any member of the community council.
The community council representatives have been working very hard over the past few years firstly, to secure a suitable site for the new community facilities building, which has been fully paid for and planning permission obtained. Several other fundraisers have taken place to date, and this major fundraiser is needed to obtain match funding for a grant application. Ticket sales have been going very well so far, and members value the support given by the community and the public.
Islandeady Community Centre is available on Thursday nights for any club/group meetings. To book, contact Liam on 087 1361 895. Club fees are due soon to be paid towards the ongoing running costs of the centre, and a member of the management group will be in touch with clubs in the coming weeks.
The Walks Group members continue to meet every Monday and Saturday mornings at 10am and walk the’ Likeen Rd’ or the ‘Cemetery Rd’. All are welcome to come along.
