Local notes: Charity draw offers car, GAA club raising funds
Danny, Conor and Shane Gilmartin with the Dolores and Colm Horkan Memorial Cup after Kiltimagh's win against Aghamore in the East Mayo U16 'B' football championship final at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence. Picture: Michael Donnelly
The Federation for Victim Assistance has announced a significant rise in demand for its services, with over 900 calls to its helpline received so far this year, marking a marked increase since this time last year. The charity, which is staffed entirely by fully trained volunteers, provides crucial emotional and practical support to victims of crime and traumatic incidents, including their family members.
The helpline, reachable at 1800 277 477, is the frontline for those seeking help. In addition to direct calls, the Federation receives referrals from Garda Victims Offices nationwide, HSE social workers, emails, and in-person visits at its Aiden Street office in Kiltimagh.
Most calls concern domestic abuse and coercive control, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by many in private settings. Other common reasons for contact include scams – often involving victims being lured into false romances or false security before having bank details and codes extracted. The Federation also supports victims of elder abuse and theft, neighbour disputes over land or property, and burglary.
The service’s reach even crosses borders, with police forces in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland contacting the Federation for assistance with Irish victims within their jurisdictions.
The Federation also plays a vital role in facilitating the reporting of hate crimes. Designated by An Garda Síochána as a Third Party Referral Centre, the Kiltimagh office enables victims to make initial reports confidentially and comfortably, especially for those who may be reluctant to visit a Garda station due to fear or mistrust.
This initiative, coordinated with the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau and the Garda National Diversity Unit, aims to reduce under-reporting of hate crime incidents. Victims complete the relevant forms at the Federation office, which are then forwarded directly to the Garda National Diversity Unit. Following this, victims receive direct contact from Gardaí to discuss their cases further.
To continue providing and expanding these vital services, the Federation is running a major fundraiser for 2025 – a draw to win a brand-new Nissan Qashqai Hybrid. The car, a 2025 facelifted 1.3lt SV Mild Hybrid model, delivers 140 brake horsepower from an efficient petrol engine.
Tickets for the draw are priced at €20 each or three for €50 and are available to purchase at the Federation’s Aiden Street office in Kiltimagh, by phone at 1800 277 477, or online via www.victimassistance.ie. The draw will take place on Saturday, 20 December 2025, at the Cill Aodain Court Hotel.
Your support represents a valuable asset that will help the charity reach more victims through increased visibility and operational capacity.
The Federation encourages people to help raise funds in their local communities. Suggested activities include hosting coffee mornings or Boston Tea Parties, as well as organising collections of refundable household bottles and cans throughout August and September. Local publicans have also been generous in donating proceeds from recycled cans and bottles collected over the festival weekend. Businesses large and small are invited to contribute, including corporate donations towards the cost of the car.
Volunteers willing to lend a few hours can contact Mary at 1800 277 477 or visit the office on Aiden Street any afternoon between 2 and 5pm to get involved.
Recently, the Federation expressed deep gratitude to Mick and Eilish of The Folk Café and all who supported their ‘Ceilí in the Café’ fundraiser, which raised €500.73 for the charity.
The Federation appreciates the ongoing support from the Race2Glory Committee and Kiltimagh Tourism, who allowed the charity to host an Awareness Stand and sell tickets for the Nissan Qashqai fundraiser during festival events.
A unique evening of music and spoken word will take place at The Folk Café in Kiltimagh on Thursday, August 14 at 8pm, as celebrated poet Terry McDonagh and accomplished musician Emer Mayock join forces for RECITE, a performance event blending original poetry, traditional music and storytelling. The collaboration is part of an evolving project that explores the intersection of rhythm, language and sound – and how they come alive in performance.
The event promises to be both intimate and immersive, bringing together two of Mayo’s most respected artists in a setting well suited to the occasion.
Terry McDonagh, originally from Kiltimagh, is a poet and dramatist whose career has taken him across Europe and beyond. Although he has lived and worked in Germany, Australia and the UK, his poetry is heavily influenced by the Mayo landscape and sensibility.
“Place, memory, language — that’s what I write from,” he told the . “It’s always been about trying to capture a kind of rhythm that’s as old as storytelling itself.”
For Terry, poetry has always been closer to music than it is to silent introspection. “When we talk about writing, especially poetry, we’re talking about sound. We’re talking about rhythm and the movement of words. I talk to myself when I write because I want to hear the music in the language,” he said. “Words are music. Traditionally, the poet or writer was called the singer. That’s something we’ve maybe forgotten a bit.”
In RECITE, Terry will read from a range of his published work, weaving reflections and stories into the performance. His words will be interlaced with live musical improvisations and arrangements by Emer Mayock, whose reputation as a composer and traditional musician continues to grow on both the national and international stage.
Emer is known for her mastery of the uilleann pipes, flute and whistle. Her style is marked by clarity and emotion, and her interest in collaboration has led to projects across a range of genres and disciplines.
“Emer has a brilliant sense for feeling her way into the words. It’s not just accompaniment, it’s interaction,” Terry said. “We’re responding to each other in the moment. When we perform, it’s like a kind of dance. Not the formal kind, more like a tango – full of rhythm and feeling.”
And while he’s well-travelled, the poet says there’s something uniquely special about returning to perform in Kiltimagh. “I always enjoy coming back. There’s a feeling in the air, in the place. It shapes how I write and what I write. And to be able to bring this kind of work back here, to share it in this way means a lot.”
RECITE takes place at The Folk Café, Kiltimagh on Thursday, August 14 at 8.00pm. Tickets are €10 and can be booked by contacting 085-1058597 or thefolkcafe@gmail.com.
It was a competitive night at the weekly 25 Card Drive, with top honours shared between two well-matched pairs. Flor Higgins and Colette Lavelle finished level with Jack Pidgeon and Philip Moore to jointly claim first place after a series of close games.
Third place went to Mary and Liam Moran, who also enjoyed a strong showing at the table.
The ‘Last 10’ prize was shared between Seamus Larkin and Tom Begley, and the pairing of Manus Kilcoyne and Chris Flatley. Denis Regan and Aidan McDonagh claimed the spot prize on the night, while the raffle winners were Michael Costello, James Walsh, Geraldine Turbitt and Colette Lavelle.
Martin Regan took top honours in Round 8 of the Summer Poker League, held at Teach O’Hora on Wednesday night last. Regan secured first prize ahead of Michael Higgins, who finished second, while Kieran McGee claimed third and Derry O’Sullivan took fourth place.
The remaining finalists were Isaac Boyle in fifth, Pat Boyle in sixth, Gerry Groarke in seventh, Enda Ruane in eighth, and AN Other 1 in ninth.
At the top of the league standings, AN Other 1 leads the way with 154 points, followed by John Reynolds on 136 and Michael Higgins on 127. The rest of the top twelve is completed by Pat Boyle (119), Gerry Groarke (119), Enda Ruane (107), Michael Sheridan (107), Kieran McGee (100), Derry O’Sullivan (96), Keith Lydon (94), Martin Regan (91), and AN Other 2 (90).
The Summer Poker League continues every Wednesday night at 8 pm. in Teach O’Hora, with the series running for fifteen weeks. Entry is €20, with a rebuy or add-on option also available at €20. A portion of each entry and rebuy contributes to the Grand Final prize pool, which is expected to exceed €2,000. The top twelve players in the league, along with two qualifiers, will compete in the Grand Final at the end of the season.
The Road to Killarney satellite series is ongoing in Teach O’Hora, offering players the opportunity to win packages to the Paddy Power Irish Poker Tour Killarney Poker Festival, taking place in the Gleneagles Hotel at the end of September. Each package is valued at €1,270 and includes three nights’ bed and breakfast for two people, as well as entry to the festival’s €700 Main Event, which boasts a guaranteed prize pool of €500,000.
The next mini satellite tournaments will be held on Sundays, August 10 and 17, leading to the Super Satellite in early September.
Kiltimagh GAA Club has launched a trio of fundraising initiatives this summer, aimed at reducing the club’s development debt, strengthening its future, and supporting its day-to-day operations. With the completion of the ambitious redevelopment of Gilmartin Park on the horizon, the club is calling on all members of the community to lend their support to three vital efforts: a Scrap Metal Collection, the 2025 Mayo GAA Club Development Draw, and the innovative Sponsor a Seat campaign.
Scrap Metal Collection: The club will host a Scrap Metal Collection on Sunday, August 17 at Gilmartin Park, where a skip will be on-site from 9am to 5pm. Locals are encouraged to make the most of the opportunity to declutter their homes, farms, businesses, and workshops, all while helping to fund grassroots Gaelic games in the town. All kinds of scrap metal are welcome and no donation is too small. Every piece collected helps raise vital funds to support Kiltimagh GAA’s teams, coaches and volunteers.
For those unable to deliver their scrap to the grounds, a collection service is available on the day. Anyone wishing to avail of this can contact Karen on 087-0612079, Joe on 086-807 7209 or Paddy on 085-1744117 to arrange pick-up.
Proceeds from the collection will help cover the costs associated with running multiple teams, investing in equipment, and maintaining the club’s growing facilities.
Sponsor a Seat: One of the centrepieces of the ongoing redevelopment at Gilmartin Park is a brand-new 242-seat cantilever stand. As the project nears completion, Kiltimagh GAA has launched its Sponsor a Seat campaign, giving individuals and families a chance to be part of the club’s legacy.
For €350, a seat can be named in the donor’s name, a family name, or in memory of a loved one. Seats will be randomly allocated through an open draw, and sponsorship is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This initiative offers a personal way to support the club while also securing a permanent presence within the new facility.
The broader redevelopment – which also includes a realigned main pitch and two floodlit training areas – is expected to cost over €500,000. Funding to date has come from a mix of past fundraising campaigns, sports capital grants totalling €182,000, and €39,000 from the Connacht GAA Council.
Despite being surrounded by clubs from larger catchment areas, Kiltimagh GAA continues to punch above its weight, fielding teams from under-4s through to senior level, across both male and female divisions. The club has also embraced a broader community focus through its 'Healthy Club' policy, championing mental health, wellbeing and healthy living under the guidance of health and wellbeing officer Karen Forkan.
Throughout the redevelopment period, the club worked closely with St Louis Community School and the local National School, whose pitches were made available for training. The club extended sincere thanks to the principals and boards of management for their continued generosity and support.
To sponsor a seat, contact the club at kiltimaghgaaseats@gmail.com or reach out to any executive committee member.
Development Draw: The club is also taking part in the 2025 Mayo GAA Club Development Draw, a major countywide fundraiser that provides substantial local benefits. Once a club reaches its ticket target, 90 percent of all additional sales stay with the club – making this a key income source for Kiltimagh GAA.
Tickets are priced at €100, with six weekly draws taking place from August 9 to September 13. Top prizes include €10,000 in the first and final draws, with €5,000 for the weekly middle draws and many additional cash prizes each week. All draws will be broadcast live on the Mayo GAA Facebook page, ensuring that supporters near and far can tune in.
Funds raised help offset the considerable expenses of fielding multiple teams across a packed GAA calendar, and go directly into improving facilities, coaching provision and club infrastructure.
These three fundraising efforts – Scrap Metal Collection, Sponsor a Seat, and the Club Development Draw – are more than just fundraisers; they are expressions of the club’s unity, ambition and community spirit. Kiltimagh GAA extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported these initiatives so far and encouraged all members of the wider community to take part in whatever way they can. Every euro raised contributes to building a stronger, more sustainable future for the club and all those who are part of it.
