Local Notes: Charlestown gears up for GAA fixture
At a recent Kilmovee Ladies Club gathering, Maura Gallagher and Trisha Duffy accept a cheque on behalf of Kilmovee Meals on Wheels from Ladies club members Mary Teresa Duffy, Mary McDermott and Kathleen O'Connor. Picture: James Hunt Photography
Fr O'Hara Park will host round one of the FBD Connacht League clash involving Mayo and Sligo on Saturday, January 3rd, with the game having a 1pm throw-in subject to confirmation.
This is a plum tie for the Charlestown Sarsfields club to have secured as it will be Andy Moran's first competitive fixture in charge of Mayo with opponents Sligo also having two new men in the dugout with the twin ticket of Eamon O'Hara and Dessie Sloyan starting a new era for the Yeats County just over the border in Fr O'Hara Park.
The game has many tantalising subplots to it, all of which will play out on the hallowed turf of Fr O'Hara Park with the fixture evoking many special memories of clashes between the teams back in the 1950s and 1960s when Connacht Championship matches were regularly played at the storied venue.
A large crowd is expected to descend on the town for what's the opening gambit of the new 2026 season and the club's executive and members will be hard at work over the Christmas period ensuring the pitch will be in pristine condition for a contest that has attracted a lot of commentary already in the town and over the border. The Sligo folk will travel with a real sense of expectation as two of their most famous sons have been handed the reins charged with the job of guiding Sligo to a Connacht title in 2026 with new Mayo incumbent Andy Moran also keenly aware of the pressures and expectations he faces into as a new era begins for the Green and Red.
The stage is set for what should be an interesting tussle with lots of new faces sure to get their chance on both sides of the divide.
The death took place in London, England recently of Annie May Walsh (Nee Phillps ) formerly of Botuney, Carracastle .Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
The Legion of Mary meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm in the Adoration Chapel of St James' Church, Charlestown. All are welcome.
For more information, contact Phil on 086-3946233.
The Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club wish to remind their many and dedicated members that membership for 2026 will increase from €50 to €70.
The increase is the first of its kind in over a decade and the club, while being acutely aware of the cost of living pressures impacting on all households, are hopeful of a positive response from their members with membership forming a key part of their fundraising strategy as it helps to offset the many expenses the executive incurs on a weekly basis as it finances all facets of the club in so many ways.
The closing date for payment of membership fees is the usual March 31st deadline and your support would be very much appreciated.
The death took place at her residence at Brownshill Road, Carlow, of Mary McHugh (nee Cassidy), formerly of Charlestown.
Deepest condolences are tendered to the bereaved.
There was no winners of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Lotto jackpot of €19,900 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, December 21st, when the numbers drawn were 5, 17, 18 and 33.
The winners of the two €50 prizes were Adrian Brennan and Michelle Gallagher.
To coincide with the Christmas season, the club gave away a number of hefty prizes, which included cash and vouchers for several local businesses. The winner of the once-off prize of €400 was Kira Horkan with Padraic Kivlehan winning the €150 voucher for Kernan's Spar. Eugene Doherty was the winner of the €100 Centra voucher while Ritchie Haran was the winner of the €75 voucher for Casey's Stores. The winner of the €75 voucher for Colleran's Pharmacy was Orla Sloyan.
The most recent draw on Saturday night, December 28th, saw the jackpot reach the magical €20,000 figure. Tickets on sale at a number of outlets in the town with the option to play the lotto draw also available online by clicking onto the Sarsfields GAA Facebook page and click on the necessary link.
The club would like to wish all their members and supporters a very happy and peaceful Christmas and thank everybody for their terrific support throughout 2025.
There was a good turnout for the final bridge game of the season held in Walsh's Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday, December 17th.
The prize-winners were: 1st, Maura Kilcoyne and James Mooney; 2nd, Mary Lynskey and Paddy Colleran; 3rd, Patricia Colleran and Teresa Ward; 4th, Tom Dunne and Mary O'Malley.
This was the club's Christmas Party night with food supplied by Grainne which went down a treat with all the players.
Following the food, there was a draw for partners, which involved great fun and banter.
Club president Frances thanked Grainne for the food and thanked those involved in the organisation of the night. She wished everyone a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.
The club's first game of 2026 will take place on Wednesday, January 7th, at the usual 8pm time.
There was a big turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh's Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday, December 21st, as Boom Boom and The Pillock duelled it out in another gripping instalment of the weekly classic.
Governor Gus did his usual top-class job in his role as match referee and ensured law and order prevailed throughout with the Pillock more than testing his patience on numerous occasions.
There was a real Christmas feel in the auditorium as a large crowd thronged to the splendidly-appointed venue to watch a game full of drama and spice with both men mustard keen to get a win on the board ahead of the big annual Christmas tournament.
The Pillock blazed into a two-set lead with some typically flamboyant throwing as he matched sizzling trebles with razor-sharp doubles to leave Boom Boom trailing in his wake as he just couldn't match the average being set by a rampant Kenny.
The ochie was his theatre if you like as he stepped forward to begin the third set with the crowd chanting his name to the high heavens.
Boom Boom remains a wily old fox, however, and started to find his range slowly but surely as the Pillock started to fluff his lines as his darts began to stray far away from the treble twenty bed. Boom Boom reeled off three quick-fire legs to sweep his way to the third set and plant some seeds of doubt in the mind of Kenny who bore a somewhat quizzical stare at the board as Boom Boom stepped forward to begin the fourth set with his confidence restored somewhat.
The set turned out to be a classic as both men started to sizzle simultaneously. Boom Boom held an initial two-leg advantage but the Pillock roared back in thrilling fashion to win the next two, thus setting up a one-leg decider with both sides of the equation on the line. Boom Boom won the race to the double but his luck deserted him in cruel fashion as his final dart at double eighteen hit the wire and bounced onto the floor in galling fashion.
Step forward The Pillock with three darts in his quiver as he sized up double sixteen with the crowd singing his name at the top of their voices. He missed narrowly with his first two darts which left him with one arrow at the elusive double and everything on the line. He paused before carefully releasing the said arrow and its destination was never in doubt as it plunged into the heart of double sixteen to ignite wild scenes of celebration as Ally Pally-like chanting reverberated around Walsh's Public House.
Kenny sank to his knees in celebration as he savoured every second of his fifth victory of the season and one which mean a helluva lot to him judging by the emotion etched all over his face. It was a cracking encounter and one which set the scene nicely for this week's competition, which is one of the highlights in the darts calendar.
Hats off to the Pillock and commiserations to Boom Boom who more than played his part in what was a scintillating encounter.
