Local Notes: Charlestown Sarsfields Bord na nÓg presentations are held in CBD Sports Complex.
One of the many girls team who were presented with their medals at the Charlestown Sarsfields Bord na nÓg presentation evening held recently.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €20,100 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, March 15, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 7, 17, 19 and 21. The winners of the 3 x €50 prizes were Brendan Towey and Des McGuire (Lucky Dip ) and Cliondha Hunt (Online). The jackpot in the latest draw held on Sunday, March 22, was €20,200. Tickets on sale at a number of outlets in the town and they are also available online via the smart lotto which can be accessed from the club’s Facebook and social media pages. The club thank all who supported their weekly lotto draw.
The 2026 St Patrick’s Day Parade was a resounding success and one of the best ever in the long and proud tradition of the town. Despite the inclement weather, large crowds descended on the town to watch and view the many varied and topical floats that passed through the streets as local businesses, clubs and societies went all out to come up with something topical and interesting as their themes. They didn’t disappoint as the floats drew many favourable comments and applause from a very enthused and appreciative crowd who were well impressed at the high standard they were treated to. All the schools in the community were also well represented and there was a terrific splash of colour in evidence which was a joy to behold. Well done to all who took part with the rain failing to dampen the obvious sense of enthusiasm and zeal each and every participant brought to the occasion. Green was very much the dominant colour as people entered the spirit of the occasion and had their shamrock on display which was nice to see. The quality and level of thought invested by those who had floats in the parade was extremely impressive to say the least with lots of fun and novelty themes only adding a sense of fun and humour to the occasion. It was a winner all round for the town and its inhabitants with local businesses getting a welcome break in terms of footfall as people lingered long after the parade was over and spent their euros in the various shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.
The organising committee deserve great kudos for the level of detail and preparation they put in behind the scenes in the lead-up with all their hard work paying off handsomely as the whole event set out what it hoped to achieve in terms of providing entertainment and bringing a splash of colour and fun to the town thus raising people’s spirits in the process. It was a terrific event which was well received and lauded by all who viewed it. Special mention to the many stewards who helped out to ensure everything passed off smoothly and special thanks to the local Gardaí who had a traffic plan in place to facilitate the movement of the parade through all the streets which was achieved seamlessly. It was a great day for the town and one which live long in the memory as everybody pulled together to showcase our community in the best possible light. Roll on 2027 as the parade continues to push the boundaries and become bigger and better with each passing year.
The death took place at his home, Knoxville Manor, Bellaghy, Charlestown of David Tordoff. His remains were removed from Horkan’s Funeral Home, Lowpark, Charlestown, to St James’ Church, Charlestown for solemn requiem Mass followed by a private committal service in Sharkey’s Cremation Chapel, Loughglynn. He is survived by his wife Angela, son Chris, daughter Ruth, mother Mary, brothers Steve and Graham, grandchildren, son-in-law Barry, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
The late David was a lovely, kind and gentle man who was a very popular and well liked member of the community. He always had a friendly word and a smile on display in both his work and social interactions and this endeared him to all he came into contact with. He was a good neighbour and friend and went about his work with typical diligence and endeavour and these were qualities that stood him in good stead as he made his way through life. He was a devoted family man and they were the orbit around which his life revolved. His death robs the community of a genuinely nice and amiable man who made a big impression on all who knew him. The large crowds who attended the removal of his remains and Mass was ample proof of the esteem and affection in which he was held and we tender our deepest sympathies to the bereaved.
Charlestown senior ladies host McHale Rovers in Fr O’Hara Park in Round 3 of Division 1 of the county senior league on Sunday, March 29, with the throw-in confirmed for 11am.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday, March 11, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Tom Salmon and Paddy Gallagher, 2nd Robery and Frances Healy, 3rd Nora McVeigh and Maura Kilcoyne. The game takes place every Wednesday night at 8pm in Walsh’s Public House.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €2800 and the following were the four numbers drawn; 5, 9, 11 and 13. The winners of the €20 prizes were; Johanne Kennedy, Angela Forkan and Matthew Kennedy.
Next week’s jackpot will rise to €2900 and the draw will be held on Monday night, March 16. Tickets are on sale in a number of outlets and they are also available online via the club’s social media and Facebook pages.
Turn your old tapes into digital memories. Call or message Joe on 086 2303055.
Purple Day or Epilepsy Awareness Day, will take place on Thursday, March 26. Please visit purpleday.org for more information.
Free Sucide Alertness for everyone (SafeTALK) training takes place today, Tuesday, March 24, from 10am - 1.30pm in the TF Royal & Theatre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo F23 R288. The training is for over 18s only and not suitable for anyone bereaved by suicide within 12 months. For more information , email darlene@breakingthrough.org.
The Legion of Mary meeting takes place every Wednesday evening at 7pm in St James’ Church, Charlestown . All are welcome. For more enquiries contact Phil on 086 3946233.
Charlestown Sarsfields host Islandeady in Fr O’Hara Park in division 3 of the county U16 league on Saturday, March 28, with the throw-in confirmed for 11am.
The Sarsfields host Ballintubber in Fr O’Hara Park in division 2 of the county U16 league on Tuesday, March 31, with the throw-in timed for 5.30pm.
Salsa classes continue in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm and all are welcome.
A seniors exercise class takes place in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Friday mornings at 11am and all are welcome.
The adults art and crafts class continues in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Wednesday mornings from 11am -1pm and all are welcome.
Congratulations are extended to Michael Divilly (Jnr) who reached the grand old age of forty recently. Michael hails from Hagfield, Charlestown but has been based in Dublin for some years where he works as a Garda. He’s a well known and popular character in the town and his graduation to forty was greeted with some acclaim it must be said as he takes his place with the newest batch of recruits to have reached such a lofty number. Michael was a footballer of some renown back in the halcyon days of the early to mid 2000s. He was a panellist on the Mayo U21 team that won the All-Ireland U21 final in 2006 and looked set to have a long and successful career with the Sarsfields before injury took hold and scuppered his and the club’s plans.
He did give some service to the Sarsfields and had some good days in the green and white but a series of niggling injuries prevented him from reaching his true potential which was a source of much regret for him and the club to boot. He remains something of a cult figure in the club and community however and retains many strong friendships in the area but his skills are now put to much more productive in crime solving and keep the streets of the capital safe which is no easy task indeed. His work as a Garda keeps him fit and in good shape and while he may not have the pace or athleticism of yesteryear, he remains a formidable specimen who has been known to outrun and outpace many a criminal and yob in the line of duty.
I’m sure his good lady Alison marked the occasion with a cake of some sort as forty is a pretty significant number to reach in today’s busy and turbulent world. There was a drinks celebration to mark the occasion in Murray’s Bar, The Square, Charlestown which Michael shared with another luminary namely his cousin Ronan Kenny and the two boys were in good spirits as drinks were shared and bought all round for them with plenty of humour and funny relayed on their shared journeys to forty. We can only wish Michael continued good health and happiness in the future and many more milestones of this nature in the years ahead as he gets ready to embrace all that life with throw at him in the forties.
East Mayo Athletics Club are delighted to announce that the sixth Annual Colm Horkan Memorial Run takes place on Sunday, May 17. The event, one of the highlights in the town’s social calendar, offers three distance races - a half marathon, 10k and 5k , all set on fast, flat routes that are perfect for the ambitions you may like to set in terms of personal/seasonal bests etc. The event is open to runners, joggers and walkers with all participants welcome. Special thanks to Hegarty’s Centra, Bellaghy and Charlestown Service Station, Supermacs for their generous support and sponsorship and for helping to look after the runners and volunteers on the day. The event always attracts a huge entry from within and outside the community as Colm`s name continues to burn brightly in the hearts and minds of all who knew and socialised with him. There is an option to purchase a commemorative 42K shirt with your entry and for more information on this you can click the East Mayo Athletics Club Facebook page or click on pop up races and follow the link to the Colm Horkan memorial run 2026.
There was just one game down for decision last week in the honour of the village competition hosted by Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown, with Curry (2) defeating Sonnagh comfortably on a 5-2 score line. By doing so they exacted some measure of revenge on Sonnagh who dumped Curry (3) out of the competition in the first round. Curry (2), however, were a much tougher proposition and they were clinical when the doubles chances presented themselves and secured their passage to the quarter-final on the back of a quality display.
Games down for decision this week see Lurga taking on Lavey with many times winners Tavneena doing head to head against Curry (1) in what should be a cracking encounter. The final game on the schedule sees last year’s winners Lowpark, skippered by Padraig Kivlehan, putting their title on the line against Hagfield (1) in what looks an intriguing encounter with lots of little subplots as two teams with a long and stellar history in the competition duke it out to see who can secure a semi-final berth. Full results and reports in next week’s issue as the crowds continue to flock to Walsh’s to see some cracking darts.
The April Community Coffee Morning will be held in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Friday, April 3, from 11am-1pm. Lift access available. All welcome to come along for a cuppa and a chat.
The Sarsfields travel to Ballyhaunis to take on the hosts in in round one of the Canon Henry Cup on Friday, April 3, with the throw-in timed for 6pm.
The Charlestown Men’s Shed is open on Wednesday afternoons from 3-5pm and for a 25-card game on Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm. All are welcome.
The U8s played had an enjoyable outing away to the Lakeside Lakers Basketball club recently and they had a terrific contest with their hosts with both teams giving it their all in what was a wonderful spectacle. Hats off to both teams for the thrilling encounter they served up and special mention to the Ballinrobe Basketball club for their fantastic hospitality on the day, it was very much appreciated.
Yoga with Trish continues in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Tuesday evenings from 7.15pm -8.15pm and all are welcome.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25-drive game held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry, on Tuesday, March 17 and the following were the prize winners; 1st Darby and Breege Leonard shared with Kevin Maloney and Mary O’Hara. Raffle winners were Paul Flannery, Miko Sheridan and Darby Leonard. The game takes place every Tuesday night at 9pm and all are welcome.
Conor McArdle was the winner of the weekly pool competition held in Johnny’s Bar on Sunday evening, March 8, when he defeated Darragh Casey in the final. Conor scooped the top prize of €100 on offer for the victor. Game takes place every Sunday evening at 7pm.
Charlestown Athletic FC, making a welcome return to junior soccer in Mayo after an absence of 10 years, found themselves competing in division 2 of the Mayo junior league. Their first game away to Ballinrobe Town B fell victim to the weather and had to be abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch as heavy rain rendered the sod unplayable. Their second outing did go the distance however with Charlestown Athletic dishing out a 5-0 thumping to Fahy Rovers B team in a display that was every bit as emphatic and comprehensive as the final score would suggest. Paul Kenny and his management team were beaming at the final whistle as his charges played some quality football and had way too much class, skill and fire power for an opposition that knew their goose was cooked long before the full-time whistle. An excellent performance from the Charlestown side and one which augurs well for the remainder of the campaign with many people expecting them to breeze through the division and secure promotion to division one. Next up on the schedule is a home tie against Manulla B who are sure to provide a much sterner test in terms of competition and quality.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday, March 15, as Boom Boom and The Magician locked horns in another interesting instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus had a nice easy day in the referee’s chair as both men towed the line impeccably. Boom Boom was on something of a retrieval mission having lost the last two finals he contested with the Magician also looking to visit the winners enclosure having also come up short in a number of recent final appearances. Boom Boom made the better start and zoomed into a two sets lead based mainly on some splendid finishing as he was razor sharp when amongst the doubles. The Magician bounced back to take set three as he finally found some consistency with his throwing. Set four saw a gripping tussle for supremacy as both men traded legs to set up a fifth and final leg decider. It was the Magician who held his nerve as he took out double eighteen with his final dart to force a fifth and final set.
The Magician grabbed the early initiative by taking the first leg but Boom Boom, stung by losing four legs on the bounce, finally found some semblance of form at the crucial time and took the next two legs to leave him one away from victory as the Magician’s level tapered off at precisely the wrong time. The fourth leg proved decisive in the final outcome with Boom Boom holding all the aces as he outscored his opponent by a distance in a race to the double. This gave him a nice cushion as he weighed up 86 with plenty of daylight between him and the Magician who was stranded in the high 200s. Boom Boom hit treble eighteen with his first dart which left him with two darts at double sixteen. He needed only one as he pierced the centre of the green bed to end a losing sequence stretching back some months. Boom Boom overriding emotion was one of relied as the winning dart nestled in the doubles bed with the Magician, as always, most sporting and graceful in defeat as the two men shared a warm embrace at the end. A terrific end to a good contest as Boom Boom savoured his long overdue second title of the season.
****************.
The Stations of the Cross will take place in Kilkelly Church at 7pm and Kilmovee Church at 7.30pm each Sunday evening during Lent.
The monthly draw winners are as follows; January 2026 - Jim Casey, Tony Rafter, and Danny Egan; February - John Roddy, Kieran Regan, and Coleen Duffy; March - Aoibhe and Caoimhe Duffy, Tommy Duffy and Cormac Mellett. The lotto numbers drawn on Saturday, March 14 had the numbers 3, 31, 42, and 46 drawn. There was no winner.
Kilmovee Swimming Pool are currently recruiting for Lifeguards for the coming season (approx. June 8-August 29). Please check out the Facebook Page for more information or email kilmoveeswimmingpool@gmail.com.
Sympathy is extended to Johnny Cafferky, Aughadeffin, on the death of his sister Evelyn Hatton RIP, Cabinteely, Dublin and to Kathleen Feerick, Tavrane NS staff, on the death of her father Vincent O’Hora, Kiltimagh .May they rest in peace.
Kilmovee Swimming Pool, together with Kilmovee NS Parents Association, are holding a Boston Tea Party on Saturday, March 28, at 7pm in Kilmovee Community Centre. This is Kilmovee Swimming Pool's main fundraiser for the year and your support would be greatly appreciated.
To host a table contact kilmoveepoolfundraising@gmail.com or they can find you a table - €15 entry fee. There will be a raffle on the night with some fantastic prizes.
The death took place of Bernadette (Bernie) Smith Smithfield, Dublin and formerly of Castlerea Road, Ballaghaderreen, on March 1, peacefully at The Mater Private Hospital, Dublin. Bernadette was predeceased by her uncle Gerry and her nephew Baby Oisín and is survived by her heartbroken family, her parents Joe and Pauline (née Quinn), sister Finnola, brothers Cormac, Finbar, Sean and Pearse, uncles, aunts, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and her many friends.
Bernadette reposed in The Sharkey Funeral Home, Ballaghaderreen, on Friday, March 6, with removal from her home (Castlerea Road, Ballaghaderreen) on Saturday, March 7, at 11.30am to The Church of the Sacred Heart, Fairymount, arriving for Mass of the Resurrection at 12.30pm, followed by interment in Fairymount (new) Cemetery. May Bernadette rest in peace and sympathy is extended to all who are bereaved.
The death took place of Tim Dowd on March 4,peacefully, surrounded by his heartbroken family in Sligo University Hospital. Tim was predeceased by his wife Olive (two weeks previously) and also by his parents Timothy and Mary and his brothers Joe and Pat. Tim is survived by his children Olivia (Michéal), Ray (Orlagh), Christina (Christopher) and Mary (Gary), his grandchildren Molly, Jamie, Jessica, Alex, Ruby and Ollie, his sister Martina, brother-in-law Jim, sister-in-law Josie, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and many friends.
Tim reposed in The Kilgarriff Funeral Home Ballaghaderreen, Friday, March 6, and removal took place to the Cathedral of the Annunciation and St. Nathy's Ballaghaderreen, on Saturday, March 7, for Mass of the Resurrection at 12 noon, followed by cremation in Lakelands Crematorium Cavan. May Tim rest in peace. Sympathy is extended to all who are bereaved.
