Local Notes: Charlestown Sarsfields recall historic county title success
Charlestown Sarsfields are preparing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their historic Mayo Senior Championship victory in 2001. It was the first time the club had won the championship since 1902 and the team went on to claim the Connacht Club title later that year. Pictured enjoying the celebrations in 2001 were James Kilroy and Maurice Gallagher with the late Brendan McIntyre and Eddie Kilroy
Congratulations are extended to Declan Divilly, Kilbeagh, Charlestown and Alina Pugaciov, Kilbeagh, Charlestown on their recent engagement.
Well done to Dylan Craig who won the weekly pool competition held in Johnny's Bar Main Street, Charlestown on Friday night, October 2nd, and in doing so scooped the €100 top prize.
The competition takes place every Friday night at 9pm.
The Charlestown Sarsfields club hosted their third county senior semi-final in four years with O'Hara Park hosting the all West Mayo clash featuring Castlebar Mitchels and Breaffy on October 3rd.
A big crowd came through the gates of the splendid Charlestown Sarsfields facilities as a significant Garda presence ensured traffic flowed smoothly to the famous old ground. O'Hara Park looked terrific with the sod in pristine condition and the weather playing ball spectacularly with hardly a puff of breeze in the air as the sun occupied its lofty place high in the clear blue sky.
The Sarsfields club had a large team of volunteers in place to ensure all bases were covered in terms of parking and crowd management with the stand heaving with supporters of both teams along with a sprinkling of neutrals who came from all corners and over the border from Sligo and Roscommon respectively to watch a game that had a fair level of intrigue around it.
What ensued was a mundane enough affair as the game never really caught fire as a contest save for the final few minutes when Breaffy narrowed the gap to four points with a late surge. It proved to be too little too late, however, as the Mitchels held firm and were, truth to tell, much the better team and found scores easier to come by as they a carried a much greater threat in attack in contrast to their opponents who laboured in front of goal and never really threatened a well marshalled and solid Mitchels rearguard.
O'Hara Park once again, however, came up trumps with a splendid atmosphere evident at least an hour before throw-in as the crowds came early to get their vantage points. Well done to Ryan O'Connor, Kevin Deignan, Ciaran McBrien et al and the many members and volunteers who had everything organised to a tee with everybody who was in attendance fulsome in their praise of the condition of the playing pitch and the overall standard of the facilities in an around O'Hara Park.
The club Lotto was doing a roaring business with John Casey having his team in place to ensure the club earned some valuable and necessary funds. The local media were well represented with Midwest Radio and Mayo TV on hand to report every minute of the action through the airwaves and on the big screen.
Our own, the incomparable James Breheny, played a blinder in his role as MC and kept everybody informed of all the changes that were made before and during the match. He also conducted the half-time draw with a €100 shopping voucher kindly sponsored by Conor from Delaney's Mace, Lowpark being won by Teresa Coghill. This capped a great day for the club and indeed the town as there was a notable increase in footfall with local businesses very happy with their day's takings.
Both clubs were effusive in their praise of the club's facilities and the way the Sarsfields conducted their affairs and were on record as stating that in the immediate aftermath of the final whistle.
The Sarsfields Club and O'Hara Park once again showed their ability to host games of this nature and importance year in year out with our facilities on a par with the very best in the county and province.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Lotto jackpot of €24,000 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, October 4th, when the numbers drawn were 11, 27, 29 and 33.
The winners of the three €50 prizes were Triona Burke (online), Joe Murray (Lucky Dip) and Martin Conway (Lucky Dip).
Next week's jackpot will rise to €24,100 and the draw will be held on Sunday night, October 11th. Tickets are on sale in a number of outlets throughout the community and cost €2 or three for €5. The draw can also be played online via the club's Facebook page or the new club app. The club would like to thank everybody who supported their weekly draw.
The Sarsfields club are pleased to announce that they have the very attractive prize of 500 litres of Kerosene (home heating oil ) on offer to the general public for every lotto ticket purchased during the month of October which covers the dates October 4th, 11th, 18 and 25th.
This is a very attractive prize indeed considering the extortionate cost of home heating oil at present and is sure to go down a storm with regular players of the draw, both through the paper tickets and online with a notable surge in ticket sales since the announcement was made at the start of the month.
There's plenty of time for you to get involved with lotto tickets available in a number of outlets in the community with the online option also available through the club's Facebook page and app. It's a draw always well worth supporting considering the top prize on offer with the jackpot riding at an all-time high of €24,100 with the added incentive of being in a position to win 500 litres of kerosene, which will go a long way towards covering your home heating bills for most of the in-coming winter season. Be in to win!
Honourable mention to our neighbours Curry who captured the Sligo County Intermediate Championship for just the third time in their illustrious history as they defeated a dogged Ballymote side on a score line of 2-15 to 0-17 in an entertaining contest played at Markievicz Park, Sligo recently.
Their victory confirms their return to the Sligo senior championship for 2027, which was the ultimate goal as they were by far the standout team in the competition as they went through the campaign unbeaten and beat all that came before and behind them. That said they got a stern test against Bunninadden in the semi-final with extra-time needed before they finally emerged victorious. Indeed they flirted with defeat on numerous occasions in what turned out to be a dramatic contest but had the necessary wherewithal and experience to come through when the need was greatest at the finish. Ballymote, too, posed plenty of problems for the Curry men in the final proper but again they came up with all the right answers and problem solved their way through the game with a brace of goals providing them with enough of a cushion to see off a doughty Ballymote challenge.
There were big scenes of celebration in the village, townlands and beyond with the cup making a whistle stop tour of Bellaghy before turning at the old square in Charlestown and heading back home where the party began in earnest. The celebrations went on long into the night with a few from the town hopping across the border to partake as the team got their due reward for all the work they invested on the training paddock since last January.
Curry now go forward to represent Sligo in the Connacht Intermediate Championship which kicks off in the coming weeks with their appetite and ambitions very much piqued for further success as they look to add a Connacht title to their county one.
Well done to Jimmy Langan and his management team and best of luck in the Connacht campaign with the club and team keen on adding another layer of success to their illustrious history.
Adult Arts and Crafts Group continue to meet on Wednesday mornings in the Arts Centre from 11am to 1pm and all are welcome.
A Children's Disco takes place on Friday, October 30th, in the CBD Sports Complex, Lowpark, Charlestown from 6pm to 7pm. The disco is being hosted by the East Mayo Athletics Club and admission is €5 per child and €10 per family maximum. Fancy dress is optional. There will be a tuck shop in operation on the night.
The 31st anniversary of the Carracastle Lass takes place on Saturday next, October 17th, at 8pm in Carracastle Community Centre.
The Lass is one of the highlights in the Carracastle community calendar and regularly draws huge crowds to the centre to view the excellent talent on stage with the committee hopeful that this year will be bigger and better than ever as they continue to push the envelope and draw crowds from all corners of the community and beyond.
The committee do a terrific job in the organisation and planning of such a stellar event which captures the imagination like no other with excitement at fever pitch just four days out from this year's extravaganza. The community of Carracastle come together in huge numbers for an event that remains as popular and enduring as when it first started with this year's staging set to draw record crowds to the splendidly appointed venue.
There will be a full report in next week's column of who was crowned Carracastle Lass 2026 along with all the comings and goings from an event that brings the community of Carracastle to a standstill.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh's Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday night, October 4th, as the Magician and the Gripper battled it out in another terrific instalment of the weekly classic.
The Gripper blazed his way into a two-set lead with some sublime throwing as everything he touched seemed to turn to gold al la King Midas.
The Magician looked in dire trouble at the start of the third but he dug deep into his box of tricks and conjured up some magic as he stalled the momentum of his opponent by taking the next two sets to set up a fifth and final set decider.
The crowd were very much invested in what was playing out before them with a raucous atmosphere very much in evidence as the fifth set began. All the momentum was with the Magician as he banged in double eighteen to take the first leg. He backed this up by taking the second as well with the Gripper cutting a pretty dejected figure as he came to the ochie for the start of the third leg fully aware of the hole he was in.
His mood didn't improve much as his darts began to find some obscure numbers with the Magician keenly aware that the match was at his mercy as the Gripper's form had deserted him at precisely the wrong time.
The Magician made no mistake as he sauntered to the ochie with 66 to mull over as Gripper trailed a long way behind in the high 200s.The Magician went the scenic route as he banged in treble fourteen with his first dart to leave two arrows at double twelve as the crowd held its collective breath.
His first pinged the wire and bounced to the floor as the crowd let out an audible gasp. He made no mistake with his second though as it pierced the centre of the double twelve bed to set off tumultuous scenes of celebration in Camp Magician as he finally got over the line in a final having lost the last four he contested.
Gus the Gripper cut a disconsolate figure at the end but he was most sporting and magnanimous in defeat as the Magician stepped onto the winner's podium for the fifth time with his consistency levels in the competition off the charts.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 drive game held in The Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday night, October 6th, when the prize-winners were: 1st, Breege Leonard, Miko Sheridan and Veronica McCarrick.
The raffle winners were Joe Mahon, Darby Leonard and Miko Sheridan.
The game takes place every Tuesday night at 9pm in the Yeats County Inn, Curry and all are welcome.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA Lotto Jackpot of €5,800 in the weekly draw held on Monday night, October 5th, when the numbers drawn were 6, 16, 19 and 23.
The winners of the three €20 prizes were Dylan McLoughlin, Sean Marren and Elaine McDonagh.
The jackpot for the most recent draw was €5,900. Tickets are on sale in a number of outlets in the community and cost €2 or three for €5. The draw can also be played online via the club's Facebook page.
Charlestown Sarsfields U21 team began their Mayo U21 'C' Championship campaign with a narrow 2-8 to 0-13 victory away to Ballintubber recently.
The game was played in Clogher, which is always a difficult venue to come away with a win, but the Sarsfields managed it albeit the margins were tight as they made away with the spoils to get their group campaign off to the best possible start.
There was never much between the teams at any stage in the contest but a couple of goals proved pivotal to the final outcome with Owen Flannery and Oisin Maloney doing the business as both converted the chances that came their way expertly with the Sarsfields having to withstand a late rally from the hosts as they battled to salvage something from the game.
The Sarsfields held on for dear life, however, with the final whistle bringing a mixture of relief and joy to an elated Sarsfields camp as they got a stern test of their credentials from a fired up and competitive Ballintubber side.
A great start for Anthony Conway and his management team and one which the Sarsfields will be looking to build on as they host near neighbours Kilmovee Shamrocks in round two with plenty riding on the game as the two unbeaten sides in the group go head to head with a quarter-final spot up for grabs, which adds another layer of spice to a game that's sure to draw a big crowd to O'Hara Park.
The Charlestown Cubs basketball club shop is open for business with a lovely range of gear on offer to members and the general public. For more information on what's on offer and available, check out the Charlestown Cubs Facebook page and follow the link with all orders needing to be in by the Friday, October 16th deadline.
All orders are expected to be delivered before Christmas, making it the perfect time to display and get your club gear sorted.
Congratulations to Charlestown native Majella Reid who has joined the literary ranks and turned her hand to children's fiction with the recent publication of , a fantasy adventure for readers aged 7-12.
The adventure follows JJ Joyce, a young leprechaun who leaves his magical world and joins the Earth World. There he embarks on a journey with nine-year-old Alfie McDonnell as they embark on a mission to save humanity from a deadly virus.
Speaking about her debut children's book, Majella commented: "I wanted to create an adventure that would take young readers somewhere magical, while also allowing the characters to experience real emotions."
For Majella, the book marks a new chapter in a varied writing career. A former journalist, she holds a degree in journalism from Dublin City University and an MBA from the University of Galway (NUIG). She has previously had adult fiction short stories published in anthologies and also writes as a blogger. She is also a creative-writing workshop facilitator. A member of the Longford Writers Group, Majella holds a certificate in Film and Television Production from Longford-Westmeath Education and Training Board.
Majella has accumulated some amount of experience in the world of journalism and writing and has created quite the career for herself with this latest foray into children's fiction marking a new departure in a career that has taken her along the path of many different genres and styles of writing.
She still retains strong links with the town with her father John, a well known and popular member of the local community. She has retained many friendships in the area too and we wish her well with her new book, copies of which are currently available as Kindle edition through Majella's website www.majellareid.com.
The book is aimed at readers aged seven to 12 and we hope it's a resounding success as she looks to create a new niche for herself in the world of children's fiction.
Congratulations and best wishes to co-authors Anthony Hennigan and Edwin McGreal who launched their splendid new book recently at a high profile launch in Wild Atlantic Words Festival Dome, Castlebar on Thursday last, October 8th.
The book charts Mayo's path to All-Ireland success and is a terrific publication with the lads giving it the full treatment as Mayo confounded all their most ardent critics to finally cross the line on that never to be forgotten July 26th Sunday when they took Kerry down from their lofty pedestal.
The lads collected some amount of information and they impart the story in typically lyrical and skilled fashion with some wonderful anecdotes backed up with honest reporting and interviews laced with brilliant imagery from a host of photographers, including Michael McLaughlin, which makes for some stunning viewing.
It all adds up to a compelling production that would be a welcome addition to anyone's book shelf let alone the many thousands of Mayo people within and outside the county. There will be a huge demand for a book of such quality and I'm convinced it will fly off the shelves as the aura and prestige around Mayo's success continues to move people and capture their imagination like nothing we've seen before with this book documenting in print the magical journey Andy Moran and the Mayo team took us on through a summer that will never be forgotten.
Best of luck lads and well done on conjuring up a book of such outstanding excellence.
Kilmovee
Bingo is held in Kilmovee Community Centre on Sunday evenings at 8.30pm. The jackpot now is €1,400 on 50 calls and the house lotto is €1,400 on four correct numbers. There is also a 50/50 draw with a guaranteed winner every week.
The 20th edition of Kilkelly–Kilmovee Parish Magazine will be launched by Stuart Moyles at Ireland West Airport on Sunday, October 25th. The event will commence at 8pm and will continue until 10pm.
Eunice Moran will host proceedings while there will be local musicians providing entertainment and Henry McGlade from TV Ireland recording the event. Admission is free and there will be free parking and door prizes.
It will be a great night of music, fun and laughter where old friendships are rekindled and new friendships made. Hope to see you all there.
Kilmovee Active Age Thursday Club are hosting an open day on October 29th from 12 noon to 4pm. Admission is €10 and it is open to the public.
There will be finger food, live music, a raffle with valuable prizes. In addition, there will be a door prize and a fancy dress prize.
You can book your place and pay in advance by contacting Kilmovee Community Centre on 094-9649484. The last day to book is October 22. This is required to facilitate catering. Please support the club and you will be made very welcome.
Items for inclusion in the weekly parish newsletter should be community based or from voluntary organisations. Please submit items for inclusion by lunchtime on Thursday. Some items may have to be edited for space purposes. Where possible, please send in your news items, including contact details, by email to news@kilmoveeparish.org.
Kilmovee Parish Pastoral Council would like to invite more parishioners to exercise the Ministries of the Word and of the Eucharist. They wish in particular to welcome the youth of the parish. Please contact Fr Joseph on 086-1605373. They would appreciate a positive response.
Looking ahead to 2027, here are a few important dates in the parish.
First Holy Communion Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 15th, at 11am in Kilmovee and Confirmation Mass is on Saturday, May 29th, at 11am.
The numbers drawn on Saturday, September 26th, in the Shamrocks GAA Lotto were 13, 14, 36 and 42. There was no winner of the jackpot.
Tickets can be purchased locally.
Sincere thank you to everyone in the parish who supported Mayo Mental Health Association's annual churchgate collection this year.
A total of €630.35 was raised across the four parish churches. Thank you for your kindness, generosity and support.
Mayo Mental Health Association is extremely grateful to everyone who contributed and to all the volunteers who gave their time.
Kilmovee Parent and Toddler Group meets each Tuesday from 10am to 12 noon in the Community Centre. All parents, grandparents, carers and toddlers are welcome to attend for a chat, play and coffee. It’s a great way to meet new people and socialise with parents and children.
Traditional Rambling House music session every Wednesday night in Davey’s of Carracastle at 9.30pm. All are welcome.
Kilmovee Walking Football resumes on Wednesday evenings at 8pm on Kilmovee Astro Pitch. The football caters for all abilities and for men and women. For more details, contact 087-2326463.
