Local Notes: Charlestown Sarsfields U11s play in Croke Park.
The Sarsfields U11 team who took part in the Connacht Go Games Day in Croke Park.
The Charlestown Sarsfields U11 team had the thrill of a lifetime recently when they took part in the Connacht Go Games Day held in Croke Park recently. They played games against Loughrea (Galway), Allen Gaels Leitrim) and St. Brendan’s (Roscommon) and did themselves and the club proud and played some sizzling football on the sacred turf that is Croke Park and hinted that this may well not be their last time to step on the lush sod! They were treated royally and enjoyed the experience of running out under the tunnel which was followed by a visit to the dressing rooms where they got the opportunity to see at first hand where the Mayo and Kerry teams togged out in the recent All-Ireland final.
It was a momentous day for these Sarsfields youngsters with a tour of the Croke Park Museum topping off a trip to remember with the experience likely to stay in their minds and memories for many a long year. It’s trips such as this that inspire young players to emulate Sarsfields own hero Paul Towey who is now the proud holder of a Celtic Cross having played his part in Mayo’s wonderful All-Ireland victory over Kerry only two short weeks ago. Paul’s exploits are sure to inspire a whole new generation of Sarsfields stars to attempt to follow in his footsteps as just like he was inspired to do the same by the likes of Aidan Higgins, Thomas Parsons, David Tiernan and John Casey when he was making his way as a youngster up through the grades in the Sarsfields colours. His, and Mayo’s success have done wonders for the game and clubs, as numbers are sure to swell at every club's underage academy as Charlestown looks to unearth the next Paul Towey or two and with a view to propelling them to further success at underage and senior level.
Special mention to the coaches who accompanied the team on their trip with Dara McMeel, Daragh Redmond and Colm Maye doing a terrific job in the organisation and planning of the day with everything working out to a tee. These men are putting in place the best practice when it comes to coaching and skill development and the Charlestown club is in good hands with this trio at the helm of the underage academy.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €23,200 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, August 2, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 5, 28, 33, and 36. The winners of the 3 x €50 prizes were as follows; Owen Callaghan (online winner), Trina Harvey (lucky dip) and Sharon McCormack (lucky dip). The jackpot in the latest draw held on Sunday, August 9, rose to €23,300. Tickets are on sale in a number of outlets in the community, priced at €2 or 3 for €5 and the club thank everybody who supported their weekly draw.
Charlestown Sarsfields played out a hard fought draw with Carras in round 2 of the group stages of the division 3 county minor championship played at Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown recently. The final score read 1-9 apiece in a game of tight margins with both sides very evenly matched throughout the field. This result keeps both teams in contention of making the semi-final stages with the final games to come against Burrishoole and Louisburgh respectively.
The Sarsfields weren’t at their best on the night and kicked an inordinate number of wides with their accuracy deserting them on a night where they had to fight hard to get something out of a game that looked gone from them at various stages. The Sarsfields were five down with roughly the same left on the clock with Carras looking all over the winners as their prudence and economy in front of goal looked to have sealed something of a shock victory.
The Sarsfields, however, finally found their shooting boots with a Cian Towey goal proving pivotal to their comeback as that and a couple of late points eked out a draw that scarcely looked credible as, to all intents and purposes, they looked doomed to defeat. Credit to them for turning it around but they will be very disappointed with their shooting which almost cost them dearly on the night. They had good performances from Sean Breheny, Mason McCudden, Mike Giblin, Rhys O’Connor, Shea Haran, Matthew Horkan, Liam McCaffrey, Dylan Pilcher, Cian Towey and Danny Breheny.
Charlestown Sarsfields travel to Foxford to take on Moy Davitts in the county U16C championship on Thursday, August 13, with the throw-in confirmed for 7pm.
The adult Arts and Craft Group continue to meet every Tuesday in the Arts Centre from 11am-1pm and all are welcome.
Summer Bridge continues in the Gateway Hotel, Swinford on Monday evenings at 7.30pm and all are welcome.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 card game held in The Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday night, August 4, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Darby Leonard, Mary O’Hara and James Cafferty. Raffle winners were Veronica McCarrick, Breege Leonard and Kevin Maloney. The game takes place every Tuesday night at 9pm in the Yeats County Inn, Curry and all are welcome.
The Sarsfields host Burrishoole in Fr O’Hara Park in the county U12 summer league on Wednesday, August 12, with the throw-in confirmed for 7pm.
The 2026 Eugene McLoughlin Memorial Run will take place on Sunday, August 16. This is the undoubted highlight in the town’s summer calendar and draws large crowds from far and wide who come to admire and marvel at the spectacular display of machinery that winds its way through the streets, villages and townlands it travels through on its designated route. The event is in its fourteenth year and continues to grow and thrive with a very hard working and progressive committee working tirelessly behind the scenes to improve and enhance the product year on year. All proceeds from the event go to CROI which is a most worthy and heartwarming cause that very much deserves your support. There will, as always, be plenty of entertainment for young and old on the day with a kiddies fun run also taking place, so bring your pedal bikes, tractors, go-karts, etc. Music will also be provided in abundance with Pat’s Country Roadshow, Stuart Moyles and Mad for Ceol doing their stuff to keep everybody dancing and entertained. Registration takes place from 11am-12.30pm on day at McLoughlin’s Pub, Barrack Street.
The Diocesan Pilgrimage of Achonry and Elphin to Knock will take place on Sunday, August 16. Ceremonies begin at 2.30pm with the Anointing of the Sick and Concelebrated Mass at 8pm.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts game held in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday night, August 2, as Podsie and The Duke squared off in the red and green with a raucous atmosphere. Jovial John donned the mantle of referee and took to his new role like a duck to water as he flexed his muscles when need be, to ensure law and order prevailed throughout. The Duke experienced something of an identity crisis as he found the red and green something of an uncomfortable fit, being much more accustomed to wearing the Supermac’s maroon and white. This definitely impacted on his performance at the ochie as he struggled with his range and accuracy with the crowd chanting the red and green of Mayo doing little to improve his mood as his plummeted and his darts misfired spectacularly.
Podsie, buoyed by Mayo’s victory, took control in imperious fashion and swept his way into a two set lead with the Duke offering minimal resistance. Things didn’t improve one iota for the Duke in the third set as Podsie, sensing his opponent’s misfortune, took full advantage and wiped the board with him as he coasted to a three set victory in facile fashion. Podsie, as always, was most gracious and humble in victory and didn’t rub it in in any way as he shook the hand of his opponent warmly with the two men agreeing to swap jerseys with Podsie’s a much better fit on the Duke which turned out to be the root of all his ills on the night. Another wonderful victory for Podsie, his fourteenth of a vintage season with his next mission to help the Duke learn the lines of the Green and Red of Mayo which he will be bombarded with for the next twelve months or so!
The pool remains a hive of activity as they make their way into August albeit the scorching temperatures have abated for the time being at least. The timetable for August with regard to lessons, free lane swimming etc can be viewed on the pool’s Facebook page. The summer is slipping away from us with the pool having just three weeks left or thereabouts so grab your chance for a dip or avail of the many activities they have available and on sight before the season runs out.
The Charlestown Organic Community Garden looked absolutely superb during the fabulous weather we had in late June and all of July. The committee did a wonderful job in growing and nourishing the beautiful array of flowers and vegetables that command pride of place in this beautiful piece of ground located next to the church. The flowers look absolutely gorgeous thanks to care and attention foisted on them by a very dedicated and attentive committee who worked around the clock during the hot weather ensuring the produce were watered and fed sufficiently. They did an amazing job as the place continues to grab the attention of young and old within and outside the community with plaudits coming from all sources and corners of the globe. Well done to Paddy Casey and his dedicated team as they prepare for the autumn season which is almost upon us with a bountiful of dazzling colours sure to be evident if you’re passing by. Keep up the good work folks!
The Charlestown Library is open to the general public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 noon-7pm and Saturdays from 1-4pm. The library is well stocked with books of all types and genres and is well worth a visit if reading is your hobby and pursuit of choice.
Charlestown Sarsfields U16 development team staged a real smash and grab victory over Breaffy in the latest round of fixtures in the U16 development championship played at Fr O’Hara Park recently. The Sarsfields edged home on a score line of 6-6 to 5-8 in shootout where goals were the only currency the teams seemed to be dealing in on the day.
The home side looked dead and buried when they trailed by seven points with minutes remaining as the visitors looked to be coasting home but a dramatic finish saw the Sarsfields hit the West Mayo lads for 2-2 in what was an incredible finish with Breaffy unsure what hit them at the final whistle.
The Sarsfields snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with this win sending them through to the semi-finals thus keeping alive their hopes of adding a county development title to their East Mayo crown which they annexed a few weeks back. More news on who and when they play will appear next week when the latest round of fixtures are released by the county board.
Charlestown U16 girls host Claremorris in Fr O’Hara Park in the county U16A championship on Wednesday, August 12, with the throw-in confirmed for 7pm.
The week after the All-Ireland was like no other in the storied history of the town. It was well covered in last week’s splendid souvenir which the paper brought out to commemorate Mayo’s magnificent All-Ireland success. Charlestown, like every other town, played host to large crowds from early afternoon to well past normal closing hours as the businesses enjoyed a real bounce and more than embraced the extra spending that people embarked on as Mayo mania truly gripped people like never before. The town was heaving for several nights after the All-Ireland as people forgot about the day-to-day struggles and toil and just lapped up the success and felt a real connection with their identity and culture. The scenes on the night of the All-Ireland and the Monday and Tuesday were special as people paraded around in their jerseys and colours and never took them off, truth to tell, until well into the weekend and after. This contagion spread to all ages and cohorts as our Mayoness came to the fore like no other. We felt a deep connection to the team as they were ordinary mortals like the rest of us doing an extraordinary thing as they flipped the script, upset all pre-match predictions, and took out the reigning champions with a display of high-octane football laced with emotion and passion.
The team displayed qualities we all have reason to display in the day to day grind namely tenacity, resilience, resolve, grit, doggedness, all of which were called upon after their horror start when they shipped 1-5 in the first ten minutes. The above traits seemed stitched into their jerseys however, as slowly but surely, they clawed their way back into the game and offered hope to those of us in the stands and terraces that this was going to be somehow different. The team played like men in the true sense of the word hence why the connection with them touches a chord in every single one of us. They are our representatives on the county stage, good enough to be there in the first place and smart enough to realise that to make it at that elite level takes an awful lot of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and determination to stay the course and survive and prosper in the white heat of battle on the biggest stage of the lot that Croke Park is.
We’ve all dreamed of marching behind the Artane Boys Band on All-Ireland final day, scoring the winning point, executing a match-saving block but that remains the preserve of the very best and most talented hence we’re honest enough to admit our shortcomings and inadequacies and throw our lot in behind them and support them to high heaven. Intercounty football is a most unforgiving, demanding place and environment that places huge strains and demands on the players personal, professional and social lives yet it remains an environment that’s attainable for the ordinary five eighth as talent combined with hard work and commitment can take you a long way in sport which mirrors life as we know it. You can’t put a price on what winning Sam has done for the youngsters in Charlestown, and indeed every town for that matter. It has provided them with role models they can readily identify with, with Paul Towey living proof of what can be achieved through hard work, perseverance, sacrifice and talent. He’s someone they meet in the streets, see in the shops and is always honing his skills in the park on his down days looking for that all important edge to make himself better. He’s a real hero as he’s visible and on the ground with himself and his fellow Mayo teammates providing the template on what one can achieve by dreaming big and shooting for the stars.
Mayo has the chance to build on the platform of what this success can bring. It provides a building block to create an acumen and plan with any amount of people, I’m sure, willing to row in behind Andy and his vision as this is but the start of what we hope will be a dynasty as we strive to bring Sam back to our county on a more regular basis. It won’t be easy as history dictates other counties will be gunning for us in 2027 and football by its very nature can be unpredictable with a modicum of good luck needed to mount a serious defence of the title. What happened on Sunday, July 26, however, was liberation day as we finally put the ghosts to bed and set in chains a celebration that reached into every house, village and townland in Mayo as a county celebrated as one. It makes us proud to be from Mayo and gives us a status and sense of importance that can only empower us going forward. It was the week that was and one that will to quote two fellow townies "Live Forever".
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €4800 in the weekly draw held on Monday, July 27, and following were the four numbers drawn; 14, 20, 25, and 27. The winners of the 3 x €20 prizes were as follows; Jean Walsh, Colm Hughes and Michael McCarrick. The jackpot rose to €4900 and the draw was held on Monday night, August 2. Tickets on sale in a number of outlets, priced at €2 and the draw can also be played online via the club’s Facebook page.
Charlestown Sarsfields Minor ladies lost out to Westport in round one of the division one minor A championship played at the Westport GAA grounds recently. The ladies put it up to the hosts from the off and never took a backward step at any stage but came up short against a very good and well drilled Westport team who knew they were in a game however and had to dig deep to repel a very strong Sarsfields challenge. The Sarsfields can take plenty of positives from the game as they played very well and competed valiantly with one of the favourites for the title. They will be keen to pick up the pieces in their next outing, and the two teams may well meet again down the line at a later date if the Sarsfields can re-emerge and claim the second play-off spot in the group.
Charlestown Athletic resumed their quest for promotion from Division 2 of the Mayo Soccer league with a home game against Conn Rangers B in Bellaghy Park last weekend. Charlestown will be anxious to get back on the winning trail after their recent loss to Ballinrobe in the McDonnell Cup final and there will be a full report in next week’s column.
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Couples celebrating their Silver, Ruby, Golden, Diamond, Platinum or other wedding anniversaries are invited to attend one of two Jubilee Masses, along with their families and friends, on Sunday, October 4, at 2.30pm in Ballaghaderreen Cathedral. Bishop Kevin will celebrate both Masses. Light refreshments will be served afterwards for all in attendance. As each couple celebrating an anniversary will receive a certificate from Bishop Kevin, they are asked to register their details. If you have any questions, contact Sr. Pat Casey or Bernie Mulligan in the Achonry diocesan office on 094 9860034, or Sheena Darcy in the Elphin diocesan office on 071 9150106.
The death took place of Una Mulrennan, Cloonaugh, Carrowbehy and previously of Castlehill, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon on August 1, peacefully, in the Sacred Heart Hospital and Care Home, Roscommon. Una was predeceased by her parents Tom and Bridget, brothers Patrick, John, Jim and Tom, sisters Mary Power, Bridget Boomer and Kathleen Heavican and is survived by her sister-in-law Margaret, brother-in-law Joe, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and many friends both in Ireland and the USA.
Úna reposed in The Sharkey Funeral Home, Loughglynn on Tuesday, August 4, followed by removal to Christ the King Church, Lisacul arriving at 8pm. Mass of the Resurrection was held on Wednesday, August 5, at 12 noon, followed by interment in Lisacul Cemetery. May Una rest in peace.
The death took place of Thomas Vesey Derreen, Bohalis, Ballaghaderreen, on July 3, peacefully. Thomas was predeceased by his parents Pat and Nellie, and is survived by his brother John (Manchester), sisters Annie May (Manchester) and Kathleen, his brother-in-law Seamus, nephews Geoffrey, James and Ray, step-uncle Kevin and his wife Monica, his good neighbours, relatives and many friends. Thomas reposed in The Kilgarriff Funeral Home Ballaghaderreen, on Sunday August 2, followed by removal to the Church of Ss. John the Baptist and Colman Derrinacartha, arriving at 8pm. Mass of the Resurrection took place on Monday, August 3, at 2pm with burial afterwards in Carracastle Cemetery. May Thomas rest in peace.
The lotto numbers drawn for Saturday, July 25, were 23, 25, 43 and 46. There was no winner.
