Local Notes: Claremorris parade was a huge success
The fabulous organising committee for the St Patrick's Day Parade in Claremorris. Picture: Trish Forde
Gaelscoil Uileog de Búrca were the winners of the inaugural Liam Smyth Memorial Cup for best overall float at the Claremorris St Patrick’s Day Parade.
The cup was presented by Liam and Anne’s sons, Ben, Josh, Harry and Sam.
Claremorris Tennis Club were the winners of the best club/school category, and the best business award went to Morrin Haulage from Ballinrobe. The prize for the best theme went to Barnacarroll Foróige.
The theme of this year’s parade was ‘Irish myths, legends and folklore’ and the judges were Pat Keane, Anne Warde and Andrea Kean.
The organising committee thanked the main sponsors, CBE and Claremorris Credit Union. The organisers said they were delighted to get the backing of most businesses in Claremorris with sponsorship, and thanked the community volunteers who helped out.
It’s hard to win an All-Ireland title at anything and Mayo teams seem to have more than their fair share of heartache on the big occasion.
St Colman’s College are the latest to have their name etched into the runners-up list, and like 1981, the Hogan Cup eluded them on St Patrick’s Day.
What struck me, as I watched the match, was how fleeting the moment is.
There had been the build-up – the flags and colour, the previews, the nervous expectation, the messages of support on social media, the message from Kevin McStay in Celtic Park after Mayo relegated Derry and the online fundraising.
There was the bringing forward of the parade by a day. The train tickets, or the fill of diesel, or for a few, the overnight charge. The biblical mass exodus from the town on Monday morning. The journey. The sandwiches. The getting to Croke Park early. Parking. The walk to the ground. The climbing of steps. The taking of the seats. The regaining of breath. For the players – the warm-up. The roar of the crowd as the ball was thrown in.
And then, almost in an instant, it was all over. The sixty minutes of football flew by. And it was time to go home.
Everything from Seán Hurson’s first whistle was anti-climax.
It was always going to be a big ask, though few uttered it publicly. Nobody wanted to vocalise negativity. St Patrick’s had recent pedigree and a lot of players with big-game experience in their ranks. They moved the ball quickly, trying to get all of their players to touch the ball before they would begin their true task.
By half-time, there was still belief. But then, soon after the restart, St Pat’s got the goal that St Colman’s really needed. Suddenly, the hill had gotten steeper, and even if the Colman’s lads did keep at it admirably, the ask was just too big.
The brevity of the match seemed tiny in the overall occasion. Sixty minutes. If a game starts to slip away, there isn’t much time to rein it back in. There’s so little time. And then the journey home. The post-match analysis; the autopsy. The respect for the effort and the regret for the players and management, who had put so much in. But sadly, no Hogan Cup.
These are a great group of players, and all will line out for their clubs over the course of this and many more years. Some of them will pull on the green and red. Some already have. And they will all distinguish themselves in sporting and career endeavours.
If there’s one lesson to learn from it all, and I am no one to lecture anybody, but it is how fleeting the moment is. Not just on All-Ireland day, but every day. And how important it is not to lose sight of the occasion in the hype or expectation that surrounds it. To live for the moment and live in the moment.
That and how hard is to win an All-Ireland title at anything.
The final score was St Patrick's College, Maghera 2-8, St Colman's College 0-4.
The unlucky St Colman's College team was: Evan Campbell; Nathan Gill, Tom Hession, Dara Flanagan; David Hurley, Mark Noonan, Rio Mortimer; Craig Cassidy, Cathal Tierney; Ronan Kelly, Jake Mullin, Dylan Burke; Ciaran Treacy, Darragh Beirne (0-4), Sean O'Connell. Subs: Jack Comer for O'Connell (40), Ben Sheridan for Mullin (42), Jack Noone for Treacy (54), Stefan Petkovic for Gill (59), Fionan Sweeney for Burke (62).
Congratulations to Megan Commins, from Garrymore, who has been nominated for a TUS Midlands Sport Award for Senior Women’s Rugby.
Megan plays on the wing for the university where she studies Athletic Rehabilitation and Therapy.
Megan is the physio for the Mount St Michael Gaelic football team that has qualified for the All-Ireland Final. Megan’s sister, Jessica, plays at full back on that team.
Megan plays GAA, soccer and rugby for the university. The 21-year-old is a former Claremorris Colts player and was the Mount St Michael TY Student of the Year for 2020.
The Annual Awards take place on April 10th in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.
Congratulations to Claremorris GAA stars, Dara and Niall Hurley, Darragh Beirne, Paul Gilmore and Rio Mortimer who have been selected on the Mayo Under-20s. They are joined by Dylan Gallagher of Davitts, Senan Guilfoyle of Eastern Gaels, Eoin McGreal of Garrymore, Jack Keane of Hollymount/Carramore and John Finn of Mayo Gaels.
Claremorris AFC had a comfortable away win in Ballyheane last week on a 4-1 scoreline.
They were three up by half-time with Noel Mellett, Ryan McLoughlin and Calvin Joyce getting on the scoresheet. Ryan added another after the break.
The win places them second in the Premier Division table on nine points from four games, The Claremorris team was: Scott Hewson, Fionn McLoughlin, Calvin Joyce, Noel Mellett, Oisín Brady, James Morley, Ryan McLoughlin, Evan Gannon, Jason Murphy, Davy McCracken, Simon Butler. Subs: Keith Saunders, Ben Smyth, Mikie Heaney, Darragh Condron.
Best wishes are extended to the Mount St Michael girls who will play Eureka Secondary School, from Kells, in the Lidl All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools ‘B’ final at St Brigid’s GAA Club in Kiltoom, Co Roscommon this Thursday, March 27th at 2pm.
The game, which is Mount St Michael’s second All-Ireland senior football final in three years, will be decided on the day and will be streamed live. Emma Galligan and Laura Brogan are the joint managers.
St Attracta’s, Tubbercurry, are the current holders of the title.
Mount St Michael’s first win came at Pearse Park in Longford in 2010 when they defeated St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon (Tyrone) by 1-15 to 2-5.
Scorers for Mount St Michael on that occasion were Aoife Hyland with 1-2, Rebecca Kean 0-5 (4f), Laura Kelly 0-3, Sarah Tierney and Doireann Hughes 0-2 each and Amy Bell 0-1.
The Mount St. Michael team was: Elaine Murphy, Deirdre Dolan, Rachel Tierney, Katie McCormack, Maeve Kirrane, Rebecca Kearns, Amy Brett, Stephanie Delaney, Sarah Tierney (capt.), Doireann Hughes, Aoife Hyland, Amy Bell, Laura Kelly, Edel Nolan, Rebecca Kean.
This success was just reward for a remarkable team. In 2017 and 2018, the senior team reached the Connacht Final and were unlucky to be beaten on both occasions.
By 2022, Mount St Michael were back in the All-Ireland B final but unfortunately were beaten by Coláiste Oiriall of Monaghan on a 2-13 to 0-7 scoreline. That game too was played at Pearse Park.
Scorers for Mount St Michael were Bree Hession 0-3 (0-1 pen, 1f), Alana Fitzpatrick 0-1, Nina Wallace 0-1, Ciara Hyland 0-1, Ashleagh Salmon 0-1.
The Mount St Michael team on that occasion was: Ciara Brennan; Síomha McNulty, Mae Hession, Megan Cummins; Rhona O’Dea, Jenna Mortimer, Lorna Bourke; Alana Fitzpatrick, Deirbhile Horkan; Nina Wallace, Ciara Nyland, Heather Slattery; Amy Cummins, Bree Hession, Ashleagh Salmon. Subs: Aisling Cummins for Rhona O’Dea (26), Caoilinn Walsh for Amy Cummins (41), Sienna Kelly for Megan Cummins (51), Marie Feerick for Deirbhile Horkan (60).
On a beautiful Wednesday in Ballyhaunis, Mount St Michael’s senior girls won the Schools Senior A Girls League Rugby Final by defeating Roscommon’s Convent of Mercy by 56 points to 12.
Mount Saint Michael went over the line eight times – all of which were converted by Isobel Phillips. The tries came from Aoife Heaney, Síomha McNulty and Isobel Phillips with two each, and Grace Kelly.
Aoife Heaney, an Irish U-18 international, and Isobel Phillips were outstanding.
Many of the girls will play for the school in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools ‘B’ final this Thursday.
Just minutes after the news that the senior girls of Mount St Michael won the Schools Senior A Girls' League Rugby Final came the news that the school's Second Years had qualified for the All-Ireland Volleyball Semi-Final.
The team put in a fantastic performance on Wednesday at the quarter-finals in St Brigid’s, Loughrea. They faced off against Scoil Mhuire of Strokestown, Nord Anglia International School from Dublin, and St Brigid’s Loughrea. They won the first two matches before a narrow loss in the third.
With their strong team effort, they’ve secured a spot in the All-Ireland semi-final in the next couple of weeks, with the date and location to be confirmed.
Derek Fallon was the winner of the GAA 50/50 draw last weekend. Derek won €1,207 on a ticket bought in Warde’s.
A Crime Prevention Information Evening will be held in Cúram Family Centre, on Wednesday, March 26th, at 7.30pm.
A member of An Garda Síochána will give a presentation and topics covered will include home security, bogus traders, online safety, vehicle security and personal safety. This promises be a very informative and worthwhile evening.
Booking by telephone on 094-9362096 is essential.
The next Women’s Collective social gathering will take place on Wednesday, March 27th, at 7.30pm in Cúram, Claremorris. This is a social evening for conversation, comradeship and fun. All women are welcome to attend.
Garrymore GAA Club will hold an Easter Camp in Garrymore from Tuesday to Thursday, April 22nd to 24th.
The camp will run from 10.00am to 1.30pm each day and is open to all boys and girls from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. The cost of the camp is €45 for one child, €80 for two or €100 for three (children must be from the same family). There are limited places available.
To book, contact Pauline Jennings on 086-8607374 or book online.
Dance Concepts will commence children’s dance classes in Claremorris Family Resource Centre on April 14th. For full details, contact Amy on 085-170 8997.
Claremorris Family Resource Centre is offering English classes which will be starting soon. The classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6 to 8pm, and on Thursdays from 3 to 5pm for eight weeks. More information is available on 094-9377838 or at the centre to fill out registration form. The cost is €2 per class.
The death has occurred of Patricia Reddington McMahon (née Ansbro) of Flannery's Nursing Home, Abbeyknockmoy, Galway and formerly of Manchester and Claremorris.
Patricia died peacefully on March 12th at Flannery’s Nursing Home, Abbeyknockmoy. She was predeceased by her parents Bill and Josie and her son Liam and was the beloved mother of Áine (Dear), Kieran, Padraig and Damian.
Patricia is deeply regretted by her loving brother, Martin, sister, Bernadette, son-in-law Jason and daughters-in-law Michelle and Jen, her sister-in-law Clare, brother-in-law Patrick, nieces, nephews, grandchildren Liam, Seán, James, Niall, Alice, Joe and Grace, relatives and friends.
Patricia’s remains reposed at Mannion’s Funeral Home, Abbeyknockmoy on Monday, March 17th, with private removal on Tuesday morning to St Bernard’s Church, Abbeyknockmoy for Requiem Mass, followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium.
May she rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Tom McWalters, of Conagher, Irishtown.
Tom, who died suddenly at his home, is predeceased by his parents Thomas and Margaret and his sister Martina. He will be very sadly missed by his loving family – his wife Niamh, daughters Aoife and Sarah and son Brian, sisters Mary Donelon (Ballyhard), Sheila Burke (Shrule) and Betty (Conagher), brothers Paddy (Kilclooney) and John (Palmerstown), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, niece, nephews, relatives, good neighbours and many friends.
Tom’s remains reposed at his home in Conagher on Monday, March 17th, with removal on Tuesday to St Joseph's Church, Milltown for Funeral Mass. He was laid to rest in Irishtown Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
Claremorris is to get 27 more houses after Mayo Co Council granted planning permission to P McHugh & Sons Ltd to extend a development at Mayfield.
The proposed development will be made up of 18 three-bedroomed semi-detached units, four two-bedroomed semi-detached units, three three-bedroomed detached units, one four-bedroomed detached unit and one two-bedroom detached unit.
The site is located approximately 500 metres from the town centre and forms part of an existing residential development consisting of 28 units.
The death has occurred of Kevin Mahon of Ballyalla, Ennis, Co Clare and formerly of Purranes, Hollymount.
Kevin, who died peacefully at University Hospital Limerick, was the devoted and adored husband of Anne, and proud and cherished father of Jack and Sara.
Kevin was predeceased by his brother Padraig and will be lovingly remembered by his brothers Gerard, Brendan and Harry, sisters-in-law Kay, Teresa, Phil, Mary, Fiona and Jackie and his brother-in-law Valentine, his nephews, nieces, relatives and wide circle of friends in Clare, Mayo and beyond.
Kevin’s remains reposed at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Barefield, Ennis, on Monday, March 17th, with Funeral Mass on Tuesday. Burial afterwards in Templemaley Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
The death occurred on March 18th of Thomas Conroy, Kilvendoney, Hollymount. Thomas died peacefully in the wonderful care of the staff at Mayo Hospice in Castlebar, surrounded by his loving family.
Thomas is predeceased by his parents Tommy and Mary Conroy, sisters Noreen, Breege, May, Teresa, and Kathleen and brother Mattie.
Thomas is deeply regretted by his heartbroken wife Ann, daughter Deirdre, sons Mattie, Tommy, David and Kevin, sisters Margaret Cunningham (Milltown), Eileen Murphy (Newbrook), and Ann Grimes (Ballytrasna), brothers Jim and Peter (London), and Michael (Luton), daughters-in-law Caroline, Delia and Caroline, son-in-law Stephen, grandchildren Stephen, Adrian, Senan, Colm, Kelly, Odhran, Farrell, Leah and Alayna. Nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Thomas’s remains reposed at St Joseph’s Funeral Home, Ballinrobe on Thursday evening last with private removal to his home in Kilvendoney.
Requiem Mass was held at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrow Church, Robeen, on Friday afternoon followed by burial in the local cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
