Local Notes: Hard at work at Charlestown Organic Community Garden.
Some of the hard working volunteers at the Charlestown Organic Community Garden
The committee are always on the lookout for new members/volunteers. They are only too delighted to welcome everyone through the gates for a tour of the garden and a friendly cuppa to boot. The committee are currently starting to prepare the gardens for the onset of Winter. The raised beds will be covered towards the end of October. The garden committee extend their deep appreciation and thanks to the people of Charlestown and surrounding areas for their steadfast support throughout the year. The garden is a little piece of heaven nestled adjacent to the church and graveyard and continues to draw admiration and plaudits across the community and beyond with their social media facebook page full of kind comments from across the globe. The current Garden’s members are Paddy Casey, Vera Turner, Breda and Willie Doyle, Sr. Elsie Gilmartin, Caroline Friel, Ian Isherwood, Dave, Sam and Amanda Culpan, Mary and Kay McIntyre, Sarah McCann, Nikita and Megan.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €18,900 in the weekly draw held on Sunday, October 12, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 2, 12, 13 and 26. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Conor O’Keefe and Ronan O’Grady. The jackpot increased to €19,000 and the draw was held on Sunday, October 19..
Sign up now for ballet classes that inspire confidence and creativity in your little ones. Ballet classes are suitable for children age 3 +. The classes are giving by a qualified instructor and are supportive and creative. For more information and to book call 089 407 9074.
A silent protest takes place every Friday evening on the N17/N5 Overpass from 6-7pm with numbers growing week on week as the horrors of what continues to unfold in Gaza impacts on more and more people across the country. Many have been moved to take action via protests of one form or another and the silent protest taking place at the above overpass is another indication of the depth of feeling and anger that`s out there as the people of Gaza suffer untold hardship and loss of life which is stirring up lots of emotions and outrage in people across all strands and facets of the community.
A Halloween children’s disco will be held in the CBD Sport and Recreational Centre, Lowpark, Charlestown on Thursday, October 31, from 6-7.30pm. Admission is €5 per child or €10 per family maximum. Fancy dress optional. Save the date as it promises to be an evening of spooky fun.
Senior exercise class takes place in the Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown on Friday mornings at 11am and all are welcome.
Classes take place in the Arts Centre on Wednesday mornings from 11am-1pm and new members are most welcome.
Friday Night darts takes place in Johnny’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Friday nights with a €100 prize for the winner. Check out Johnny’s Bar Facebook page for more details. Results will appear weekly in the column.
Women`s Box-Fit classes (fun fitness for all ages and levels) take place every Wednesday at the Charlestown Boxing Club Headquarters (Old Cloonfane School) from 7.30-8.45pm. The cost is €60 per eight week block or €10 per session (pay as you go). The instructor is Keely Stevens, five times national champion. Call 089 4977388 for more details.
Family Carers Ireland is currently recruiting for community homecare workers. Work hours are flexible based on availability. Essential qualification requirement is QQ1 Care of the Older Person and Care Skills modules completed and the person must have their own car and full driving licence. Send CV to jobs@familycarers.ie or contact Carol on 049 8511051 or 086 4183949 for more information.
Charlestown Drama Club will be staging three one act plays on November 13, 14 and 15 in the Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown. More details in the coming weeks as they come to hand but people are asked to save the date(s) as the tickets for the same are expected to be the hottest in town.
Dance classes with Gina are held at Carracastle Community Centre on Wednesday evenings at 8pm. Learn to jive, waltz, quickstep and line dance. For more information, contact 085 7704647.
Yoga classes with Tish takes place in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Tuesday nights at 7.15pm. All are welcome.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place October 1-31. For further information log onto www.breastcancerireland.com.
Yoga class with Sophie takes place at Carracastle Community Centre on Tuesday evenings from 7.30-8.30pm. Cost €10 per class. Free taster class for newcomers. To book call 083 4798831.
St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown host Scoil Muire Padraig Swinford in the Flanagan Cup D competition in Fr O’Hara Park on Wednesday October 22 with the throw-in timed for 12.30pm.
The East Mayo Athletic Club have a membership special offer for all new members with 15 months on offer for the price of 12 . Join now. For more information log onto the East Mayo Athletic Club Facebook page and follow the link.
Classes continue in the Town Hall Arts Centre on Wednesday nights from 7.30-8.30pm and all are welcome.
East Mayo Athletic Club’s Annual 5k in association with Hegarty’s Centra, Bellaghy, takes place on Saturday, October 25. Donations on the day with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Awareness. Free registration from 9.15am at the Charlestown CBD Sport and Recreation Centre with the run starting at 10am. The run finishes in Bellaghy with light refreshments afterwards in Centra. For more information check out the East Mayo Athletics Club Facebook page.
Workshops take place on November 3, 10, 17 and 25 in the Charlestown Arts Centre from 6-7.30pm and is suitable for 12-18 year olds. The focus over the course of the four workshops will be on movement, vocal work, script work, character development, improvisation and musical theatre. This represents a great way to meet new friends, develop creativity, confidence, wellbeing, be active and have so much fun. For more details and booking contact Carmel on 086 0734867.
Carracastle Trad session takes place every Wednesday night at Davey’s Bar, Carracastle, Co. Mayo starting at 9pm. It is an old fashioned rambling house session with no microphones or speakers. All musicians/singers welcome.
The basketball season is back up and running for the new 2025/2026 season and the club have got the season off to a great start with a couple of big victories in their opening matches. Hats off to the U14 boys and U16 girls teams who made big statements with their victories over Crossmolina and Castlebar respectively with both victories richly deserved as their superior teamwork, skill and ability saw both teams get the job done in impressive fashion. The club continues to attract new members across all grades and ages and they have some terrific talent on their books at the moment and are fielding teams in both genders from U12 up which is quite the achievement in a small community. More results and fixtures update can be had by checking out the Charlestown Cubs Basketball Facebook page.
A 4 week flower arranging class with Angela Tansey has started at Carracastle Community Centre on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm. €10 deposit is required and booking is essential. Contact Angela at 087 6039449 to confirm your place and for more information.
Charlestown Sarsfields U21 team are gearing up for their tilt at the County C championship in the coming weeks. Anthony Conway and Ruairi Cullen have taken on the reins with the group in training for the last number of weeks. They have been drawn in a group of three with Achill and Shrule/Glencorrib the two teams they will lock horns with, in a group that looks eminently winnable on paper at the very least. The dates of the first round of fixtures have yet to be released but it looks like it will be November before the competition throws in which begs the question why the late start when players will have to contend with the worst of the weather in terms of wind, rain and who knows what else with pitches under pressure to host games after a long and taxing season.
The Sarsfields will be looking to the lads with senior experience namely Tadhg Horkan, Paddy Joe Dunleavy, Mike Marren, Sean Kilroy and James Conway aided by the likes of Cian Towey, Matthew Horkan and a few more who will be pushed into action as the management are operating from a small panel. That said they have a decent chance of advancing from the group if they buy into all that’s asked of them in terms of training and commitment. The details and dates around the first game have yet to be made known but the group are working hard on the training paddock and hope to hit the ground running when the date of their first game is revealed.
A marriage enrichment weekend takes place in The Focolare Centre, Curryhills, Prosperous, Co.Kildare from November 7-9. The weekend is open to all married couples. For more information/booking www.marriageencounter.ie.
Fr O’Hara Park added another piece of history to its storied legacy with the recent staging of the epic county semi-final involving Crossmolina Deel Rovers and Westport. This was a terrific tussle played out before a huge crowd as people came from all corners of the county and beyond to witness a cracking contest between two evenly matched teams. O’Hara Park was looking its finest with the pitch in tip-top shape and this only added to the excitement and what ensued was a rip-roaring scrap between two teams who threw the kitchen sink at it with extra time needed before Westport’s greater experience and know how eventually saw them prevail with the young Deel Rovers men dying with their boots on as they served notice that they will contend for many a title in the years ahead such is the depth of young talent available to them.
Fr O’Hara Park once again displayed its ability to stage a game of such magnitude and prestige with a wonderful atmosphere in evidence from the throw-in as both sets of supporters were emotionally invested from an early stage. The neutrals got great value for their buck as play flowed from end to end with great scores, near misses, last gasp blocks and a missed penalty only adding to the drama and thrills. The Sarsfields club made a big effort to ensure their facilities matched up to the significance of the occasion and it’s fair to say this they achieved with distinction as everything went smoothly and more on the day.
Hats off to chairman Ryan O’Connor, secretary Kevin Deignan, Ciaran McBrien backed up by an army of volunteers and club members all of whom pitched in and ensured the club put on their best face with both teams glowing in their praise of the quality of the sod which only enhanced what turned out to be an match for the ages. The club lotto also had a bumper pay day with John Casey and his team of dedicated sellers ensuring supporters and followers of both teams penned their names to a lotto ticket which made it a win-win day all round for the club as O’Hara Park added another page to its celestial memoirs. The game will be remembered for many a long day as it embodied all that is good about the club with two parishes and townlands throwing everything at it in pursuit of victory. O’Hara Park stands tall as one of the great grounds in the county as upwards of four thousand people fitted seamlessly into its grounds and got to savour a football match that will linger long in the memory.
The county board may well have stumbled on a winner as some club grounds are well capable of holding games of this ilk given the right amount of notification with the atmosphere in O’Hara Park and its likes can generate, making it a much better proposition than staging it at three-quarters empty McHale Park which should be saved for finals full stop. Food for thought for the county board going forward as the county ground gets ready to host Ballina Stephenites and Westport in what should be a super end of season county final finale.
Sympathy is extended to Richard Wynne, Lowpark Avenue, Charlestown, on the death of his father Frank, Drimbane, Curry, Co. Sligo which occurred recently.
New and returning members are asked join the parish choir. No prior experience required. Practice takes place each Thursday at 7pm in the Parish Church. Enquiries to Carmel on 086 3271196.
Kilmovee Cois Tine, a relaxed community evening with live music, food and a raffle, is held on the second Monday of each month. The next Cois Tine is on Monday, November 10.
Anam Cara supporting parents after bereavement, are holding an online Bereavement Evening on Thursday, October 30, at 7pm. Breffni McGuinness will be serving as guest speaker, bringing years of experience with LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, and his robust background in pastoral care. All parents, regardless of the age of their child or circumstances of their passing are, of course very welcome, but an additional invitation is extended to these families this month. To register on the following link https://usO2web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dMyTKVBLTCOJ6LhCrutOtQA#/registration.
Exercise classes are back with Tracey in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Friday afternoons, October 24 and 31 respectively at 12 noon. All welcome. €2 contribution per class. Lift access available.
Well done and congratulations to Ciara Dunne of Capelli Hair Studios who recently celebrated 10 years in business with a party in Johhny’s Bar, The Square, Charlestown. Ciara’s Capelli Hair Studio is located on Barrack Street and she and her staff have become an integral part of the business fabric of the town and created quite the impression with her large and loyal base of customers. Ciara has worked hard to establish her business and her graft, energy and dedication has paid off as she continues to draw customers to her studio with her talent and abilities very much in demand when it comes to cutting and styling ladies hair. She and her staff enjoyed a great night out in Johnny’s Bar and she looks forward to serving the customers and people of Charlestown for many more years to come as she gets ready to embrace the next decade and more. Keep up the good work Ciara and continued good health, happiness and good trading in the future.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday, October 8, at 8pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Hilary McDonagh and Tom Ginty, 2nd Mary O`Malley and Teresa Ward, 3rd Mary Lynskey and Tom Dunne, 4th James Mooney and Mary O’Connell.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25-card game held at the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, October 14, at 9pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Mary Costello and James Cafferty, 2nd Joe Mahon and Kevin Maloney. Raffle winners were Joe Mahon, James Cafferty and Breege Leonard.
Claremorris Further Education Centre are offering classes involving Upskilling in literacy, numeracy and computers, Monday and Thursday every week from 10am-2pm. For more information contact 094 9362762 or alternatively email infoeastsouthmayo@msletb.ie.
The Music Circle with John Hoban and Isabela Basombrio Hoban returns to Carracastle Community Centre on Monday, October 27, from 7pm. All are welcome to sing a song, play a tune, recite a poem or simple listen. This is a free event, and tea/coffee and refreshments will be served.
If anyone in the parish would like to receive their silver, gold or diamond pioneer pin, or become a member email achonrypioneers@gmail.com or contact Theresa on 086 1360154.
Senior strength and conditioning classes are held at Carracastle Community Centre on Wednesday mornings at 11am. Chair based exercises and light weights are used. For more information and to book your place contact Sarah at 086 3879635.
Age Friendly Mayo is delivered by Mayo County Council and works to improve the services that older people have identified as being important to them, and the wider community, as they live healthy and active lives. The projects they offer, in conjunction with other organisations include; outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, respect and social inclusion, social participation, communication and education, civic participation and employment and health and wellbeing.
The key contributors to this programme are the Age Friendly Alliance and Mayo Older Peoples Council. The Age Friendly Alliance brings together older people, service providers and businesses to change thinking about aging and how services to our older people are planned and delivered. If you would like to find out more about this programme email agefriendlymayo@mayococo.ie.
Life after bereavement can feel very lonely. Trained facilitators conduct a weekly ‘Bereavement Support Meeting’ at the Family Centre, Knock Shrine, each Wednesday at 11am. There is also a special meeting for bereaved partners /spouses on the first Thursday of each month at 11am. No appointment needed. Further information from Monica Morley on 094 9375320.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €4300 in the weekly draw held on Monday, October 13, and the following were four numbers drawn on the night; 6, 12, 14 and 16. The following were the winners of the €20 weekly prizes; Chris McIntyre, Margaret Walsh and Mollie Crossley. The latest jackpot increased to €4400 and the draw took place on Monday, October 20. Tickets can be bought in a number of outlets or via the online platform and also by logging onto the club’s Facebook and Twitter pages respectively.
Alone is a national organisation that enables people to age at home. They have a national support and referral line for older people. If you are in need of advice, support or information, call 0818 222 024, seven days a week from 8am-8pm.
Senior Line is Ireland`s national telephone service for older people open every day of the year10am-10pm. Freephone 1800 80 45 91. Callers may feel isolated, alone and may wish to discuss a problem in confidence, or for company during the day. Senior Line’s older volunteers are trained to listen, to support, to discuss options and to refer callers to other helpful services, if necessary. Senior Line 1800 80 45 91 is open every day of the year at the above times.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday, October 12, as The Egg and Podsie fought out another interesting instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was immense as always in his role as match referee and kept law and order seamlessly. Podsie was in terrific form on the night as he put the Egg to the sword with some marvellous throwing. He was bang on it from the start and scorched away with the first set averaging well over a hundred and nailing every double that came his way. He continued in relentless fashion in set two and took the game away from his beleaguered opponent with some more stellar pegging as the Egg hardly got a look at a double such was the form the number one seed was exhibiting. The inevitable third set whitewash was on the cards with the Egg unable to stem the tide in any shape or form. Podsie simply reeled off three quick fire legs as he kept his foot to the floor in ruthless fashion. The end when it came was quick and painless as the champion checked out on double eighteen to close out a one-sided contest and seal his twelfth title of the season in the process. The Egg, while disconsolate to lose in such grim fashion, showed his wonderful sportsmanship once again as he was first on the premises to offer his congratulations as both men engaged in a warm embrace and chat which went on deep into the night.
