Local Notes: Kilkelly Kilmovee Magazine launch at Ireland West Airport.
At the Kilkelly Kilmovee book launch which was held in Ireland West Airport were from left; Mary Teresa Duffy, Jamie Hunt, Susan Regan and Grainne Duffy. Pic; James Hunt Photography.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €14,300 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, November 24, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 2, 4, 11 and 36. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Angela Forkan and the Honan family. The winner of the bottle of whiskey kindly sponsored by Delaney’s Mace was Padraic Kivlehan. The latest jackpot increased to €14,400 and the draw was held on Sunday night, December 1.
The death took place in Dunleer, Co Louth, of Ann Torris (nee Horkan), formerly of Charlestown. Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
The death took place at the District Hospital, Swinford, Co. Mayo, of James Cassidy, The Fairgreens, Charlestown, and formerly of Laughta Durcan, Meelick, Swinford. His remains were removed from Horkan’s Funeral Home, Lowpark, Charlestown, to St. James’ Church, Charlestown, and burial took place after solemn requiem Mass to the cemetery of the resurrection.
He is survived by his sisters Mary, Teresa and Madeline, sisters-in-law Nora and Mai, brothers-in-law Sean and Vincent, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. The Jimmy as he was affectionately known, who was pre-deceased by his wife Patricia, parents Jim and Delia, brothers Vincent, Kevin and Johnny, was a much loved and respected member of the community of Charlestown and beyond where he had forged many strong bonds and friendships.
Jimmy was a nice man in the true sense of the word who had an innate sense of kindness and decency about him that manifested itself in so many ways. He was a good neighbour to all in the Fairgeens Estate where he was always willing to pitch in and help out in any which was he could. He was a keen gardener who took great pride in keeping his garden and lawn in pristine condition and was always pottering about cleaning and tidying and keeping the grounds of the estate in tip top condition. The death of his beloved wife Patricia only last May hit him hard as he was devoted to her in every sense. He fought bravely against illness in recent times and never lost his good humour, wit and sense of fun which endeared him to many and made him a popular presence in and around the community. His death robs the town of a genuinely good man who lived his life in the best way he knew how and he leaves many great memories which his family will cherish and hold dear in these deep, dark hours and days. We tender our deepest sympathies to the bereaved.
Congratulations and best wishes are extended to Paddy and Patricia Colleran, Lavey, Charlestown, who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary recently. Paddy and Patricia are a well known couple in the Charlestown community with Paddy the man at the helm of Colleran’s Pharmacy for the best part of fifty years and more. Paddy and Patricia are a picture of good health and remain very active in the community and are keen bridge players and regularly contend for the top prizes in the various bridge competitions held in the local club and throughout the county. They are wished continued good health and happiness for many more years to come and here`s to the next big milestone as their many friends and customers extend their heartiest congratulations on reaching such a significant landmark.
The next Community Coffee Morning takes place in the Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown on Friday, December 6, from 11am-1pm and all are welcome to come along. Lift access available.
]The death took place in Manchester, England recently of Michael Cassidy, formerly of Hagfield, Charlestown, and brother of Des Hagfield, Eamon Tyrone and Mary Gallagher, Kilmovee. Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
Curious about care giving? Come and join the Atlantic Care team and chat to them at Tesco, Swinford on Friday, December 6, from 10am -1pm. Call 094 9014028 or email info@atlanticcare.ie. They are on a mission to provide compassionate and exceptional healthcare services that uplift communities in Mayo.
Charlestown Foroige are excited to announce that following the success of Charlestown 3rd year Foroige Christmas party two years ago it’s back.
It will take place on Sunday, December 22, from 5-7pm in the CBD Recreational Centre. The cost is just €5 per family and there is various activities planned for the evening such as face painting, Christmas jumper competition, games and much more.
They are also excited to reveal that Santa Claus and his Elf have been in touch with them from the North Pole and will make an appearance in their grotto on the evening in question. We hope to see you there for an event that’s sure to be one of the highlights of the Christmas season in the community of Charlestown.
There was a good crowd at the annual general meeting of Bord na nÓg (the underage wing ) of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA club held in the Arts Centre on Sunday, November 24, and the following officers were elected for the coming year; Chairman - Donal Healy, secretary - Neil O’Connor, treasurer - Michael Doherty. All three officers presented very detailed and comprehensive reports to the meeting covering every aspect of underage football on and off the field. Chairman Donal Healy thanked the many coaches and volunteers who helped in the training and coaching of all underage teams in the club in both genders with their commitment and dedication to the job being noted and applauded by him and all present at the meeting on the night. He was in the happy position of being able to report that over 300 players represented the club at the many and various grades and competitions which was a very noteworthy achievement and one they hope to emulate and beat for the 2025 season. He reported on a number of initiatives the club introduced during the course of a long and busy year which included strength and conditioning training, diet and nutrition programmes, athletics training all of which were hugely beneficial as it provided the youngsters with the latest in terms of best practice and conditioning in terms of preparing your body for the rigours of competition and match practice.
Winter training programmes were put into place for a number of teams in the club with Carracastle Astro turf and the complex being used to facilitate these training initiatives. He was very appreciative of the efforts parents made to bring players to all matches which was a huge plus as it kept the transport costs to a minimum and ensured the teams always had plenty of support every time they took to the pitch in the club colours. He also thanked the many businesses and individuals who provided sponsorship during the year which was greatly appreciated and is ample proof of the deep connection that exists between the club and community. He was in the happy position to report that several new sponsors came on board in terms of jersey sponsorship and donations of one form or another which helps enormously in the provision and purchase of gear, footballs and training equipment to ensure all teams lack for nothing when it comes to competition and taking on the best teams in the county. He outlined the costs it takes to run the underage wing of the club which is quite substantial to say the least and was honoured to serve with the officers around him all of whom carry out their business with the greatest of integrity with honesty and transparency very much to the forefront of their every action. He congratulated the many teams who enjoyed success in the playing fields of which there were many with silverware, while not being the be all and end all, always welcome and enjoyable when it happens as it lifts the community and gives the underage structures a real boost and fillip to keep going and drive on. He once again appealed for more people to come on board and help out in whatever way they can but was grateful for the terrific support the club receives from the community at large and thanked the senior club and their executive for the unstinting and un wavering support they provide at all times.
Secretary Neil O’Connor’s report provided a comprehensive report on the progress of all teams in the club from U6 up to minor with both boys and girls grades receiving ample coverage in his well put together document. The nursery has been a huge addition since its inception with numbers increasing year on year with many new volunteers and coaches coming on board to provide help and support which is very much appreciated and recognised by the officers and committee. Neil congratulated all teams on their participation in the many competitions in which they took part and lauded the coaches for their involvement, dedication and passion which was evident in every team that donned the club colours during the year. He congratulated the U12/13 girls teams who qualified for an U12 league final and U13 semi-final respectively and while success eluded them they played with great promise and spirit and were a credit to their coaches. He also congratulated U12 boys who finished top of their division in the division 2 summer league winning every game they played and showing lots of promise for the future. The U13 boys were congratulated on winning their development league final against Aghamore with the U14 boys showing some real improvement during the year as they qualified for the division 2 league semi-final and East Mayo A final but lost out to a strong Kiltimagh with the Sarsfields giving as good as they got in both competitions.
The U14 girls had a terrific year completing the league and championship double which was a marvellous achievement and a testament to the talent and ability of a very fine team who really performed to the optimum of their ability in each and every performance. The U15 girls also went close to losing out to Westport in thrilling league and championship finals which were wonderful spectacles for those lucky enough to be present at both games. This group also took part in Feile losing out narrowly once again to Westport and competed in the All-Ireland 7s blitz in Dublin where they reached the quarter-finals. The U15 boys won the county division 2 Feile title thus qualifying for the National Feile for the first time in several years. They performed admirably defeating division 1 opposition from Kilkenny, Sligo and Cavan before losing out agonisingly to Carlow side Eire Og by two points in a gripping struggle. They lost out to Claremorris to in the semi-final of the grading league but put up a brave fight against what in essence was a division one team in disguise. The U16 boys enjoyed a great year winning the division 2 title in magnificent fashion, the first league success at this level for the club since 2019. They lost out to St Jarlath’s in the East Mayo Final and competed with distinction and no little passion and spirit in the county A championship where they were pitted against some really tough opposition in the form of Ballina, Westport, Ballintubber and Castlebar respectively. They may not have won any of the games but they were ultra competitive in every game and made their opposition go to the very end before victory was secured. There are some very promising talents in this team who have the potential to kick on and develop into very good players if they continue on their current path of development. The U16 girls had a brilliant campaign winning the county inder-16A championship convincingly and also winning the league shield in what was a stellar year for this group with their display in defeating Hollymount in the final one of the outstanding performances of the year.
The U17 boys made it to the semi-final of the division 4 grading league and show lots of promise for the future with the U18 girls winning the championship shield final which was some consolation for earlier disappointments during the year. The Under-boys were amalgamated with Kilmovee under the banner Sarsfields Shamrocks and hit the crossbar if you like losing out to Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin by the slender margin of a point in the County B Championship final while also enduring a tough defeat to St Jarlath’s in the East Mayo Minor A final.
Neil thanked everybody who helped out in any way with the coaching and training of teams and looked forward to more of the same in 2025 with his report being roundly applauded by all present.
Treasurer Michael Doherty presented a very professional and thorough balance sheet and was in the happy position to report a healthy surplus which is a tribute to his excellent book keeping and prudence in charge of the exchequer. Michael keeps a keen eye on the finances with each and every penny the club spent accounted for and documented on the balance sheet right down to the last cent. He thanked the many donations and sponsorship they received from local businesses and private individuals and was keen to point out the success of the bucket collection which raised a substantial amount of money in the summer period. The club have some very dedicated members and parents involved who help out in the area of fund raising, transport and other vital areas that a club of our size needs to operate successfully in order to compete with the best clubs in the East Mayo division and beyond. Michael also acknowledged a very generous and sizeable donation from the Regan family in Chicago which kept the club in credit so to speak and helped keep the figures buoyant. Donations such as this, while most unexpected , are always welcome and speaks volumes for the work being put in grassroots level with the club extremely lucky have people of the calibre of the current executive in control and driving the underage structures forward in a very positive direction. Michael’s work was lauded and acknowledged by his fellow officers and all members present as he continues to bring honesty, candor and decorum to a very responsible and demanding position.
That drew the meeting to a close with chairman Donal Healy thanking all who attended as he wished everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful New Year with the club in a very good place at underage level as they look to build on the excellent platform 2024 provided.
Christmas Paint and Sip event takes place in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown, on Friday, December 13 at 7pm, with mulled wine and prosecco on arrival. Finger food followed by live music into the night. Get your friends together and book your tickets before they sell out. For more information check out Walsh’s Public House Facebook Page and follow the link.
The week ahead sees several more teams in action in both genders and for more information on fixtures, opposition and times check out the splendid Cubs Facebook page which contains up to the minute details of all matches and tip-off times.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Wednesday last, November 20, at 8pm, and the following were the prizewinners: 1st Mary Lynskey and Tom Dunne, 2nd Paddy and Patricia Colleran, 3rd Hilary McDonagh and Tom Ginty, 4th Michael Dee and Tommie O’Malley, 5th Hilary McCrohan and Carmel Moffitt.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 card drive held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry, on Tuesday, November 26, at 8.30pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Joe Mahon and Kevin Maloney; 2nd Mary and Michael Lynskey. Raffle winners were Joe Mahon, Teresa McIntyre and Breege Leonard.
A very unique calendar of special images from The Butterfly Garden, Swinford, honouring all the little babies who couldn’t stay was launched recently. Calendars are €10 each (postage extra) with all proceeds going to the Butterfly Garden Maintenance fund. To order, call or text Anita on 087 9794338.
Clann Machua will present the hilarious comedy ‘A Wake in the West’ in the Town Hall Theatre, Kiltimagh, on Tuesday (this evening), December 3, Wednesday, December 4 and Thursday, December 5 at 8pm each night. Tickets are available at the door.
The East Mayo Athletic Club AGM will take place on Friday, January 10, in the Arts Centre, Barrack Street, Charlestown at 7pm. All members, coaches and the community at large or anyone interested in becoming involved with the club are welcome to attend.
Santa’s grotto will appear in Walsh’s Public House, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday, December 8 at 5pm. Admission is €5 per child and children must be supervised at all times. This event is organised by the CBD events committee.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €4000 in the weekly draw held on Monday night, November 25, and the four numbers drawn were as follows; 15, 18, 27 and 28. The following were the winners of the 3 x €20 weekly prizes Francis Durkin, The Cunnie Family and James Cunnie. The latest jackpot increased to €4,100 and the draw took place on Monday night, December 2. 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.
The Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club are to receive ‘The Club of the Community Award’ at the Mayo Club All Stars Night to be held in Knockranny House Hotel, Westport on Friday, December 13. The award recognises the positive impact of the GAA club in the community and is testament to the outstanding work in the development and completion of the magnificent new Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch and Walkway in memory of the late Colm who was such an integral part of both the club and the community. The vision and ambition the club executive and members displayed to get the project across the line cannot be praised highly enough with the facility a lasting legacy for the next generation of Sarsfields players, members, supporters and general public who have derived great use out of the facility with the pitch and walkway a hive of activity, with the walkway proving particularly popular with walkers, joggers and appealing to all ages across a broad spectrum of ages. There will a large crowd of Sarsfields supporters and members present on the night to commemorate the occasion and we look forward to grand night of fun, chat and laughter tinged with a little emotion as Colm’s memory continues to burn brightly in the hearts and minds of all Charlestown Sarsfields supporters and the community in general.
St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown, take on Elphin College (Roscommon) in the Connacht Senior E championship on Wednesday, December 4, at a venue and time to be confirmed in the coming days.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday night, November 24, as Boom Boom and the Egg locked horns in another interesting episode of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was back in his referee’s booth and did his usual top class job ensuring law and order prevailed at all times. The Egg made the better start and tucked the first set away with a tidy 136 finish in the fourth leg. This rich vein of form stayed with the Egg into set two as he took the first two legs with some more mesmeric finishing. Boom Boom was very much at odds with himself as he struggled badly for consistency hence it was no surprise to watch the Egg surge into a two set lead as he nailed the bull in the third leg to take what looked an unassailable two set lead.
Boom Boom needed to get something going at the start of the third set to stay alive in a game that looked to be slipping from his grasp with each wayward dart he pegged. His tenacity and cussedness is never to be underestimated however as he clawed his way back into the light stringing three legs on the bounce to clinch the set and leave him just one behind and leave him in much better fettle as he opened the fourth set with the advantage of the darts. The Egg knew a storm was brewing but credit to him he managed to quell it in quite spectacular fashion as he re-discovered his level of the opening two sets and took the opening two legs against the darts to leave him a position of real control and just one leg away from victory. Boom Boom wasn’t finished yet, however, as he rolled up sleeves to take the third leg to pile the pressure back on his opponent with the game very much balanced on a knife-edge. The Egg wasn’t for turning and held his nerve admirably to seal the match with a double blast of treble twenty and double sixteen seeing him over the line and igniting wild scenes of celebration among his long suffering support base who have stayed loyal to the Egg through some very lean times. The man himself was elated to have picked up just his third title of the season and celebrated in typically ebullient fashion.
