Local Notes: Kiltimagh ladies pick up awards
Members of Kiltimagh Knock United (KKU) at the Mayo Women's League Awards recently, back row, from left: Barbara Conlon, Ciara Garvey, both KKU girls’ coaches, Deirdre Kelly, Club PRO. Front row: Award winners Michael Collins (coach) with players, Áine Monaghan, Aoife Collins and Kate Byrne. Picture: John Corless
It was a proud night for the Kiltimagh Knock United’s ladies at the Mayo Women's League Awards last week.
Áine Monaghan, Aoife Collins and Kate Byrne all featured in the Under 17 Premier League Team of the Year, with Kate also picking up a monthly award at the event held in The Western Hotel, Claremorris.
The contribution of Michael Collins to ladies football at club and county level was also acknowledged when he was announced as the recipient of the Michael Jennings Services to Football Award.
“Not only has this man been the cornerstone for the development of girls' and women's football at his club,” the citation read, “he is mostly responsible for the promotion, coaching and management of many teams at Mayo youths level for many, many, years, including emerging talent squads in association with the FAI.
"In his time as manager and coach of Mayo youths’ girls’ teams, he has always worked to a programme of very high standards and his teams have achieved the highest accolades in the game, including Gaynor Cup and Shield. It’s a testament to this man’s unwavering dedication that in front of us here tonight are many of his former players at Mayo underage level who are today playing at the highest levels within the Mayo Women's League and others who are playing at National League level.”
As KKU's head girls’ coach, Michael has been leading the hugely successful girls’ and women's section of the club for a number of years now. This is well-deserved recognition from the league for someone who is an inspirational coach and leader and has contributed significantly to the growth of the sport.
Congratulations to Aoife, Áine, Kate and Michael - wonderful ambassadors for the club and football.
Kiltimagh Knock United is a growing club and heading into a new season, the club needs help this year and in building for the future. The club needs more volunteers, coaches and committee members to sustain and grow it. Every year sees increased numbers of players participating and without volunteers to manage, coach and assist with teams, and people to help with various functions at committee level, the pressure on existing volunteers is ever-growing.
The club is asking for help and there's a job for everyone. The club is especially appealing to people who played football previously, whom it believes could be a great addition to the club's coaching team. KKU is also looking for good administration people, and people with financial, communications or PR skills to bring to the committee.
Heading into the AGM and before underage teams start hitting the field for the 2025 season, KKU would love to get the new year off to a great start by building its sideline and off-pitch teams of volunteers.
The club asks for people to think about what they have to offer, and asks people to get in touch and join a fantastic community club, that provides football for children in the community, right up to adult level.
For a chat about how you can get involved, call or WhatsApp Mary on 087-2124130, speak to any committee member or drop a PM on Facebook.
Tommy Govin, from Kiltimagh, was the winner of last week's Kiltimagh Knock United 50/50 jackpot, winning €350. The club congratulates Tommy and thanks all who supported the draw.
The Kiltimagh Knock United Under-18s enjoyed a good win in the Connacht Cup at home to Galway Bohemians.
The team, managed by John Tarpey, were more than up to the task with a convincing 6-1 win to progress to the next round, putting in a very solid overall performance. The goalscorers were Ethan Hosty with three, Liam Smyth, James McLoughlin and Daire Cunnane.
Collette O’Reilly was the winner of the Kiltimagh GAA Club’s 50/50 jackpot last week. Collette won €526. The draw was held in Langan’s.
KKU Masters had a 7-5 win over last season’s champions, Ballyglass, last week in Umbro Park.
Ronan Mallee scored three, with Gavin Groarke and Brian Gallagher getting two apiece.
Their next outing will see them face Manulla tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8:30pm.
The Monday evening walks continue at Kiltimagh GAA Pitch. The walk commences at 7.30pm, and participants are asked to please wear a hi-vis top, and dress weather-appropriate.
The walk is part of the GAA Healthy Clubs initiative where every step counts. Any club that hits the 4,000km distance over five weeks will be entered into a draw to win a share of €30,000 - there'll be three donations of €2,500 towards club funding in Connacht up for grabs.
To be part of the initiative, walkers must register and sign in to an app on their phone.
Kiltimagh Tourism Festivals has announced that the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Sunday, March 16th, at 3.00pm. The organising committee is calling all businesses, groups, clubs, schools, bands and individuals to help make 2025 a parade to remember.
This year’s parade theme is 'Home is Where the Heart Is', and it promises to be a celebration of pride in Irish culture and history, celebrating the cultures of those from all over the world who have made the local community their home. The committee invites Coilltes living away to come home to join the community, to celebrate our patron saint and national holiday. There are big cash prizes on offer for the parade.
The Kiltimagh Senior Men’s GAA team is running a ‘Last Man Standing’ competition once again this year. The competition kicks off on the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, February 1st to 3rd.
The competition is a fun activity based on predicting weekly winners from the UK Premier League.
To enter, pick 10 winners from the next 10 rounds of Premier League fixtures – one winner for each round of fixtures, and guess an answer for the tie-breaker question. In case you are thinking of picking Liverpool (or Manchester United) each week, please note that each team cannot be picked more than once. As each round of fixtures is played, only entrants who have picked a winning team for that round progress to the next round. If a match is cancelled/postponed, entrants who have picked either of the teams involved will progress to the next round. The competition runs for 10 rounds or up until there is only one entrant left.
You can enter by filling out the form online through the club’s social media sites, or you can get a physical form from any member of the senior team.
If using the physical sheet, you are asked to make sure to write a seller’s name on the sheet and send the €10 entry fee to Mick Regan via Revolut at 087-231 8147.
If anyone wishes to enter using the physical sheet but does not know a senior player, they can contact Mick Regan on 087-2318147, Conor Heneghan on 085-1428450, or Liam Murtagh on 086-0550839. The entry fee must be sent by this Friday, January 31st.
The club extends the best of luck to everyone taking part (especially those picking Manchester United) and thanks entrants in advance for their support.
Kiltimagh’s Hazel Finn came off the bench to help FloMAX Liffey Celtics claim the Paudie O’Connor National Cup last week, with a 12-point win over Killester at the National Basketball Arena. Hazel gave an energetic performance at both ends of the court, and she picked up the Most Valuable Player Award with 13 points and eight rebounds.
“I am absolutely delighted,” Hazel said, “given the amount of work we put in for this, and we just clicked the past few weeks, so we’re absolutely delighted. We had a tough few weeks at the start and for me coming in, I found it tough to click with the girls, as it’s a totally new team for me.
"[The MVP Award] means everything to me. I haven’t won one of these at senior level ever, my sister (Dayna) has a tonne, so I was working so hard to get this now! So I get to add it now to hers, I am absolutely delighted.”
Congratulations are extended to Hazel on her performance and her double win.
The Grand Final of the Winter Poker League will be held in Teach O’Hora this Wednesday night, January 29th, at 7pm. Fourteen players will compete for a prize pool of €1,865 and the title of Kiltimagh Poker Champion. The winner will also receive the Jeremy Dee Memorial Cup.
The last two seats in the final were decided on Wednesday night last when Dylan Coleman and Dave Brennan came through the last-chance play-off. The finalists and their starting stacks are: Keith Lydon 37,000, Michael Sheridan 32,300, Paul Walsh 26,900, Derry O’Sullivan 25,300, Pat Boyle 22,300, Enda Ruane 21,300, Gerry Groarke 19,900, Michael Higgins 19,400, Martin Regan 18,800, John Reynolds 18,000, AN Other 16,200, AN Other 14,800, Dylan Coleman 11,300, Dave Brennan 8,500.
The regular tournament last Wednesday night saw Derry O’Sullivan take first prize with Paul Walsh second. Third prize was won by Michael Higgins. A new fifteen-week league starts in Teach O’Hora on Wednesday night next, February 5th, with cards in the air at 8pm. Entry is confined to Mayo Poker Tour members.
The advertised tournament for next Sunday, February 2nd, in Teach O’Hora has been cancelled.
Ranganna Gaeilge/Irish Classes will recommence in Coillte Mach GAA clubhouse on Thursday, January 30th, 7.30 to 8.30pm.
Fáilte roimh chách.
This is an ideal opportunity to brush up on the Gaeilge in an informal and enjoyable environment. Bí linn don spóirt, craic agus spraoi.
If you are interested, call Aingeal on 087-988 5165.
The annual general meeting of Kiltimagh Tidy Towns will be held in the Parish Centre on Monday next, February 3rd, at 8pm to discuss a plan of action for the coming year. Anyone with any ideas for the enhancement of the town is asked to please attend. New volunteers are very welcome.
Michael Gallagher and Leona Connery were the winners of last week’s weekly bridge game which was held in the Park Hotel. Mick Dolan and Pat Keary were the runners-up with Ray Nally and Mary Colahan finishing third.
Bridge is held every Tuesday at 7.30pm. The club is open to new members joining at any time. Casual pairs are also welcome. Bridge classes are available for beginners and anybody interested can contact John McCrohan on 087-2422945.
Joe Boyle and Ciaran McDonnell were the winners of the weekly 25 Drive held in the parish centre last week. Second and third were shared by Manus Kilcoyne and Pius Forde, Mary and Jimmy Doyle and James Walsh and Martin Regan. The Last 10 winners were Michael Carney and Michael Costello. Tom Flatley and Francis McNicholas claimed the spot prizes and Kevin Heffernan, James Walsh, Mary Doyle and Hugh Forde were the raffle winners.
The next meeting of the Kiltimagh Women’s Group will take place in the Library on Tuesday, February 4th, at 7pm.
The death has occurred of James (Jimmy) Walsh, of Derrycleagh, Kiltimagh.
Jimmy was predeceased by his mother Delia, father Thomas, brothers Thomas and Joe and sister Ann and will be greatly missed by his brother PJ, his sisters Mary and Kathleen, all his nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and his many friends.
Jimmy was laid to rest in Kilkinure Cemetery after Funeral Mass at the Church of the Holy Family, Kiltimagh.
May he rest in peace.
