Local Notes: Musicians who took part in the Kilmovee Culture Night.
Some of the musicians who took part in the very successful Culture Night which was held in Kilmovee Community Centre.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €18,700 in the weekly draw held on Sunday, September 28, and the following were the four numbers drawn;1, 3, 6 and 32. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Luke Doherty and Susan Durkan. The latest jackpot increased to €18,800 and the draw was held on Sunday, October 5.
A silent protest takes place every Friday evening on the N17/N5 Overpass from 6pm-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 seniors exercise class takes place in the 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.
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.
Yoga classes with Tish takes place in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Tuesday nights at 7.15pm. All are welcome.
JKA Sligo –Karate Club are enrolling new members, with classes based in Curry and Moylough for children, teens and adults. Contact Shane for more details on 086 7777399.
Yoga class with Sophie takes place at Carracastle Community Centre on Tuesday evenings from 7.30-8.30pm. The cost is €10 per class. There will be a free taster class for newcomers. To book call 083 4798831.
Salsa dancing classes continue in the Town Hall Arts Centre on Wednesday evenings from 7.30-8.30pm and all are welcome.
Youth Theatre Drama workshops take place on November 3, 10, 17 and 25 in the Charlestown Arts Centre from 6-7.30pm 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 bookings contact Carmel on 086 0734867.
The East Mayo Athletics Club were well represented at the recent Mayo XC Evens meeting held in Swinford recently. Those that took part in the various events did themselves, their families and the club proud with a number making the winner’s podium. The following are the list of medal winners from a well run and organised event: U8 girls Chloe McDonnell, U10 boys Conor Naughton, U12 boys Matthew Naughton, U14 boys team - Daithi Gethins, Senan Tiernan, Luke McDermott, Frank Muldoon, Kalem Higgins and Alex Pugaciov. Hats off to those who reached the podium and indeed all who took part and represented the club with honour and distinction. Special mention to the coaches who investing their time so willingly and freely, their commitment and dedication is very much appreciated and recognised.
St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown host Davitt College, Castlebar in Fr O’Hara Park in the O’Haire Cup Juvenile competition on Thursday, October 9, with the throw-in confirmed for 12.30pm.
A 4 week flower arranging class with Angela Tansey has started at Carracastle Community Centre on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm. €10 deposit required and booking is essential. Contact Angela at 087 6039449 to confirm your place and for more information.
The next Community Coffee Morning takes place on Friday, October 3, in the Arts Centre from 11am-1pm. Lift access is available and all are welcome for a cuppa and a chat.
The Parish Council held a meeting recently and they were reconstituted by Fr John Maloney. The following officers were elected; chairperson Damien McEntire, secretary Sarah Duffy, youth officer Christina Ward, communications officer Orla Sloyan. If anyone wishes to contact the parish council email charlestownparish@achonrydiocese.org.
Charlestown Sarsfields senior ladies wound up their season with a shield final clash with near neighbours Kilmovee Shamrocks at the Connacht Centre of Excellence, Bekan recently. Sadly defeat was their lot as the Kilmovee ladies prevailed in the battle of the neighbours as they eased to a comfortable 3-12 to 0-11 victory as the Sarsfields struggled to find their best form all through the match.
Kilmovee were that little bit sharper and fluid from start to finish and bagged the goals which ignited their challenge and gave them the impetus to keep the Sarsfields at bay for the duration of the match. The Sarsfields looked jaded as the rigours of a long season looked to have taken their toll on some of their key performers who struggled to get to the pitch of the game with their performance suffering as a consequence.
The goals Kilmovee plundered gave them the platform to drive on and this they did with maximum impact with the Sarsfields always playing catch-up as they needed to counter with goals of their own to have any chance of reeling in their opponents. The goals never arrived however as Kilmovee kept a tight defensive line and they managed the game out well to the final whistle to earn the bragging rights and finish the season on something of a high having failed to advance to the knockout stages.
The Sarsfields while disappointed to lose, were fully aware that they were nowhere near their best with Sinead Halligan and her management team honest enough to acknowledge that the better team won. They held onto to their senior status however which is priceless and blooded several new players all of whom got some valuable game time at this premier level of club football. The omens look bright for Sinead, her team and panel as they have some excellent talents coming through at minor and U16 level which augurs well for the future with the Sarsfields expected to bounce back strongly in 2026 and contend once again at the top end of club football in Mayo.
Congratulations are extended to Damien Kelly, Carn, Charlestown, who celebrated 50 not out recently. Damien is a well-known character in the Charlestown and surrounding areas and rumour has it there was quite a bash to celebrate his graduation to the half-century club. He is a man of many talents is our Damien and can turn his hand pretty much to anything such is his gift for all things practical and the likes. He’s also a noted singer and raconteur who can bang out a tune with the best of them and has forged quite a reputation for himself on the local music scene and mixes singing with comedy in his own inimitable style. He has that rare gift of being able to tell a story and would have you in stitches with some of the amusing incidents and situations he has found himself in over the years.
He has a terrific work ethic it must be said and is never one to let the grass grow under his feet as he rises at the craic of dawn and gets on with the job at hand on any given day. His humour is always good and he is always in jolly form and would bring a smile to your face every day of the week with his sense of fun permeating through every facet of his life. Turning 50 won’t knock a flitter out of Damien, on the contrary, he’ll consider it an achievement to have got there and will celebrate that fact as only he can. I’m sure the family had some sort of a cake prepared to commemorate the special occasion and there was plenty of takers when it came to the divvying out as Damien has lots of friends across all facets of life in all areas of the community and beyond.
The smile is never far from his face at any time of the day or night but it was positively beaming as he faces into a new decade with plenty of hair follicles intact as they continue to grow and reproduce at a rapid rate. The body looks none too shabby either which is testament to his propensity for hard work as he always believes in giving every day 100% and more. I’m not sure if he saved a bit of cake for yours truly but either way here’s wishing him many more celebrations of this nature in the years ahead, good health and happiness into the future.
Mayo Genealogy Group will hold their AGM at the next meeting which will be held at the Museum of Country Life, Turlough at the October meeting on Saturday, October 11, at 11am. Everyone interested in genealogy, family trees, DNA, history, folklore, or local history is welcome to attend any of the meetings which take place on the second Saturday of each month.
The Genealogy Group and Friends have organised a two night three day outing to Donegal/Derry area from Wednesday, October 8 to Friday 10. Spaces are still available, so for anybody interested contact Mary at 086 1280338. This is sure to be an interesting and enjoyable trip.
Drama Club meetings have resumed in the Arts Centre on Thursday nights at 7pm and new members are most welcome.
Exercise classes are back with Tracey in the Charlestown Arts Centre on Friday afternoons October 10, 17, 24 and 31 respectively at 12 noon. €2 contribution per class and all are welcome. Lift access available.
Mayo school leaver information fair, “Where to Here” is an event to support young people with a disability and their family to decide what they will do when they leave school and will take place on Wednesday, October 15 at Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar. People can drop in anytime between 11.30am-3pm. All are welcome and entry is free.
Congratulations are extended to Tony Honeyman, Lowpark Avenue, Charlestown who celebrated his fiftieth (50th) birthday with a surprise party for family and friends in Murray’s Bar, The Square, Charlestown on Saturday last. A large gathering of family and friends turned out to bestow their best wishes on a man who is well known in and around the community and he got quite the shock when he rocked up for what he thought was just a regular Saturday night drink with a few friends. Hats off to his good wife Ann-Marie who managed to keep the event a secret as people came from all over to confer their good wishes.
Tony has aged well it must be said with the hair still very much intact albeit there is a slight tint of grey becoming ever more evident. The body looks to have passed the test of time rather seamlessly with all parts still in good working order. Tony is a man of many talents with plumbing and farming two of his best known. He has a good work ethic and is never one to let the grass grow under his feet as he continues to tackle the daily challenges and face up to all that life throws at him.
There was a cake produced to commemorate the occasion with plenty of candles dominating every square inch of the rather tasty looking offering as the music and dancing went on long into the night. Tony is primed to embrace all that life will throw at him as prepares to settle into life as a quinquadragenarian. Here’s wishing him continued good health and happiness in the future and many more years of productivity and work.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Wednesday, October 1, at 8pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Hilary McDonagh and Tom Ginty, 2nd James Mooney and Mary O’Connell, 3rd Maura Kilcoyne and Nora McVeigh, 4th Frances and Robert Healy.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25-card game held at the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, September 30, at 9pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Joe Mahon and Kevin Maloney, 2nd Vera Scally and Miko Sheridan. Raffle winners were Breege Leonard, Mary O’Hara and Darby Leonard.
Learn more about efforts underway to make County Mayo an International Dark Sky Reserve. Join the Mayo Dark Sky Team for special talk from 3.30-4.30pm on Saturday, October 11, at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar. Admission is free. Booking is required. Telephone +353 949031751 or email bookingscountrylife@museum.ie.
Sympathy is extended to Fiona Conway, Hagfield, Charlestown, on the death of her mother Mary Frances Morrisroe, Barnacogue, Swinford, whose death occurred recently.
You can drop into your local centre or contact it by phone or email for information, advice and advocacy. Make sure you check your local service’s opening hours if you are dropping in. Appointments are offered as needed following an initial assessment. You can also call the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm.
Alone is a national organisation that enables older people to age at home. If you are in need of advice, support or information, call the National Support and Referral line (0818 222 024), seven days a week from 8am-8pm.
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 annual Croi night run sponsored by Benecol is coming to Charlestown on Friday, October 17. Register at croinightrun.ie and complete your 5km your way by either walking, jogging or running, with all funds going towards Croi’s fight against heart disease and stroke. Go to croinightrun.ie and select register -“Take part in your Area”. Fill in your details and select “Join a Run” select (East Mayo AC Track) from the drop-down. Complete form. Let’s light up the country together with the electric energy of the Croi Night Run.
The Adult Arts and Crafts Group meet every Wednesday from 11am-1pm in the Charlestown Arts Centre Barrack Street. All are welcome.
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 there will be tea/coffee and refreshments served.
The wedding took place at Seagrave Barns, Co Louth recently of Deirdre Henry, daughter of John and Margaret Henry, Lowpark, Charlestown and Ronan Guerin, son of Fran and Nuala Guerin, Swords, Co. Dublin. Maid of Honour was Jennifer Henry, sister of the bride and the bridesmaids were Rebecca McGrath and Aoife Ruane, while bridesman was Martin Owens, Best man was Marty McDowell and the groomsmen were Cormac Lynch and Anthony Mallin while groomswoman was Tara Guerin. Ronan and Deirdre are wished health and happiness and many years of wedded bliss.
Charlestown Sarsfields U16 girls captured the division1 A shield final with a hard fought 5-7 to 3-11 victory over Hollymount in a thrilling final played at Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown recently. As the final score would indicate this was a cracking tussle between two very evenly matched teams with the two sides going at it from the throw-in.
There was never much more than a score between them at any stage in the contest as Hollymount clung on well to the Sarsfields and never let them out of their sights at any stage in a gripping contest. Goals were very much the currency that dominated the headlines with eight in total a fair reflection of the attacking intent on display with the Sarsfields holding a marginal edge in number scored as they banged in five which kept their challenge buoyant and relevant at all times.
The two teams served up terrific entertainment to an enthralled crowd who grew ever more invested as the game played out and the goals were being rammed in at both ends. The Sarsfields did just enough to hold off a determined and willing Hollymount side who never got down despite conceding five goals, and continued to battle with great gusto and spirit right to the very last whistle.
The game was a super spectacle as both teams displayed their full array of talents with the standard of attacking play of a particularly high order. Credit to the Sarsfields who had that priceless ability of being able to score goals at key times and this proved crucial to the final outcome with the final whistle setting off great scenes of jubilation in the green and white camp. Hollymout can console themselves in the knowledge however, that they more than contributed to a fantastic game of football that will live long in the minds of all who were lucky enough to be present.
The Sarsfields had stars all over the pitch with the goals coming from Siofra McGuinness who netted a brace with Emily Higgins, Beth McDonnell and Sophie Tiernan grabbing one each. The joint captains were Alva Walsh and Aoibheann Drury and well done to Gemma Higgins and her management team on a job well done as they got the very best out of the talent available to them and had them coached to a high level.
Dance classes with Gina continue at Carracastle Community Centre on Wednesday evenings at 8pm. Learn to jive, waltz, quickstep and line dance. The cost is €10 per person. For more information and to book contact 085 7704647.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €4100 in the weekly draw held on Monday, September 29, and the following were the four numbers drawn on the night; 1, 20, 25 and 28. The following were the winners of the €20 weekly prizes; Anne Maloney, PJ Durcan and Jonathan McCarrick.
The jackpot increased to €4200, and the draw took place on Monday, October 6.
The 30th anniversary of the Carracastle Lass takes place on Saturday, October 18, at 8pm in Carracastle Community Centre. If you would like to sponsor an entrant, aged over 18, to represent your business/company, contact 0861660196 or email carracastlelass@gmail.com for more information.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday, September 28, as Podsie and the Magician danced it out in another intriguing instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was imperious as always in his role as match referee with both men towing the line impeccably. The number one seed was quick into his stride as he put the first two sets on the board with some stellar throwing. The Magician was all at sea in the early stages but gradually warmed to the task as he managed to snatch the third set with a bulls eye finish in the fourth leg extending the game into a fourth set.
Podsie, miffed by his third set loss, hit back in devastating style at the beginning of the fourth, winning the first two legs to leave him just one away from victory. The Magician wasn’t quite done yet however and battled back with typical tenacity as he won legs three and four to set up a deciding leg shootout with all permutations on the line. Podsie always finds a way however and his class endured when the pressure was at its greatest as he took out 136 with some clarity with his final dart landing plum in the middle of the double sixteen bed as the Magician loitered with some intent on double sixteen. Podsie’s victory once again owed much to his composure and temperament as it did to his class as he always finds a way to get the job done when the opportunity presented itself. The Magician was gracious as always with both men sharing a warm embrace as they chatted long into the night as Podsie savoured his eleventh title of the season.
