Local Notes: Prizewinners at the annual Tony and Bernie Towey Dance competition.

Bord na nÓg AGM

The annual general meeting of Bord na nÓg (the underage wing of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club) took place in the Town Hall Arts Centre on Sunday, November 23 last and there was a nice crowd in attendance as the club looked back and took stock on another extremely busy year on and off the field. The following officers were elected for the 2026 season; chairperson Donal Healy, secretary Neil O'Connor, treasurer Mike Doherty, coaching officer Kiefer Craig, schools liaison officer Brian McDermott.

The executive presented very comprehensive reports to the meeting outlining in detail the comprehensive body of work the club completed in a very busy and active 2025. Chairman Donal Healy noted in his report that football was provided for over three hundred (300) children at the different age grades across genders and areas of competition. This is a quite phenomenal statistic and an indication of the terrific work being done on the ground by a very committed and dedicated core group of coaches and volunteers who are at the cutting edge in terms of coaching with the results bearing fruit on the fields of play with some outstanding successes achieved in both the boys and girls grades.

Standout victories included retaining their division 2 league title with a very impressive performances against Ballinrobe in the final showcasing this group at their very best. They also added an East Mayo U16A title for good measure with a display full of grit, spirit and resolve in taking down a very good St Jarlath’s combination. The U14s were also very much to the fore as they also did the double winning a division 3 league title in great style and adding an East Mayo U14A title to their collection, taking out a much fancied Moy Davitts side who competed in division 1 of the county league. This was due reward for a very willing and eager group of players who never stopped improving throughout the season with their management team getting the very best out of a determined and fine group of young men who look to have many more days ahead of them in the future. The U12 team swept before and behind them going through the summer league unbeaten and defeated some of the traditional powerhouses at this grade with the likes of Ballina, Castlebar, Westport and Breaffy all falling victim to a very promising team which contains some fine young prospects who have been well tutored in the area of ball skills and positional play by a fine management group.

The chairman paid tribute to all who gave of their time so willingly and generously but stated more help is needed with a call for more volunteers to step forward and get involved to continue to grow and enhance the Sarsfields brand to allow them to compete on a equal footing with the best teams in the county. He urged past players to get involved in some shape or form with all offers, however small, most welcome and appreciated as the numbers at the younger grades and ages continue to grow and expand. He stated that upwards of 40 coaches were involved at underage level this year which is laudable and to be congratulated but ‘we must not rest on our laurels’, he warned, ‘as now is the time to build and enhance on what`s been achieved to date’. He outlined the sustained investment by the club in an athletic development programme for all players aged from U14 to U18 which involves a block of sixteen weeks from November-March involving where all players are monitored and tutored in the area of athletic development and improvement with all boys and girls in that age cohort currently undergoing intensive training in this area at the moment.

The club will also have a new Games Development Officer in situ in February 2026 who will be working eighteen (18) hours a week which will involve visiting the schools in the parish and setting up coaching programmes with a view to vouching and arming the children with all the skills to be able to compete at a decent standard in club and schools football. The Games Development Officer will also be responsible for helping to set up an Easter coaching camp, the details of which will be revealed closer to the time. These are exciting times for Bord na n-Og with the club very much riding on the crest of the wave as they strive to push the envelope and set high standards of best practice. He thanked his fellow officers for all their support and commitment throughout the year and looked forward a well earned rest over the Christmas period and a chance to re-charge the batteries ahead of what’s expected to be another immensely busy and full on 2026.

Secretary Neil O’Connor echoed the chairman’s call for more help and support which is needed if the club is to continue to thrive and flourish in the years ahead. He congratulated every player who represented the club and donned the green and white with distinction. He was at pains to point out the terrific facilities the club possesses and outlined the many hours of hard work and dedication people invest to keep the pitches and facilities in tip-top shape for every match that’s played in the Fr O’Hara and Colm Horkan Memorial pitches. He thanked all the local businesses who provided support for the many fundraising activities the club engaged in with a core group of local businesses always willing and ready to help when necessary and called upon. This is a massive help to a small club such as Charlestown and tightens the link between club and community as O’Hara Park and the club continues to occupy a very prominent place at the hearts and minds of the majority in the town and beyond. Neil also congratulated the underage girls on another very successful year across all grades of competition and looked forward to more of the same in 2026.

Treasurer Mike Doherty presented a very thorough and in-depth balance sheet to the meeting and was in the happy position of being able to report a surplus and a healthy one at that. The club, he reported, have, conducted their business well in the last twelve months keeping transport costs low and drawing on parents to bring teams and players to matches all over the county which has curtailed the need for buses thus reducing one of the major sources of expenditure thus allowing the club to use their resources on much more productively in ensuring that all teams are kitted out with the proper gear and equipment to allow them to compete to the best of their ability. The club shop has been another key revenue stream on the day of big matches in O`Hara Park with membership also helping enormously to alleviate costs and providing the club with another key component in their fundraising strategy. Membership and sponsorship of one form or another kept the club’s finances buoyant as the officers continues to come up with innovative ideas to raise finance thus ensuring they are self-sufficient and able to look after their own affairs without having to call on the club proper to fund their activities. Michael was also at pains to point out the wonderful support they receive from a core group of businesses who are always first to offer their help and assistance when called on and this must be acknowledge and recognised as is very much appreciated by all connected with the club. He thanked Councillor Gerry Murray for his kind annual donation of €1,000 to the club coffers which is as generous as it is welcome and an indication of the fine job Bord na n-Og and the club do in providing the best in terms of facilities and recreation for the youth in the community. He concluded by again reaffirming the need for more support from the community in terms of boots on the ground to allow the club to continue to thrive and grow into the future. He was happy to stay on in his role which was very well received and applauded by all present.

Chairman Donal Healy concluded the meeting by thanking all who attended and wished everybody a happy Christmas and a prosperous and a peaceful and healthy 2026 as looked forward to another successful year with the Sarsfields in a good place on and off the field.

Darts

There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown on Sunday, November 23, as The Magician and Boom Boom fought out another interesting instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was immense in his role as referee and kept both men perfectly in check throughout. The Magician was on his game from the start and took the initiative from the outset sweeping his way into a two set lead with some superb throwing. Boom Boon was powerless to halt the momentum of his opponent and looked in dire trouble ahead of the start of the third set. Things didn`t improve for the number four seed as the Magician continued to plunder his doubles with terrific accuracy. Boom Boom threatened a brief rally when he captured the third and fourth legs but The Magician kept his nerve and saw out the match with a tidy 128 finish in the deciding leg getting him over the line and ending a series of near misses having lost the last four finals he contested. He cut a delighted figure as he stepped onto the winner's podium for just the fourth time this season with Boom Boom bearing a very dejected look as he never threw a shot in anger such was the substandard quality of his darts.