Local Notes: Santa Claus gathers with local children at blessing of the crib in Kilkelly.
Santa Claus gathers with local children and adults at the blessing of the crib in the square in Kilkelly. Pic James Hunt Photography.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €14,600 in the weekly draw held on Sunday, December 15, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 7, 11, 33 and 36. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Vinny Doherty and Claire Goldrick. The winner of the bottle of whiskey kindly sponsored by Delaney’s Mace was Joe Finan with Alina Pugaciov winning a Supermac’s voucher while Ciara Moran was the winner of the One For All voucher as the club gave away a few extra prizes in the lead up to the Christmas period.
The latest jackpot increased to €14,700 and the draw was held on Sunday night, December 22.
Sympathy is extended to Gerry Durkan, Pine Grove, Charlestown, on the death of his brother Joe, late of Cooleen, Ballymoneen, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo and formerly of the Ideal Bar, The Square, Charlestown, who died at St Joseph’s Hospital, Ballina recently.
The annual Curry Tractor and Vintage Car Run takes place on St Stephen`s Day (Thursday), December 26 at 1pm. Registration will be €20 per vehicle and takes place from 12 noon at the clubhouse. There will be a monster auction later in the evening in the Yeats County Inn, with doors open at 8pm. Items up for auction will be posted on the Curry GAA social media pages.
The Michael Byrnes Memorial Cup will take place in its usual St Stephen`s Day slot as Fr O’Hara Park gears up for another clash between the over 30 and under 30 brigade with the game having a provisional 12 noon throw-in (to be confirmed in the coming days). There is always a great turnout for the game as people come from all over to support and honour the memory of a man who was an integral presence in the club until his tragic death in 1997 with his exploits in the green and white still fresh in the memories of all who played and soldiered with him from underage to senior as he was very much to the fore of many of their outstanding successes in the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s. His death robbed his family, friends and the club of a terrific man who left an indelible impression on all he interacted and came into contact with as he was a genuinely nice man with a real sense of kindness and decency about him.
The identity of the two teams has yet to be revealed for the St Stephen’s Day showdown suffice to say there will be plenty of heft and bulk involved as well as ripped and sculpted bodies as the two pumped up factions get ready to go to war in the nicest way possible of course. The ladies club may well be part of the undercard as this too, has yet to be finalised suffice to say Fr O`Hara Park will be playing host to a good crowd as the game always has a charitable undertone with all involved always willing to dig deep and support the designated charity chosen to headline the event. There’s sure to be some familiar names from the past donning the club colours once again as they look to rewind the clock but this doesn’t usually end well with head gaskets, fuel tanks and red lights coming on aplenty as the bodies seize up with many having to retire early due to muscular and abdominal injuries of one form or another.
The over-30 brigade have held the whip hand over the last number of years and they are sure to be stacked with some stellar names from yesteryear who are fully intent on putting on a show as they seek to remind the younger cohort that the old adage Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent continues to apply with the skills very much intact albeit the pace at which they do things has slowed considerably. The under-30s have been putting in the hard yards on the training paddock in recent weeks as they look to wrestle the cup back after an absence of some years but they won`t have it easy as the over-30s continued to hold the whip hand in the dark arts. The ingredients are there for another classic St. Stephen’s Day encounter with plenty of sweat and endeavour sure to be on display as the club come together to celebrate the memory of a great gael.
The club takes a break for the Christmas season and will resume activities and fixtures in the first or second week in January when the basketball leagues resume. The club wish all their players, coaches and supporters a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous and healthy new year.
The residents, staff and management of St Attracta’s Residence, Hagfield, Charlestown, wish all their families, friends and the wider community a very Happy Christmas. Thank you for your support during 2024 and they sincerely hope 2025 is kind year to all.
Congratulations are extended to Josie O’Donnell, Church Street, Charlestown, who celebrated her 100th birthday recently with a get together for family and friends in the Yeats County Inn, Curry. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to Josie’s strength, determination and resilience as she reached the much coveted number with family, close friends and neighbours coming together to bestow their best wishes on a lady who has been a pillar of the community for so many years. She was joined in the celebrations by her daughter Dympna, son Declan, grandchildren and other members of the extended family with a great day had by all.
There was a special Mass held in the St James’ Church, Charlestown, to commemorate the occasion with neighbours, friends and members of the community offering their congratulations to a woman who remains in formidable shape with her mind as sharp as a tack. Josie has lived a good and active life and was never one to let the grass grow under her feet as she got on with life and lived it in the best way she knew how. She lost her husband Anthony many years ago but found the courage and inspiration to carry on as she reared her family and made sure their needs were met and provided for at all times.
She has been a good friend and neighbour to all in Church Street and joins a very select club in reaching one hundred years old which is a milestone and achievement one can only marvel at. She has and continues to enjoy good health which has been the key to her graduation to the century club and by so doing she joins a special cohort of people with Betty Hassett still going strong having passed the mark almost two years ago to the day.
Josie always took a very sensible and smart approach to life as she faced down all that it threw at her in her own inimitable fashion. Her relish and enthusiasm for the daily grind never faltered or waned and this can do attitude kept her going through the good times and the bad and gave her the capacity and energy to drive on and this she duly did as she continues to take each and every day on its merits, grateful for the fact that she is still active and sound in body and mind. I’m sure there was a cake unveiled to honour the momentous occasion with a special candle dominating the centre as people serenaded her with a special rendition of happy birthday. We congratulate Josie on reaching this magnificent age and wish her continued good health and happiness for many more years in the future as she gets accustomed to the century tag which speaks for her longevity, spirit and appetite for life.
A superbly written book by well known journalist and book publisher Edwin McGreal is currently on sale in a number of shops throughout the county. The author Edwin takes us on a journey to every club in the county where he met up with and chatted to players, mentors and officers where they shared stories and memories of what they considered was their ‘Finest Hour’ on the playing fields which led to some wonderful reminiscing and recollections as each and every club in the county provided great detail on some their best and most memorable successes.
The section on Charlestown Sarsfields recalls the breakthrough and historic county final success of 2001 where Ed interviews some of the main characters involved with David Tiernan, John Casey, Podsie Horkan and Aidan Higgins plus your truly remembering the many highlights and memories as they broke through the glass ceiling to capture the first county title in 99 years. Edwin covered the success brilliantly and brought terrific clarity and detail to the chapter which is a super read and one which continues to resonate with so many within and outside the community. The book is a must for your Christmas stocking and would be a truly fantastic present for anyone interested in club football and community in general as it is a social commentary as much as a football book which once again underlines the unbreakable bond between the GAA/Club and community. It is available for sale in Delaney`s, Mace Lowpark, Charlestown and can also be sourced on www.mayobooks.ie.
Tracey`s Lane, named in memory of the late Tracey Farrell, formerly of Bushfield, Charlestown, and daughter of Seamus and Mary Farrell, Bushfield, Charlestown, whose untimely and sudden death in December 2020 shocked the communities of Bushfield, Cloonlyon, Hagfield, Charlestown and beyond to the very core, will be officially opened to the general public on St Stephen’s Day Thursday, December 26, at 12 noon. Fr Tommy Johnson will bless the lane and Elijah Cooper, Tracey’s son, home for his first Christmas in Ireland along with his father, Tracey’s partner Steffan, will cut the ribbon in what’s sure to be poignant and emotional occasion for the family, friends and neighbours of Tracey who was such a popular presence growing up in the area during her childhood and teenage years.
The lane has been the culmination of three years of hard work and graft on the part of a very dedicated and hard working committee who moved a lot of obstacles to make it happen and did a fantastic job in the process with the lane a fitting tribute to Tracey and one which will provide many hours of recreation and exercise for all who walk and use it in the area in for many years in the future.
It will be an emotionally charged occasion for the Farrell family but one which they will take great comfort from as the whole community rallied round them in their hours of need. The committee thank everyone who worked on the lane or supported it financially, your help and support was very much appreciated and played a huge part in bringing the project to fruition and getting it across the line. A community celebration is planned in the new year the details of which will be confirmed as soon as they come to hand.
There was n good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh`s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Wednesday, December 11, at 8pm, and the following were the prize winners: 1st James Mooney and Mary O`Connell, 2nd Frances and Robert Healy, 3rd Hilary McDonagh and Tom Ginty, 4th Hilary McCrohan and Carmel Moffitt, 5th Nora McVeigh and Maura Kilcoyne.
The weekly game takes place every Wednesday night in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown at 8pm and all are welcome.
Sympathy is extended to Michael Brennan, Barrack Street, Charlestown, on the death of his sister Terry Kittridge nee Brennan, formerly of Barrack Street who died in Philadelphia, USA recently.
Sympathy is also extended to Eileen McLoughlin, Lurga, Charlestown, on the death of her mother Dorothy Durcan, Curracunane, Curry, whose death occurred recently.
Congratulations are extended to David Caffrey, Lowpark Avenue, Charlestown son of Sean and the late Kathleen Caffrey, Brackloon, Charlestown and Sarah Duffy, daughter of Padraic and Mary Duffy, Rooskey, Charlestown, on their recent engagement.
There was a good turnout at the Monster Christmas 25 Card Drive held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, December 17, at 9pm, and the following were the prize winners; 1st Miko Sheridan and Vera Scally; 2nd Joe Mahon and Kevin Maloney, James Reidy and Paul Flannery. Raffle winners were Paul Flannery, Miko Sheridan and James Cafferty. The game returns on Friday, January 3, at 9pm.
Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club received the ‘Club of the Community Award’ at the Mayo Football Podcast 2024 Awards held in the Knockranny House Hotel, Westport on Friday, December 13. It was a red letter if poignant day for the large Sarsfields contingent present on the night as the award recognised the outstanding work the club did in the completion and unveiling of the Colm Horkan Pitch and Walkway which was officially opened by An Taoiseach Simon Harris on June 2 last. The project was the culmination of four years of hard word, graft and dedication which was brilliantly directed by a very ambitious and visionary executive spearheaded by chairman Liam Breheny ably assisted by Kevin Deignan, Tom McLoughlin and a cohort of outstanding people who left no stone unturned in their desire to bring the design to fruition and this they duly did with magnificent splendour.
The finished project is something the club and community are immensely proud of and it provides a fitting legacy and tribute to a great Gael and an even better person who was deeply embedded in the club and community and whose name conjures up nothing but positive images and discussion as he was a man of loyalty, integrity and decency who was a friend to so many in the area and beyond. Liam, in accepting the award on behalf of the club, spoke very well and powerfully of how the whole project moved people from all corners of the community and beyond with the level of support the club received from the GAA community as a whole truly astounding. He paid special tribute to Bosco Walsh for his unstinting support and financial contribution which gave the plan the impetus to flourish as support poured in from all possible sources right across the globe. He reserved some special words for the Horkan family and the remarkable resolve, spirit and resilience they have shown over the past four long and turbulent years since Colm’s tragic passing and is in no doubt the pitch and walkway will keep his name very much to the forefront of all matters GAA and community in the town and provide a wonderful resource and facility for the next generation of Sarsfields starlets. The award was all the more moving and emotional as it would have been Colm’s fifty fourth birthday with the large crowd providing a standing ovation as Liam made his way to the stage to collect and accept. The club have much to be proud of as they reflect back on a seminal 2024 which will go down as a year to remember for all associated with the green and white of the Sarsfields.
The Charlestown Sarsfields Ladies Club are hoping to enter a second adult team into the Mayo Ladies Junior League for 2025. The club are already competing with distinction at the top tier of the senior club football in Mayo with the senior ladies competing in the senior championship and the top division of the league and are more than holding their own as they continue to build year on year and put it up to the heavyweights in the senior championship. The executive feel they have enough players to run two teams for 2025 hence the idea has been mooted to enter a junior team to cater for the large number of adult/underage players on their role so to speak. The call is going out to all players who may have an interest in competing at junior league and championship level with all expressions of interest very much welcomed as the club decide whether the numbers are there to run two teams. They are throwing it out there to all would be players with a link available on the Charlestown LGFA Facebook page which you can click to indicate interest or otherwise. The link is as follows : tinyurl.com/ctownjunior.
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.
East Mayo Athletics Club and East Mayo Special Olympics present Lip Sync Battles Ireland on Saturday, March 29, in the Park House Hotel, Kiltimagh, at 8pm. This promises to be a cracking night of fun, music, laughter and entertainment with both organisations very keen to make it a night to savour for all connected and involved. More news in the coming weeks but save the date and make sure you clear your diaries for what should be a cracking night of jollity and hilarity and one not to be missed under any circumstances.
Cloonacool Players are back in action. All set for February with the hilarious comedy ‘Moll’ by John B. Keane, directed by Brid Calvey and starring the ever popular Mary Kathleen Johnson, Dennis Ross and Martin McIntyre. Not to be missed – so highlight February on your calendar.
There was one winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €4200 with Carmel Colleran’s winning ticket matching the four numbers drawn out of the drum which were as follows; 1, 2, 10 and 18. The following were the winners of the 3 x €20 weekly prizes; Carmel McDonagh, Sherada Davy and Conor Maher. The club congratulate Carmel on her good fortune and wish her many happy hours of spending with her win coming at a most opportune time in the lead-up to Christmas. The latest jackpot was €2000 and the draw took place on Monday night, December 23.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday, December 15, as The Magician and Boom Boom went toe to toe in another cracking instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was immense as always in his role as match referee as he ensured good sportsmanship and manners prevailed throughout. Boom Boom came into the final in a rich vein of form having seen off the number one seed Podsie in an epic semi-final and he took up where left off in the final proper blazing his way into a one set lead as the Magician struggled to keep pace with the levels being exhibited by a pumped up number four seed. This pattern continued into the second set as Boom Boom continued to pillage his way across the board with his darts camped in the treble twenty bed which saw him ease into a two set lead and looking odds on to close the game out in three. The Magician bore something of a forlorn look at the start of the third set as he knew things had to change or he was facing the grim three nil whitewash. Things improved for the magic man in the third as he managed to steak the first two legs with Boom Boom seething at missed opportunities in both. He forged his way right back into the set however winning the next two legs with some thundering finishing as the Magician’s revival stalled with Boom Boom back in control as he held the darts for the fifth and deciding leg. He began in stirring fashion banging in 140 plus to put McGowan on the back foot as all he could muster was sixty four in reply. Boom Boom galloped to the double with two more big scores as the Magician floundered in his wake with Boom Boom mulling over a finish of 108 with three arrows in his quiver. He nailed treble twenty with his first dart and single sixteen with his second to leave him one dart at double sixteen as the large crowd held their collective breath. He zoned in on the double with typical concentration and attention and it never deviated from its flight path as it landed plum in the centre of the red baize to set in train chaotic scenes of celebration as Boom Boom celebrated in typical swashbuckling fashion with his dedicated and loyal followers. A great end to a terrific performance as he sealed his eighth victory of the year with McGowan most sporting in defeat as he warmly congratulated the victorious Breheny. This victory sets him up nicely for a right good tilt at the Christmas and New Year competitions with his game in fine fettle and confidence levels at an all time high.
