Local Notes: Charlestown Sarsfields dinner dance hit all the right notes
Francis Mannion, Charlestown, senior ladies manager presenting Caitlin Durkan with Senior Player of the Year Award at the recent Charlestown Sarsfields annual dinner dance.
Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club held their annual dinner dance in the Yeats County Inn, Curry, and there was a nice crowd in attendance as the club reflected on another busy year on and off the field. Chairman Liam Breheny addressed the gathering and thanked everybody who pitched in and helped out to keep the club buoyant and competitive in all strands of competition across both genders. He congratulated all the award winners on the night and paid tribute to a wonderful club executive who always step up and help out whenever the occasion demands. He thanked his fellow officers Kevin Deignan and Tom McLoughlin for the magnificent jobs they do in the roles of secretary and treasurer respectively and congratulated Bord na n-Óg on the marvellous way they have restructured the underage wing of the club as they continue to drive high standards of performance on and off the pitch. Liam also looked forward to the opening of the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch and Walkway and stated it would be a special if poignant day in the club’s long and storied history.
There were a number of awards given out on the night with the ladies club also well represented as they too handed out some gongs in recognition of some outstanding performances on the field of play with senior ladies manager Francis Mannion taking to the floor to announce the winners of Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year respectively. The Senior Player of the Year award was awarded to Cailin Durkan who turned in some stellar performances for the ladies in the league and championship and was a model of consistency throughout a long and busy season. Cailin is a one of fittest players on the team and has improved in leaps and bounds in the last number of years and will be a vital cog in the central areas as the ladies re-group and get ready for the new season with the squad back on the park and training hard in preparation for the start of the league. The Young Player of the Year Award was presented to Julia Gawalkiewicz who turned in some excellent performances for the senior and minor teams between the posts and was a sound and reliable last line of defence at all times. Julia has had a meteoric rise to the top in recent seasons and has made the goalkeeping position her own as she continues to improve and get better with each and every game. Cailin and Juila were worthy winners of their respective awards which were warmly received by a big contingent of their teammates who cheered to their rafters when their names were called out.
It was the men’s turn to take centre stage next with a number of awards handed out to several players who caught the eye at the manner of their performances and consistency throughout the season. The Senior Player of the Year award was awarded to Fergal Quinn on the back of some very impressive performances for the Sarsfields as he slipped into the corner back position in the early stages of the league and never looked back as he played with a passion and conviction that was refreshing to see. Fergal is a very dedicated trainer who leaves everything on the field of play as he brings passion, diligence and discipline to each and every performance whenever he dons that green jersey which are the qualities one looks for when putting a team together. He has signed up for another season and continues to set the bar high in terms of what he demands off himself.
The Junior Player of the Year award was presented to Niall Towey. Niall is a very steady performer who goes about his work in a very calm and understated manner. He is equally at home in defence or attack and always puts in a shift and is a solid and consistent player who gives of his best at all times. He`s a good trainer who will be looking to push on and stake a claim for inclusion of the senior team for the coming season and has many of the right qualities and attributes needed with plenty of game time coming his way as the season kicks off in the next number of weeks.
The Young Player of the Year Award was won by Ruairi Cullen who had a super ending to the 2023 championship season. He turned in a couple of superb championship performances against Claremorris, Ballaghaderreen and Knockmore respectively and got better as the season wore on as he moved well between the lines, got on the ball and linked the play intelligently from his wing forward position. Ruairi has many good qualities and the team and club will need many more of these stirring performances in 2024 beyond as the team knuckles down to some hard pre-season training.
All three lads were presented with their awards by Marty Horkan with preparations for the opening of the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch and Walkway near completion ahead of its official opening over the June Bank Holiday Weekend. The final award of the night, the Club Person of the Year Award recognises an unsung hero if you like, who beavers away in the background fulfilling many roles and taking on copious amounts or responsibilities and duties. This year’s recipient follows in a long line of great people the club have honoured over the years with Emmet Gavaghan being presented with the Jim Breheny Memorial Shield by his son Liam who was only too delighted to present the award to Emmet in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the club in many different guises. Emmet got quite the land when his name was read out as he wasn’t expecting this but when he caught his breath he was honoured to accept the shield and paid tribute to the many great people who help make and keep the club one of the best and most distinguished in the county. It was a proud night for the Gavaghan family with Emmet’s wife Mary, son Conor and daughter Karla also present and they won’t be long brining Emmet back down to earth with lotto duties to be fulfilled the night after.
Another good night for the club as they look forward to many more good days ahead with 2024 sure to bring lots of excitement, drama and many successes (we hope) as the club continue to drive forward and compete against the best teams in the county.
There was no winner of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA lotto jackpot of €10,600 in the weekly draw held on Sunday night, March 10, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 16, 23, 26 and 28. The winners of the €50 weekly prizes were Louise McCormack and Aoife O`Brien. The latest jackpot increased to €10,700 and the draw was held on Sunday night, March 17.
Fr O’Hara Park added another chapter to its storied and fabled history when it hosted the first test in the International Compromised Rules series featuring an Over-40’s Irish selection taking on their Aussie counterparts in both the men’s women’s code with both games drawing large crowds of spectators to witness four teams go at it hammer and tongs from the tip-off.
The ladies were up first and it proved something of a mismatch as the Irish ladies put their Aussies to the sword with some stylish, slick play which the visitors had no real answers to. The game as a contest was pretty much done at half-time as the Irish ladies took a huge lead to the dressing rooms with the Aussies reduced to chasing shadows for much of the opening two quarters. Things didn’t get much better in the third and fourth quarters for the visitors from down under as the Irish ladies continued to control the football and stretch their opponents to all corners of the field with the scoreboard making for some grim reading from an Aussie standpoint. Credit to the Aussie ladies they never gave up the ghost and battled gamely to the final whistle but they were no match for a well drilled Irish fifteen who ran out big winners in the finish.
The men’s game threw in at 4pm as the large crowd huddled into the stand to take refuge from a biting wind that seeped into the bones. The national anthems from both countries were belted out in splendid style as the action got underway with the Irish selection containing some former intercounty players such as Ross Donovan (Sligo), James Martin (Longford), Kevin Golden (Dublin) to mention but three while the Aussie line-up contained a plethora of players who saw action in the AFL league back in the halcyon days of the late 1990’s and early to mid 2000’s.
The game pretty much followed the same script as the ladies game beforehand as the Irish selection took control early doors and got the scoreboard moving in the right direction from an Irish point of view. The Aussies were spirited and competitive in the tackle but their struggles with the round ball haunted them throughout as passes were misplaced and balls were given away cheaply as the nimble and fleet-footed Irish selection tagged on the scores with increasing regularity. The Irish were in control at the changeover with the Aussies struggling to make any inroads against a solid and well organised backline who moved the ball forward with the minimum of fuss and kept the ball out of contact as much as possible. The intensity and bite had long gone out of the game by the third quarter with the outcome drifting to an inevitable Irish victory. There was a nice Charlestown connection to the day with local Sarsfields man Sean Lenehan making a cameo appearance for the Irish team in the third quarter to a loud roar and round of applause from a large local contingent who turned up to shout him and the Irish team onto a resounding victory. The pitch held up superbly and full credit to the Sarsfields club for having everything in tip-top shape with the visiting Aussie teams very impressed at the standard of the facilities and the warm welcome they were afforded by the locals . It was an interesting spectacle for the many who came through the gates with everybody being looked after in customary Charlestown fashion. Well done to the club on hosting the event with all eyes now on the second test with the action switching to the Denn GAA Club in Cavan and Charlestown GAA wish Sean Lenehan and the Irish team all the very best as they take a big lead into a second test with victory and keeping hold of the Paddy Gaffey Cup looking to be a mere formality.
Well done to Caiseal Gaels Hurling team who began their division one league campaign with a resounding 3-8 to 0-10 victory over Claremorris in round one played at the Caiseal Gaels GAA grounds recently. The Gaels were full value for their victory with their ability to score goals the key difference between the teams in the final analysis. A good start to the season for the Gaels and one they will be looking to build on in the coming weeks as the games come thick and fast in what looks a very competitive division.
Congratulations to Rita Casey, Main Street, Charlestown, who received the Mayo Person of the Year Award for 2024 at a lunch held in the Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin recently. There was a fantastic turnout of family with husband John, daughters Jenna, Kayla and Ava firmly by her side along with extended family and friends from Charlestown and beyond as Rita received her award in what was an emotional occasion for the Casey family. Rita has shown remarkable courage in the last number of years since her cancer diagnosis as she continues to forge on with life and live each and every day to the full. She has displayed wonderful spirit and tenacity in coping with her illness, never taking a backward step and continuing to front up and take on the daily challenges that life throws at her with her family front and centre of her every action and interaction. She completed her fifth Dublin City Marathon last October in the astonishing time of 4 hours and 4 minutes and achieved this while undergoing treatment for her illness which speaks volumes for her courage, conviction and resolute determination. Her story has grabbed the headlines across the country as she received a commendation from the Lord Mayor of Dublin for her herculean efforts which were lauded from all corners of society. She also raised over €22,500 for the Mayo-Roscommon Hospice which was another brilliant feat as people came on board in huge numbers to help her in her endeavours. Her story has touched a chord with so many within and outside the community but Rita is never one to brag and seek the limelight and continues to plough on and tackle each and every day with the same resilience and fearlessness that have so defined her as a person. There were great scenes when Rita was called to the stage to accept the award with the large crowd offering her a standing ovation as she thanked the Mayo Association for the honour of being selected Mayo Person of the Year. Rita’s story has captured the attention of the nation and we salute her on her courage and congratulate her once again on an honour well deserved and wish her continued strength and success in her treatment as she remains steadfast in her determination to live life in the best way she knows how. Well done Rita, you are an inspiration to so many within and outside the town.
Congratulations and best wishes to Anthony and Ann Kelly, Church Street, Charlestown, who celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary recently. They are wished continued good health and happiness in the future and many more celebrations and milestones of this nature for many more years to come.
There was some more seismic action in the Honour of the Village competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, last week with Curry (1) beating Glann/Sinolane in a thriller as the South Sligo men edged home on a 5-4 score line before an enthralled crowd who packed out the splendidly appointed venue. Both teams were evenly matched from the start with little or nothing to separate them after some very keenly contested doubles encounters. The singles made for compelling viewing with the game beautifully poised at 4-4 heading into the final singles contest on which the outcome hinged. Blair McIntyre was in the Curry corner as he pitted his skills against Glan’s Brendan Horan in what proved to be an epic tussle. McIntyre held his nerve however when the tension was at its highest to seal victory for an ecstatic Curry side who secured their passage to the semi-finals. It was hard lines for Horan who threw well throughout but McIntyre was clinical when the double was there for the taking and it’s Curry who move on with Glan/Sinolane left to rue on what might have been.
There is one quarter-final down for decision this week as surprise packets Ballyglass square up to past winners Tavneena with a full report on the results plus draw news in next week's issue.
Bingo is held every Tuesday at 8. Play in the hall and online. The jackpot game for €2000 is on 51 calls or less. Game 5 jackpot is €1,000 in 40 calls or less and a total prizefund of €10,500 on offer. Lots of surprises and additional ways to win in the hall, including a new Game 11 with a separate Super Snowball jackpot and an ew €500 'Lucky Date' prize.
There was a good turnout at the weekly bridge game held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Wednesday, March 13, at 8pm and the following were the prize winners; 1st Paddy and Patricia Colleran, 2nd Tom Dunne and Mary Lynskey, 3rd Charles and Mae Quinn, 4th Michael and Patricia Brennan, 5th James Mooney and Mary O’Connell, 6th Ogie Moran and Michael Ryan, 7th Mary O’Malley and Thomas Ginty, 8th Frances and Robert Healy, 9th Ruth Connor and Noelle Spellman.
There was a good turnout at the weekly 25 Card Drive held in the Yeats County Inn, Curry on Tuesday, March 12, at 8.30pm and the following were the prize winners;1st James Cafferty and Seamus Durcan, 2nd Darby and Breege Leonard. Raffle winners were Breege Leonard, Kevin Maloney and Paul Flannery.
A 25 card drive in aid of three card playing legends - Packie-Joe Kennedy, Gerry Coleman and Raymie Morrisroe, who sadly have departed to that great house in sky will take place in the Yeats County Inn, Curry, on Friday, April 5, at 8.30pm. Total cash prize of €500 on offer. Admission €10. Doubles. Your support on the night would be greatly appreciated.
Charlestown Sarsfields begin the defence of their Centenary Cup title with trip to Aghamore to take on the locals on the weekend of March 22/23 with the time and date to be confirmed (check sports pages for details).
The death took place at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, of Tommy Kennedy, Fauleens, Carracastle. Deepest sympathies are tendered to the bereaved.
The annual general meeting of the Charlestown Swimming Pool will take place on Friday, March 22 at 7pm at the swimming pool. All are welcome to attend.
Bingo takes place in the CBD Recreational Centre, Lowpark, Charlestown, on Good Friday, March 29. Doors open at 8pm. There will be great prizes on offer and an enjoyable evening is assured. All proceeds go towards the Charlestown Swimming Pool.
There was no winner of the Curry GAA lotto jackpot of €2500 in the weekly draw held on Monday night, March 4, and the following were the four numbers drawn; 16, 17, 26 and 27. The following were the winners of the €20 prizes; Catherine Howley, Caroline Friel and Aaron Deare. The latest jackpot was €2,600 and the draw took place on Monday night, March 11.
The Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club wish to remind their members that membership for the 2024 season is now due and can be made payable to any member of the executive or alternatively can also be paid by following the link on the club’s Facebook page which gives up to minute details on offers the club have in regard to membership, annual lotto and county board draw. The cost of the membership remains at €50 and the closing date for the same is March 31.
There was a good turnout at the weekly darts competition held in Walsh’s Bar, Main Street, Charlestown, on Sunday night, March 10, as The Egg and Boom Boom battled it out in the latest instalment of the weekly classic. Governor Gus was immense in his role as match referee and kept law and order in play at all times. The Egg made the better start, wrapping up the first set in four with some tasty finishing. Boom Boom hit back to take set two as he raised his level significantly on the opening set. Boom Boom kept this high standard up in set three and won it handily with a treble 13, double sixteen blast sending his supporters into raptures such was the atmosphere being generated in this iconic venue. The fourth set saw a levelling off in the standard as both men’s level dropped considerably. Still it was Boom Boom who held the whip hand as he led two legs to one with the darts in his hand at the beginning of the fourth leg and poised for victory as The Egg struggled to maintain any kind of consistency and rhythm when on the board, Boom Boom was keen on closing out the match in four sets and this he duly did as he continued his assault on the treble twenty bed which saw him win the race to the double and comfortably at that.
The Egg knew his goose was cooked a long way out as he loitered in the high 200s while Boom Boom sized up a finish of 56 with six darts available to him to do so. He only needed two as he nailed treble 10 and double eighteen with his first two darts to seal victory and capture his third gong of the season. Boom Boom has really elevated his game to new heights since the turn of the year and has added a new layer of consistency which augurs well for the weeks and months ahead as he narrows the gap between himself and the Duke who is beginning to look nervously over his shoulder as Boom Boom closes in on the number two ranking.
