Local Notes: Golf Lotto, Visit by Army Band, Fundraiser Thanks
Elaine McHugh, bread shop manager; Sarah Forde, bakery manager and Annemarie O’Connell McKay, manager at Benny’s Deli, Castlerea with their Benny’s Deli McKenna Award 2026. The award recognises excellence in Irish food, hospitality, and artisan products. Benny’s Deli is a family run bakery, restaurant and delicatessen established in Castlerea in 1981 by Benny O’Connell. Pic: Breda Durr
A place in the All-Ireland Senior B boys’ basketball final awaits the winners of the All-Ireland semi-finals, which will be held at the Hub on Thursday starting at 10.30 a.m.. Castlerea Community School will be up against Educate Together from Castletroy Limerick and O’Carolan College, Nobber, County Meath.
The monthly meeting of Castlerea ICA Guild takes place in D’Gaff, Castlerea on February 9th at 8 p.m.. Looking forward to seeing all members at this meeting.
‘Seeking Safety’ is a free coping skills programme for women affected by trauma, mental health and/or addiction. Learn new ways to cope safely with your own triggers, impulses and symptoms and gain a more compassionate understanding of yourself and take back your power from the impacts of trauma, mental health and/or addiction. The programme is funded by the HSE and is being delivered in Castlerea and Boyle with a new group starting in Roscommon Town. For more information contact Lorraine in complete confidence, 094 96 21690/lcampbell@rwn.ie.
The winning bonus ball number in Castlerea Golf Club’s Lotto for January 28th was 42. Winners of this week’s lotto were John Caulfield, Tony Brophy, Tom, Tina and Bernie Ryan, Brendan Cox. Each receive €100.
The trad night held in Mulvihill’s on Sunday, January 25th with Terry McGowan and his fine team of musicians provided excellent music for the large attendance present. There was also some good singing talent on view with Dixie Thompson, Sean Moran, Fr. John McManus, Francis Murray, Danny Burke and Junior McLoughlin. The whistler did a good job on the ‘Stranger on the Shore’. Many of the trad players also rendered a verse of a song. A great night was had by all. Next trad night is Sunday, February 22nd.
The Castlerea Community School’s First Year football team had a good win over Roscommon CBS in the Roscommon Schools’ Competition for the late Damien Carty Cup at Roscommon on Friday, January 16th on the score of 3-22 to 4-6. This is a 13 a side competition. This was a great team performance with all players used playing well and taking some fine scores. Their manager, teacher Richie Britton was pleased by their display. Team: Harry Tobin, Ben Daly, James Cahill, Lorenzo Naibe, Daniel Connelly, Arthur Debrowski, Thomas Vaughan (cpt), Odhran Higgins, Blake Burke, Senan Higgins, Daniel Foley, Yuri Farias, Aaron Harte. Sub used Lubanzi Nkuhly.
In preparation for their upcoming Connacht Colleges’ Championship Castlerea Community School played a challenge game against Ballyhaunis Community School at Ballyhaunis on Monday, January 19th. This was a good workout for both teams who play different divisions in the championship. Castlerea won on the score of 3-12 to 3-9. Team manager Paul Gooney and his assistant Danny Burke were pleased with their team’s performance. Team and scorers: Aaron Cryan, Tom Vaughan, Padraic Durr, Patrick Foley, Diarmuid Fleming, Kevin Chiforiuc 1-1, Nik Knapkis, Rory Hawkshaw 0-5, Ciaran Higgins, Wiktor Dabrowski, Evan Kelly 0-4, David Walsh, Issac Lafferty, Ethan 2-0, Odhran Higgins. Subs used Aaron Harte 0-2 and Senan Higgins.
The Army Band from Custume Barracks, Athlone, paid a visit to Tarmon National School on Wednesday, January 28th. The 22 members of the band gave a fine performance playing some nice tunes for the staff and pupils and all present. The pupils and some of the staff joined in with their singing and when the band played Ireland’s Call the pupils brought the roof down. All in all a most enjoyable morning was had by all. Principal Kieran Dowd welcomed the band and special guests Danny Burke of the Castlerea Brass and Reed Band, Fr. John McManus and former school vice principal Marie Baggott. After the performance he thanked the band, stating that they gave a great performance with their many fine tunes which the pupils and staff really enjoyed. Danny thanked Mr Dowd for inviting him, saying he was delighted to be present to hear the band. Refreshments were provided for the band and guests.
Cloonbonniffe NS, F45 Fx92, will hold an enrolment evening on Wednesday, February 11th from 6 p.m.-7 p.m.. Staff are looking forward to welcoming prospective pupils and families to the school. Come and see what makes the school a special place to learn and grow.
Subscriptions for the Cloonbonniffe 200 Club Draw for 2026 are now due. Subscription renewal is €20. First prize, €100; 2nd, €50; 3rd, €25. Promoters will be contacting members in the next few weeks to collect subscriptions. Draws for the months of January, February and March will take place in March and thereafter once a month. New members welcome.
Card games are held in Cloonbonniffe NS on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Please support.
The principal, staff and pupils of Cloonbonniffe NS would like to thank all who supported the Christmas fundraiser. A special thanks to all who sold tickets.
Threen NS is taking part in a ‘Cash for Clobber’ initiative and would very much appreciate your help. This project helps to raise vital funds for the school. The closing date for items into is Monday, February 23rd. Items accepted include clothes (clean, dry and reusable), paired shoes, trainers (tied), handbags, belts. Items not accepted are toys, soiled clothes, duvets, pillows.
Subscriptions for the Trien 300 Club draw are now due. Promoters will be out and about in the coming weeks collecting. This year’s subscription is again €20. Thank you for your ongoing support. New members welcome.
An oration was given at the graveside of the late Harry Connolly, Church Hill by Danny Burke. Born in Bruff, County Limerick in 1933, Harry's late father Michael was a member of an Garda Siochana. Harry was only five months old when his father was transferred from Bruff to Athleague in 1934 and in September 1935 he was transferred to Castlerea where he remained until his retirement. He died in 1985. Harry was educated at St. Anne’s NS, the Marist Brothers and the Mary O’ Flanagan Secondary School. “He only spent three and a half years in secondary school because he was not that fond of Irish,” said Danny. “He asked his father to take him out of school and get him a job and that he did.” His first job was as a shop boy in Claffey’s Hardware and Grocery on St. Patrick's Street, Castlerea. He spent three years there. In 1951 he went to Portarlington where he worked for five years. That same year he won a minor All-Ireland football medal with Roscommon. He also won two County Laois senior football championships with Portarlington in 1954 and 1955. In 1955 he captained the Laois senior team that was beaten by Carlow in the Leinster Championship in Croke Park. In September 1955 he came back to Creggs to work. He suffered a bad knee injury in a mid-board championship game in 1956. That same year he played Senior Connaught Championship football with Roscommon against Galway. Later that year he played on the Creggs junior team that beat St. Michael’s in the County Championship Final in Castlerea. “The Roscommon Herald, reporting on the game said ‘Connolly, on one leg, beats St. Michaels’. He scored 3-3 out of a total of 3-4. He always said that he spent five happy years in Creggs.
In 1960 he won a Roscommon county senior football championship with United Stars Creggs and Oran in 1961. He went to work in Corbetts in Galway where he worked for twelve months and Harringtons Paints later Dulux, becoming area manager and was with them until he retired.
“He played with the Fr. Griffin’s Club in 1961 and was on the Galway junior team that won the Connaught championship. Playing with him on the forward line were Seamus Leyden, Sean Cleary and John Keenan who went on to win senior All-Irelands on the Galway three in a row team. Harry played championship football with three counties, senior with Laois and Roscommon and junior with Galway. He also played with five different clubs during his career Tarmon, Castlerea, Portarlington, Creggs and Fr. Griffins,” said Danny.
He was treasurer of the Castlerea GAA Club in 1962 and 1963. He was an U-21 selector in 1968 and 1970 when the club won two county titles. He won a senior county championship with Castlerea in 1967 and on that team were his great friends, Jackie Cleary and Adrian O'Sullivan, who also travelled all over the country to football matches with him.
Danny went on to recall that Harry was also a great singer and sang with the Marist Brothers Choir. He was also a member of the Castlerea Church Choir for 25 years. He was a member of Castlerea Musical Society and took part in ten shows. He also took part in a few plays.
“Harry, you have now gone to join your wife Celia, parents Michael and Agnes, brothers, Kieran and Sean, nephew, Keith, sisters-in-law Kay and Annette and many of your friends. It was a pleasure to be your friend all those years so until we meet again, slan,” concluded Danny.
