Local Notes: Congratulations, Fundraising Draw, Band AGM
Enna Conroy, Noel Curran and Breege Callaghan pictured at Castlerea Swimming Pool last week during a visit by Minister Dara Calleary to the pool. Pic: Breda Durr
Best of luck to Castlerea Celtic players Senan and Odhran Higgins, who are part of the RDYSL Kennedy Cup squad travelling to UL limerick for the Kennedy Cup. The U-7 girls travelled to Glen Celtic for their first friendly game of the season. The girls enjoyed a fantastic evening of football, finishing with an exciting penalty shootout to wrap up the match. A huge well done to the little soccer stars for all their effort, enthusiasm, and teamwork. Thank you also to all the parents for their continued support and encouragement throughout the season. Some of the senior team members called to the local schools to show off the club’s recent silverware wins Thanks to all the schools for facilitating the visit.
The junior league semi-finals saw Tyler and Jake’s teams give a great display of teamwork and skill development on Friday last. All boys can solo on the run, hand pass, and support their teammates. Tyler as captain gave a magnificent display of leadership and determination, ably assisted by Wiktor, Georgios and Ezequiel putting immense pressure on Yuvraj in the opposing goals, however this keeper was on his game and kept his team in the running, pulling off some tremendous saves. Final score Jake 1-3 Tyler 3-2.
In the senior league it was time for a showdown between Davin’s team and Deivid’s with only a single point separating the teams on the final whistle in favour of Davin. For Deivid’s, Conor Fleming, Kyle Curran and Tafa combined well but it was the support play of Davin, Ethan and John that saved the day leading to a thunderbolt of a shot from the latter which raised the green flag.
Well done to both teams on a great display of sportsmanship and camaraderie. A huge thank you to Danny Burke for his great input into St. Paul’s leagues, refereeing, and coaching skills on the field of play. Beir bua go deo leat Danny! Go raibh maith agat.
Congratulations are extended to the following in the parish who celebrated birthdays with their families and friends recently- Mary Beatty of Corlis, who celebrated her 90th birthday; Mary Finch, Ballindrimley Road who celebrated her 90th birthday; Fr. Kevin Reynolds, Castlerea, who celebrated his 80th birthday and Liam Reynolds and Eithna McLoughlin who celebrated their birthdays.
The annual Corpus Christi procession was held on Sunday, June 7th. The weather kept fine for the occasion and there were lovely altars displayed along the route, the occasion was enhanced by the Castlerea Church Choir and the Castlerea Brass and Reed band who performed the Eucharistic salute at Benediction. Fr. John McManus thanked all who helped out in any way, those who displayed altars along the route and Aras Mathair Pol, those who carried the canopy for the Blessed Sacrament, the stewards, Gardai and Margaret Staunton who recited the rosary along the route and Pat O’Connor who drove the car.
The Castlerea Lourdes Deanery Committee will be out and about in the coming weeks selling tickets for the annual draw, which helps defray the cost of bringing assisted pilgrims to Lourdes. It costs €900 to bring an assisted pilgrim to Lourdes. The tickets are €5 each for 3 for €10. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Prizes: 1st, €500 sponsored by the committee; 2nd, €200 sponsored by Mulvihill’s Newsagents; 3rd, 32 inch TV sponsored by Noel Winston; 4th, €150 voucher sponsored by Tully’s Total Health Pharmacy; 5th, hamper sponsored by Kearney’s Pharmacy; 6th, €100 sponsored by Mick Jury carpet fittings; 7th, prize hamper sponsored by Corrib Oil, Castlerea. The draw will take place in Mulvihill’s Castlerea, on Saturday, August 15th.
Mr Sean Mannion, outgoing chairman who did not see re-election, presided at the AGM of the Castlerea Brass and Reed Band held in The Hub on Friday, June 5th. He welcomed all present and thanked the band members for their commitment during the year, stating that the band had a busy year with the highlight being the trip to the USA for St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He also thanked his fellow officers for all their help saying he was not seeking re-election but that he was glad to be handing over the mantle to a younger person, Robert Rogers. Outgoing secretary Francis Murray gave a detailed account of the band’s activities during the year. Treasurer and band leader Richard Thompson thanked all who had helped with the fundraising, all who donated sponsorship, to the following who let the band sell tickets at their premises, Lyons Mace, Wispy’s, Daybreak, The Mart, Cahill’s SuperValu, Bennys, Corrib Oil, and the following who donated sponsorship towards the band’s trip to the USA, Michael Farrell, main sponsor, Roscommon Society New York, Thomas P. Giblin, John and Ann Kenney, Dave and Deirdre Flattery, John Sharkey, Pat Garvey, Senator Gareth Scahill, Seamus Scally. Musical Director Niamh O’Flanagan gave a detailed account of how the school of music was progressing since it started last September, saying four new members from the first batch are now members of the band with at least six more from the present batch by the end of the year. She thanked Martin Jones and Seamus Ward for all their help. Tributes were paid to Sean Mannion on receiving his Grand Marshal Award in Newark. Officers elected, presidents: Fr. John McManus, Fr. Kevin Reynolds; chairman, Robert Rogers; vice-chairman, Sean Mannion; secretary, Seamus Ward; assistant secretary, Francis Murray; treasurer, Tom Flynn; assistant treasurer, Richard Thompson; PRO, Danny Burke; band leader, Richard Thompson; drill master, Sean T. Kelly; musical director, Niamh O’Flanagan; assistant musical director, Sharon Arnott; child protection officer, Robert Rogers; committee members Mildred Beirne, Patsy McCaul, Karen Coen, Maria Harris, Sharon Brandon, Nigel Cassidy and elected officers. Votes of sympathy were passed to all families in the area who suffered bereavements during the year.
The Achonry and Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes church gate collection, which helps defray the cost of bringing assisted sick pilgrims to Lourdes, will be taken up at the following churches in the Castlerea Deanery on Saturday and Sunday next, June 20th/21st Castlerea, Cloonbonniffe, Trien, Loughglynn, Lisacul, Tibohine, Gorthaganny, Frenchpark, Fairymount, Ballinagare, Ballintubber, Ballymoe, Glinsk, Kilbegnet. Your support would be appreciated.
A general clean-up of Ballintubber Cemetery will take place on Tuesday evening, June 16th at 6.30 p.m.. Cemetery Mass will be held on Sunday, July 19th. The committee is asking that family members with loved ones interred in the cemetery to remove weeds, Christmas wreaths, withered flowers and artificial wreaths that are in poor condition from the graves and put in skip that is provided. If this is not done the volunteers will be removing them before the Cemetery Mass.
