Local Notes :Drama, Scór ,Hurling Final
Members of the Castlerea Community School’s All-Ireland winning basketball team, sponsored by Dermot Lyons, came to help Dermot and his staff celebrate the first anniversary of the Mace Filling Station on the Knock Road in Castlerea. Pic: Liam Reynolds
To celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge Castlerea ICA is inviting people to traditional music, song and dance night on Saturday, March 14th at 8 p.m. in Hester’s Golden Eagle, Lounge Bar. Musicians, dancers, singers and everyone welcome. Refreshments and spot prizes. Wear something green and bring family and friends. Looking forward to a great night. Cead Mile Failte to all.
The winning bonus ball number in Castlerea Golf Club’s lotto for March 4th was number 2. Winners were Paraic Gilmore, Mark Tully, Dympna McGarry, Gerry O’Keeffe, and Tom Casey. Each receive €100.
Hats off to the Trien Players on their production of the three act comedy ‘For Love and Money’ by Jimmy Keary, which they staged in the Trinity Arts Centre. They performed to a full house over three nights and what a performance each member of the cast gave. They had the audience both young and old in stitches and all really enjoyed the show. With all the doom and gloom that is around it was great to sit back, have a good laugh and enjoy. Credit must go to the cast and their wonderful director Peter McNeill and all involved for putting on a great show. The cast included Johnny Raftery, Julie Malone, Tommy Finneran, Erica Ryan, Caoilin Flynn, Michelle Flannery, Colin McColl, Ellie Mulrennan who was performing for the first time on stage, and Clarie Devine. Peter McNeill thanked the cast for their commitment and all who helped with stage, sound and lighting, Trinity Arts, front of house, car parking attendants, Peter Dolan and all who donated spot prizes for the raffle.
Castlerea Brass and Reed Band will travel to the USA for the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They depart Dublin on Thursday, March 12th and return on Wednesday, March 18th. They will be staying at the Robert Treat Hotel, Newark. They will be taking part in several parades including the Newark Parade on Sunday, March 15thwhere band chairman Sean Mannion will be the grand marshal. This is a well-deserved honour for Sean, his family, and the band. Richard Thompson, band leader and his wife Fion have been busy over the past number of weeks organising the trip. The band will also be guests of the Roscommon Society of New York at their banquet on Saturday, March 14th. After the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York, the band will perform in Deirdre and David Flattery’s (of Corlis and Athleague) pub, The Quays, in Queens and John and Ann Kenny’s (of Castleteehan and Castleplunkett) pub, Sissy McGinty’s in Queens. The band would like to thank the following for their generous sponsorship toward the trip, Roscommon County Council, Pat & Betty Garvey, Ballintubber, Frank and Helen O’Toole, Ballintubber, Michael Creighton Aluminium, Castlerea, Senator Garret Scahill, Castlerea and Seamus Scally, Dublin.
On Saturday, February 28th the Connacht Colleges’ senior hurling (B) final between Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, and Portumna Community School was played at the St. Croan’s pitch in Enfield. This is the first time, according to Danny Burke’s memory, that a game of hurling was played on the Ballintubber pitch. Both teams are from Galway and there was no pitch payable due to the weather on the day in Galway or Mayo. St. Croan’s chairman, Tommy Grogan said he and his committee duly obliged to let the game go ahead on the club’s wonderful all weather pitch. After the game, both schools were full of praise for the facilities and thanked the St. Croan’s Club.
Saturday, February 28th saw Robbie Flynn, Knockroe celebrating his 80th birthday with his wife Sarah, family and friends in Tully’s Hotel. There were many stories told about old times, recitations and of course the odd verse of many songs with whistler Junior McLoughlin. Robbie would like to thank all who organised the party, Tully’s Hotel and all who sent him good wishes. A great night was had by all. Here’s wishing Robbie many more birthdays in the years ahead.
The Cloonboniffe Drama Group is staging its comedy ‘Big splash, Small Fish’ by Jim Keane in the Trinity Arts Centre on Thursday and Friday, March 26th & 27th and Sunday, March 29th at 8 p.m. This is a great play and all those attending will enjoy it. The cast has been rehearsing very hard over the past few months. This is the group’s first play since Covid so your support would be much appreciated.
The Castlerea St. Kevin’s Minor Club would like to extend congratulations to the Castlerea Community School’s U-19 basketball team on winning the All-Ireland (B) title recently when they defeated Kildare Town Community School at Neptune Stadium, Cork, by 50 points to 45 points. Also, congratulations to their coach Thomas Callaghan, Castlerea St. Kevin’s senior player and not forgetting Joe Henry for all his input to basketball in the school over the years. The following members of the team won County Minor Division 1 Championships with Castlerea St. Kevin’s in 2024 and 2025 - Dara Curran, Kevin Hester, Jack Dolan, Jamie Dowd, Sean Vaughan, Joseph Botten, James Hawkshaw, Cian Fitzmaurice, Oisin Fleming, and Tylar Waldron.
The Castlerea Community School boys’ juvenile team defeated Ballygar Community School in the second round of the Connacht Colleges Division (D) Championships at Castlerea on Thursday, March 5th on the score of 8-12 to 1-8. Castlerea, who played some delightful football, were the stronger team and led at halftime by 8-9 to 1-1. Both team managers made many changes for the second half with Ballygar outscoring the home team by 0-7 to 0-3. The game was refereed by Castlerea’s Dermot Lyons who has been very busy over the past number of months refereeing college games in all grades. Keep up the good work Dermot. Team manager Paul Gooney with Danny Burke.
The Scór Sinsir county final is returning to Kilmurry Hall on Saturday, March 14th. Clubs from all over the county will contest the annual cultural showcase. Scór provides a very inclusive social outlet for GAA. For further information contact secretary.scor.roscommon@gaa.ie or call 087 9145557.
Is í Seachtain na Gaeilge an fhéile Ghaeilge is mó in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain. Tá sí ar siúl ó 1 - 17 Márta 2026. A celebration of our language and our culture both at home in Ireland and around the world. Bainigí úsáid as na cúpla focail.
Wishing everyone, locals and visitors alike a lovely, safe St. Patrick's Day 2026.
