For one warm evening in June, the Lions arrived in Dublin and the city rose to meet them.

Corrib RFC held their 2024/25 Youth Awards evening recently at St Fursy’s Hall in Headford. This was a well-attended event with all six male and female youth teams represented by their players and their families.

Summer Series Rugby: Two of Ballina RFC’s brightest talents have been selected for the Irish U20 squad that will compete in the 2025 Summer Series in Wales against Wales, France and Scotland.

They came in their thousands, clad in blue and black and red and white, voices echoing through the streets of Dublin 4. For one night in May, Dublin was the centre of European football.

Like many her age, Aoife Heaney is just finishing her exams before looking towards the summer. However, not many fifth year students in Ireland, much less Mayo, can say they have made history and represented their country.

The Connacht Juniors squad has been named for the second Junior Interprovincial match against Ulster Rugby tomorrow (Saturday) in Castlebar RFC.

Tickets for the evening event are available from club members.

"Today is a sad day for everyone involved in Connacht Rugby"

She is the only Mayo player to be called up to the national side.

They came in their thousands – 27,580 of them, to be exact – armoured with woollen hats and a healthy dose of curiosity, not entirely sure what they were about to witness. But they knew they didn’t want to miss it.

Jack Crowley scored 15 points as Munster overcame Connacht 30-24 at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park despite Alex Nankivell’s red card.

The Connacht Rugby matchday squad has been named for tomorrow’s historic and vital BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Munster at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park (k/o 2. 30pm).

A historic sporting fixture takes place at the home of Mayo GAA this weekend.

A historic sporting fixture takes place at the home of Mayo GAA this weekend.

Connacht Schools Senior ‘A’ Girls League Final  Mount St Michael, Claremorris 56  Convent of Mercy, Roscommon 12  Patrick Hennelly in Ballyhaunis  A powerful ...

The great chess matches of history have been waged in hushed halls, with grandmasters staring each other down under the glow of dim lights. Fischer versus Spassky. Kasparov versus Karpov. Carlsen versus Anand.

This season he has continued his good form as joint vice-captain of the club, with 3 tries in 12 appearances.

It was ironic that the sleepy Norwegian seaside town of Molde was where the career of one of our brightest young footballing prospects had its lift-off moment last week.

Chicago Bulls. Real Madrid. Australia. Green Bay Packers. Three in a row. It's a phrase that defines the greats and echoes through the halls of sporting immortality. Michael Jordan's Bulls dominated the NBA with two three-peats in the 1990s.

Connacht Junior Cup Quarter-Final  Ballina 14  Dunmore 27  Daragh Coyle at Heffernan Park  At the interval, with Dunmore leading by three points courtesy of a 10-7 ...

They say don’t try to fix something that’s not broken. You can counter that argument with the cliché that if you’re standing still you’re moving backwards, so it’s hard to know what the best way to go about things is.

Connacht Junior Cup – Round of 16  Ballina 32  Corinthians 2nd XV 22  (AET, 22-22 at full-time)  Stuart Tynan at Heffernan Park  In a game as ...

The remaining allocation of tickets were snapped up within an hour of going on general sale at 10am this morning.

Connacht Rugby are thrilled to announce that Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar – the home of Mayo GAA – will host the BKT United Rugby Championship interprovincial clash with Munster on Saturday 29th March (k/o 2. 30pm).

There was a time when the thought of a rugby ball finding its way into MacHale Park would've been scorned by both the GAA and rugby fraternities.

Connacht J1A League – Round 6 Castlebar 20 Dunmore 14 Patrick Hennelly in Cloondeash A gutsy Castlebar recorded a crucial and hard-fought victory at a bitterly cold Cloondeash on Saturday night.

Connacht J1A League – Round 6 Ballina 9 Connemara 15 Stuart Tynan at Heffernan Park Storm Darragh wreaked havoc across Mayo at the weekend and it inflicted one final show of force at Heffernan Park as Ballina fell to defeat to Connemara on ...

Connacht J1A League – Round 5 Castlebar 12 Creggs 33 Stuart Tynan in Cloondeash Castlebar slumped to a second league defeat this season, and a first at home, as poor starts to each half cost them dearly against Creggs last Saturday evening.

Connacht J1A League – Round 5  Tuam 15  Ballina 14  Stuart Tynan at Garraun Park  Just a week after their late heroics against Creggs, Ballina were unable to repeat ...

The GAA's Central Council has reportedly given the green light for the match to take place.

The Lacken native has enjoyed a stellar year for the national team.

It will have an extra special place in the hearts of a Mayo area.

Mayo rugby star Clara Barrett is one of five well-known sportspeople who have been selected to receive an Elite Sports Scholarship from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, in recognition of their outstanding sporting achievements.

At last week’s Connacht Rugby press event, the organisation’s CEO, Willie Ruane, sat down to chat all things rugby in the province.

Connacht Rugby held its 2024/2025 ‘Partners Day’ in Galway city last week.

The Ireland squad for the upcoming Autumn internationals against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia has been announced by head coach Andy Farrell.

Connacht Rugby has today released its new 10-year Vision & Strategy, which set out to write the next chapter in the story of Connacht Rugby and Rugby in Connacht.

Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash between Leinster and Munster was unremarkable on many levels, given the result went along expected lines.

There was a time when sports biographies were riveting page turners, a precursor to some of the gripping behind-the-scenes documentaries on streaming platforms today.

The United Rugby Championship is a curious competition and has been a slow burner in gaining a place in the consciousness of sports fans in recent seasons.

A few weeks ago, in the wake of two exhilarating rugby sevens tournaments at the Olympic Games in Paris, World Rugby quietly announced the return of the global series in 2025.

The 26-year-old back row, who made his senior debut for the province in 2018, has gone on to make 83 appearances for Leo Cullen's side while also earning 43 caps for Ireland.

Grainne Moran retains her starting spot as Connacht Women head coach Emer O’Dowd named her starting XV for tomorrow’s (Saturday) Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship meeting with Ulster in Belfast.

Anyone in Mayo who wishes to try their hand at this fast and exciting sport, there is social touch rugby at Westport RFC on Mondays.

COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLINROBE - WESTERN PEOPLE (JULY 30 EDITION) Last Tuesday afternoon at The Green in Ballinrobe, two Connacht rugby girls’ teams were in pre-season action, as both the province's U16 and U18 teams faced the ...

Connacht Rugby have announced the signing of talented All Black out-half Josh Ioane from the Chiefs for the 2024/25 season.

Castlebar man named Connacht Rugby president It was a historic occasion for Castlebar Rugby Club last Tuesday as their first clubman was elected the new President Connacht Rugby Castlebar stalwart Jimmy Staunton succeeds Sligo Rugby’s ...

It was a night to remember for Claremorris Colts RFC as the rugby club fittingly celebrated its 15th anniversary at a Gala Awards Banquet at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris on Friday, May 24.

They say in politics that a week is a long time, and oftentimes the same can be the case in sport too.

Connacht Rugby U18 Girls Cup – Final  Ballina 29  Tuam/Oughterard 21  At Dexcom Stadium  A narrow league win over Tuam/Oughterard earlier in the season was ...

Ballyhaunis Rugby Club were one of 20 clubs to enjoy the sunshine and surrounds of Aviva Stadium on Sunday, April 21 as their youngest players took part in a day of fun-filled games at the Aviva Mini Rugby National Festival.

Connacht Rugby U18. 5 Cup Semi-Final Buccaneers 13 Ballina 13 At Dubarry Park, Athlone Ballina were extremely unfortunate not to progress to the Connacht U18.

There have been many great days on Creggs Road when the joy of sport and the wonder of humanity merged as one, but Saturday's celebrations will match any of them.

A Ballina woman has been named Irish captain for the U18 Six Nations Festival in Wales. Ballina RFC's Ailish Quinn is captaining Ireland, who are currently taking on England. They will also face italy at 2pm.

It will be a day to remember this Sunday for the U10 and U12 girls teams of Ballina Rugby Club. They will take to the field at half time during the Ireland v Italy Women’s Six Nations match this Sunday taking place in the RDS.

Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins has named his side for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Emirates Lions at Dexcom Stadium (5. 15pm).

The Ireland U18 Women’s squad has been named for the upcoming Six Nations Women’s U18 Festival which takes place in Colwyn Bay, Wales, from March 29th to April 6th.  Ballina RFC's trio of Ailish Quinn, Gráinne Moran and Emily Foley are all selected.

Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand has named the matchday squad for Saturday’s opening Guinness Women’s Six Nations clash against France, at Stade Marie-Marvingt (Kick-off 2. 15pm Irish time, live on RTÉ).

Connacht Schools Senior ‘C’ Cup Final St Gerald’s, Castlebar 53 (Dylan Rice (4), Alex Dunlop, Leo Bailey (2), Seán Collins, Patrick Flannelly tries; Oran Bourke one con; Conor McInerney three cons) Rice College 27 (Jack O’Grady, Zak Serey, Cathal ...

As a nation, we have always thrived on being the plucky underdog, attracting goodwill from countries around the world when it comes to sport and many other things as well – just look at the reaction to Cillian Murphy's Oscar success at the weekend ...

Mayo teams experienced the agony and the ecstasy of schools rugby last Wednesday when one was crowned Connacht champions at the Dexcom Stadium and the other lost their final in the most excruciating circumstances imaginable.

Connacht Junior Cup Semi Final Connemara 31 Castlebar 17 Paul O’Malley at Monastery Field Castlebar’s long wait for a Connacht Junior Cup goes on after a 14-point ...

Connacht Junior Cup Quarter-Final Castlebar 19 Ballinrobe 8 Patrick Hennelly in Cloondeash Simon Staunton’s try on 66 minutes for Castlebar finally ended the resistance of a brave Ballinrobe outfit at a bitterly cold Cloondeash on Sunday afternoon.

Connacht Senior Women’s League Final  Tuam/Oughterard Colts 65  University of Galway 0  Tomás Keating at Creggs RFC  A devastatingly ruthless performance from ...

Three players from Ballina RFC have been selected on the Ireland squad for the upcoming U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival at Colwyn Bay, Wales.

There was jubilant scenes yesterday afternoon when Connacht secured the U18 Interprovincial Championship. Following Thursday's 52-24 win over Ulster in Terenure, Connacht faced off against Leinster in the final at Dubarry Park, Athlone.

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has today named a 34-player Ireland squad for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, as preparations get underway for the 2024 campaign opener away to France on Saturday, March 23.

Two sisters from Mayo will be on opposing sides in the Bank of Ireland Connacht Women's Senior League Final on Sunday. Reignings champions Tuam/Ougherard Colts will face University of Galway after yesterday's semi-finals.

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named his side for tomorrow’s trip to Cardiff in the BKT United Rugby Championship (k/o 5. 15pm).

Dedicated student sections where fans supporters are "encouraged to have a few more pints" could ramp up the Aviva Stadium atmosphere, says Caelan Doris.

The Connacht U18 Girls take on Ulster in their Interpro semi-final match on Thursday at Terenure RFC (2:30 PM k/o)

Caelan Doris admitted to being a little more nervous than usual on Sunday when he made history as the first Mayo man to captain the Ireland rugby team.

There was history in Westport RFC as a mother and daughter duo took to the field for the first time.

It will be a proud day for all at Ballina RFC on Sunday as Caelan Doris will captain Ireland for the first time in their Guinness Six Nations clash against Italy at the Aviva Stadium (3pm).

By the time Scotland step out to face Wales in their 2024 Six Nations opener, 12,740 days will have elapsed since they last claimed the championship. For a country with a rugby tradition as rich as Scotland's, that should be utterly unacceptable.

It will be a proud night for Ballina RFC at this month's Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards

Lacken native Caelan Doris is starting number 8 as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named his matchday squad for Friday night’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations opener against France in Marseille (Kick-off 9pm local time/8pm Irish time).

Connacht J1A League Castlebar 23 Connemara 47 Stuart Tynan in Cloondeash In the penultimate round of the Connacht J1A League, a gallant Castlebar fell to a classy Connemara who shined brightest under the lights in Cloondeash last Saturday.

Cian Prendergast has been called into Ireland's Six Nations squad. The Connacht back rower replaces Munster's Tom Ahern, who misses out through injury.

The draw for the Round of 16 of the Challenge Cup has taken place

Connacht Rugby and Dexcom Inc. have announced a historic naming rights partnership for The Sportsground, ahead of the commencement of the next phase of the stadium redevelopment in March.

Connacht have been boosted by the return of Tiernan O’Halloran for tomorrow’s Investec Champions Cup tie against Bristol Bears at The Sportsground (k/o 8pm).

Energia Women’s All-Ireland Junior Cup Final  MU Barnhall 15  Tuam/Oughterard Colts 6  Tomás Keating at Shay Murtagh Park  It was cruel heartbreak for this young ...

Connacht Junior Cup – Last 16  Ballinrobe 52  Ballina 2nds 3  Patrick Hennelly at The Green  Ballinrobe sauntered to a comprehensive victory at The Green on Sunday ...

Either Castlebar or Ballinrobe will be in the Connacht Junior Cup semi-final after both sides got through their respective opening rounds at the weekend. Castlebar pulled off a brilliant comeback win against Tuam in Garraun Park.

Eight fixtures will take place this weekend as the 2024 Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior Cup commences

The Connacht Rugby management team have named their squad for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup fixture away to Lyon (k/o 1pm Irish time)

Ireland and Connacht centre, Bundee Aki and ex-Connacht player and Ireland captain, Nichola Fryday were named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men’s and Women’s 15s Players of The Year respectively

All roads lead to Mullingar next weekend as Tuam/Oughterard Colts prepare for their first-ever All-Ireland final.

Connacht Rugby have announced that their star player Mack Hansen will spend up to four months on the sidelines, due to a shoulder injury.

The Connacht matchday 23 has been named for Monday’s New Year’s Day clash with Munster at a sold-out Sportsground (k/o 3pm).

Narrow loss for Moyside boys A brave performance from Ballina came up just short against defending U18. 5 champions Corinthians in Heffernan Park on Sunday.

Connacht will face Ulster tomorrow at the Kingspan Stadium

All Ireland League Division 2C Galwegians 27 Ballina 18 In Crowley Park, Galway Brave, bustling Ballina gave Galwegians an almighty scare on Saturday in Crowley Park before a three-try blitz midway through the second-half helped the home side over ...

The Clovers and Wolfhounds squads have been named for the Celtic Challenge and both teams will have a chance to impress in the opening match of the tournament which launches on Friday, December 29 in Musgrave Park.