Local Notes: All the latest news from Kiltimagh
Winners of the Stableford competition, sponsored by Moran's Pharmacy, at Balla Golf Club were, front row, from left: Patricia Conwell (3rd), Breege Walsh (1st), CLub President Mary Jo Cannon (2nd). Back row: Lady Captain Caroline Bourke, Matt Leonard (3rd), Frank Larkin (Category 3), Club Captain John Walsh (1st), Gavin Groarke (2nd); Missing was Pauline O'Connor (Category 3). Picture: Trish Forde
Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Coillte Mach, are providing an opportunity for exam students to brush up on their oral Irish skills.
A Ciorcal Comhrá will commence in the GAA Clubhouse on Thursday, March 20, between 7 and 8pm for those interested. It is an ideal opportunity for students to improve their oral skills in a casual and relaxing environment.
If interested, please contact Aingeal, Oifigeach Cultúrtha, at 087-988 516525.
Chris Flatley and Denis Regan were the winners of the weekly 25 card game in the Parish Centre. Tom Conroy and Joe Boyle were second, with Flor Higgins and Colette Lavelle and Patsy Flatley and Hilary Foley, sharing third.
The Last 10 was won by Michael Carney and Michael Costello. Spot prizes went to John Clancy and Pius Forde, with raffle prizes going to Patsy Flatley, Alo Langan and Michael Carney.
The annual general meeting of Kiltimagh Knock United will be held on Thursday, March 27th, at 8pm in the clubhouse at CMS Park, Cloonlee, Knock.
The club is recruiting volunteers for the committee, with various roles from finance to PR and more. If you can give a little of your time and talent, the club would love to hear from you.
Nominations for positions and motions for consideration at the AGM must be submitted by March 20th to the secretary by email at kiltimaghknockutdsec@yahoo.com.
Nineteen players competed in Round 6 of the Spring Poker League in Teach O’Hora on Wednesday night last. In a short heads-up tussle, Nicky Cunnane got the better of Michael Higgins to win first prize. Third prize was won by Isaac Boyle with Gerry Groarke taking fourth.
The other finalists were: 5th, Enda Ruane; 6th, Mary McGlynn; 7th, Keith Lydon; 8th, John Reynolds and 9th, AN Other.
Isaac Boyle remains well clear at the top of the table on 120 points. Next is Michael Higgins on 93 with Nicky Cunnane on 90. The rest of the top twelve are: Martin Regan 81, AN Other 80, Derry O’Sullivan 76, Michael Sheridan 67, Keith Lydon 63, Douglas Wicks 59, Pat Boyle 57, Gerry Groarke 56, Enda Ruane 54.
The league runs for 15 weeks with tournaments every Wednesday night at 8pm. Entry is €20 with one rebuy or add-on allowed, also €20. €5 from each entry and rebuy goes towards the league final prize pool with the rest paid out on the night.
At the end of the league, the top twelve players qualify for the Grand Final and they will be joined by two others from a last-chance play-off to play for an estimated prize pool of €2,000.
In the Sunday Game rebuy tournament held on March 9th, Julian Keane and AN Other chopped first and second prizes with Julian taking the win. Paul Wash was third and Brian Cunningham fourth.
Judy Mee (Moran) was the winner of last week’s GAA 50/50 jackpot. Judy won €560 in the draw held in Kittie’s.
Clann Machua Drama Group is doing well in the confined section of the All-Ireland Drama Circuit this year, with Roddy Doyle’s three-act play, ‘The Snapper'.
The group has performed in Doonbeg, Co Clare, and Mountmellick, Co Laois, Kildare Town and in Charleville Co Cork.
On this Friday, March 21st, the group will perform in Claregalway and will be on stage the following night in Rossmore, Co Cork. Then on March 27th, they play Glenamaddy and are in Holycross, Co Tipperary on March 28th.
Nine groups will qualify for the All-Ireland finals which will be held in Claremorris in April. The group is wished the best of luck in the competition.
The Kiltimagh Writers’ Group, known as Pen & Ink, is inviting previous members to an event to be held in The Folk Café, on Saturday, March 29, starting at 7.30pm. It will consist of readings by current and past Pen & Ink members, an Open Mic for all-comers and music.
Refreshments will be provided. For details, contact Anni on penandink.comayo@aol.com.
The next social evening for the Women’s Group takes place in the Park Hotel, on Monday next, March 24th, at 6pm.
The group’s April meeting takes place in the Parish Centre on Monday, April 7th, at 7pm.
John Brennan will be the speaker at this meeting. He will speak about planting and assembling window boxes. All women are welcome to attend.
The redevelopment of Kiltimagh GAA Club’s Gilmartin Park is almost complete and will be opened in a few months. The contractor will have the walls and fencing completed in a week or so, and then the club will move to the next item – the erection of the goalposts and the behind-the-goals netting. After that the signage will be installed and the pitch should be ready for action.
As part of the works, the club has built a new 242-seated cantilever stand and developed two floodlit training areas as well as realigning its main pitch.
The club is actively fundraising to reduce its debt. Late last year, the club launched a unique fundraiser, a Sponsor a Seat campaign, when members of the club or the public can have a seat in the new stand named after them or in their family name or in memory of someone who has passed. The sponsorship cost is €350 and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats will be randomly allocated through an open draw.
The project, which has been in the works for several years, is a testament to the determination and vision of the club’s members, coaches, and the local community.
The total cost of the development is expected to exceed €500,000. The club secured two sports capital grants totalling €182,000 and a further €39,000 from the Connacht Council of the GAA.
The Kiltimagh club is in a unique position in that it has a very small catchment area and fewer businesses in the town than other towns around. This limits the size of the pool of available players and the sponsorship opportunities. The catchment area of Moy Davitts, Balla, Mayo Gaels, Claremorris, Swinford and Aghamore clubs all reach close to the town.
The club provides football for age groups ranging from under-4s to senior level, including both male and female players and currently has 17 teams in action. The club is often struggling to accommodate all the teams within its existing facilities. This development is not just for the present, but for the future; the club is building for the next generation of players.
One of the club’s key objectives with the development is to create a space that can accommodate both the senior men’s and ladies’ teams playing on the same day.
As part of the long-term vision for the park, the club is also exploring ways to better integrate with the surrounding community, offering more than just a sports venue. The idea is to transform the GAA grounds into a hub of activity for all ages, creating a space that brings together people with diverse interests.
Some stand seats remain available for sponsorship and the club is appealing for public support.
If you would like to sponsor a seat in the new Kiltimagh GAA stand, you can get in contact with the committee by email at kiltimaghgaaseats@gmail.com or by making contact with any member of the executive.
Applications for the Bus Éireann School Transport Scheme for the 2025–26 school year are now open. Ensure your child has a seat by applying before the deadline. Applications close on Friday, April 25th, and the payment deadline is Thursday, June 6th.
Post-primary students must live over 4.8km from their nearest school to apply. For primary students, the distance requirement is over 3.2km from their nearest school. Free transport is available for students with special educational needs.
This is safe and reliable Garda-vetted, structured transport. The cost is €50 for primary, €75 for post-primary, to a maximum of €125 per family. The service is free for medical cardholders. The service is also eco-friendly as it reduces traffic and emissions.
Applications can be made online at www.buseireann.ie.
Mickey Mallee was the winner of the Kiltimagh Knock United 50/50 draw last week. Mickey won the jackpot of €302.
Bridge is held in the Park Hotel every Tuesday at 7.30. The club is open to new members joining at any time. Casual pairs are also welcome.
Bridge classes are available for beginners and anybody interested can contact John McCrohan on 087-242 2945.
Kiltimagh Knock United captain, Gavin Groarke, was presented with the Westaro Masters Division 1 trophy last Wednesday by Mayo League officials, Kieran Gallagher and Martin Kielty, after the team’s 4-1 win over Ballyheane.
The KKU team was crowned Division 1 champions the previous week and have now won all of their nine matches, with one game remaining to complete the league. Ronan Mallee equalised after the break and a Brendan Burke hat-trick completed the 4-1 win.
The team has put a huge effort into the season, and has been rewarded with outstanding results.
They have been drawn to play Ballyglass in the Masters Cup.
Kiltimagh Knock United defeated Ballyhaunis Town on a 3-0 scoreline last week, to move off the bottom of the table and, hopefully, begin a run in the Mayo Super League.
A brace by Liam McCormack and third from Cormac Caulfield ensured a comfortable win. Micheál Schlingermann was back in goal for the team, and he kept a clean sheet, which was an added bonus.
KKU: M. Schlingermann; S. Niland, P. McLoughlin, D. Duffy, D. McNamara; B. Gallagher, C. Caulfield, C. McDermott, J. Glynn; D. Rogers, L. McCormack. Subs: S. Collins, S. Byrne.
