Seán O’Heslin’s Cycle to the Match 

Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s are continuing their tradition of cycling to Leitrim’s first Championship match on home soil. For the past four years they have cycled to the first round, apart of course from the London and New York games. In 2010 they cycled to Roscommon, in 2011 they went to Sligo, they had their longest trip last year to Castlebar and now their shortest to Carrick on Shannon. The only trip left is to Galway. Next Sunday week is the relatively short trip to Carrick on Shannon but some hardy souls are going to cycle back as well. The cycle is a big fund raiser for the club and they also do a bucket collection outside the grounds. All contributions would be welcomed by the club. 

 

 

14-Jun-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

A Taste of Leitrim 

A fundraiser in aid of Allen Gaels 

“Ceol agus Craic” 

St John’s GAA Club

Ballinteer 

M.C. Paddy McKenna RTE

Sat. June 15th @ 9 pm

Guest appearance

Charlie McGettigan

and a host of local artists

Admission €10 

Bus leaving from Drumshanbo on Sat at 5.30pm

Anyone interested in travelling please let the Sean Wynne or Tommy Mulvey know before Thursday.

 

 

10-Jun-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

Reminder:

County committee meeting Monday 10th June 2013 at 9pm in Páirc Seán.

 

 

10-Jun-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

Major Cultural Concert at Páirc Sheáin Uí Eislin

On Thursday 27 June Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s are hosting an exciting cultural Concert in a marquee at their Park. Eleanor Shanley along with Paul Kelly and Frankie Lane as well as Charlie McGettigan top the bill. Martin Donohoe and family bring some Irish traditional music and the Ulster Scots’ tradition will be represented by David Angus. Then there is Edwina Guckian with some sean-nós dancing, lilter Séamus Fay from Cavan and John Shanley and Paul McCarthy on the pipes. It is an exceptional evening of music and song and the admission is only €10.  Full bar facilities.  The event is part of the Dialogues Through Literature weekend which is supported by the IFI (International Fund for Ireland). Doors open at 9.00pm.You can book for this concert by ringing 087 6821566 or 087 6846578.

 

 

05-Jun-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

Irish Heart Foundation FAST awareness campaign 

Each year, 10,000 people in Ireland have a stroke, 2,000 of these die and thousands others face severe disability. Research from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has show that awareness of stroke symptoms has risen by 124%. Since the F.A.S.T campaign, the thrombolysis rate in Ireland has increased by 500%. We estimate that this is saving an extra 150 stroke patients a year from death or severe disability. However, the gains made by the Act F.A.S.T. campaign to date could easily be lost. The RCSI research showed that in a matter of weeks after major bursts of campaign activity, stroke admission rates were falling back to normal levels. Unless we can maintain awareness after the end of the campaign at a level where people remain motivated to act F.A.S.T, then our efforts will have no long-term impact. 

Further information on the Act F.A.S.T campaign is available at http://www.stroke.ie/iopen24/help-spread-fast-message-t-483_487_609.html

 

 

28-May-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

The Leitrim GAA Annual Church Gate Collection will take place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May. Clubs in the county will co-ordinate the collection on behalf of Coiste Chontae Liatroma.  

The collection is always well supported throughout the county and we gratefully appreciate the continued support of the public in this annual fundraiser.

 

 

10-May-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim GAA Open night

10/5/13

Boys and girls from the Aughavas, Drumkeerin, Kiltubrid and Leitrim Gaels Clubs shared the GAA county grounds on Friday evening with the members of the Leitrim team and management personnel.

The occasion was the second Championship Open Evening, when supporters of all ages were invited to meet the Leitrim team as the players gear up for the forthcoming Connacht Championship semi final clash in Páirc Sean with either London or Sligo on Sunday, June 23rd. Followers got to meet and chat with the players and to witness first hand the team preparations for an exciting season.

But pride of place went to the youngsters on the Under 10 Blitz teams from the four clubs who strove might and main under the guidance of team mentors, coaches and parents, grannies, grandas, uncles, aunts and cousins, to show off their already considerable skills and to put down a pointer that they intend to be the Leitrim stars of the future. It was a great thrill for them too to have their team photograph taken with their own idols on the current side and also to have county stars referee their Blitz games. The emphasis was very much on the kids enjoying the football and the whole fun experience, when the results of their games did not really matter and where everybody got to play.

Also present to extend good wishes was Gerard Fitzgerald of Gerard Anthony Menswear, Carrick on Shannon who kindly sponsored casual outfits for our county team for their recent trip to New York, numerous Supporter Club members and County Board and Coiste na n-Óg officials, coaches and Games Promotion Officers.

There was more to come for all the children present, when they all combined to play a hilarious challenge match against the Leitrim players, who were tackled, hassled and man-marked by a virtual army of young footballers. It must be said that from goalkeepers Cathal McCrann and Brendan Flynn out, the county team really got into the spirit of things and made the occasion something to remember for their avid young followers, allowing themselves to be beaten to the ball and outplayed throughout the field, with the youngsters banging in the goals and slotting over the points.

Activity on the field finished with all the children lining up with their county heroes to have a group photo taken and the night finished with all the children receiving refreshments and “GAA Heroes” posters and wristbands.  The county players and management were then interviewed by the press and radio, before getting down to the serious business of yet another training session.

The Open Evening was an unqualified success and much credit must go to the young players, their mentors and families and all our avid supporters who turned up in huge numbers to congratulate the team on their victory in New York and wish them well in the semi final which is sure to draw a bumper crowd to Páirc Seán.  Our own GAA heroes, the Leitrim County team were so giving of their time and encouragement to the children and yet again showed what wonderful ambassadors they are for the GAA – well done lads.  

Now it is all to play for, it is all down to the performance on the field in Páirc Seán on June 23rd and remember, as the GAA marketing slogan says,:

Nothing beats being there.

 

 

 

10-May-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

 LINKING THE AGES IN LEITRIM

Leitrim GAA Open night

On Friday evening 10th May at 7pm, Páirc Seán in Carrick on Shannon will be buzzing with activity as the Leitrim senior football and hurling teams, team managements, County Board officers, coaches and GPOs, supporters of all ages, team and championship sponsors, the local media and a virtual army of young stars of the future will converge on the county grounds for the Leitrim launch of the Connacht and All Ireland Football Championship. 

There is a keen interest in team preparations and everyone in Páirc Seán will have an opportunity to see the players be put through their paces by Joint Team Managers Brian Breen and George Dugdale and see for themselves the massive efforts being made to have our team in ship-shape for the Connacht Championship. 

Most of all the evening will see our young boys and girls get to meet their county players up close, to get their autographs and to dream of the day when they too might wear the Leitrim jersey with the same pride and enthusiasm as the current county squads. 

The emphasis will be on a fun evening and an ideal chance to meet the players one to one and to extend our good wishes to them for the forthcoming campaign. 

Young and old are welcome to come along to Páirc Seán on Friday evening (10th May) at 7pm. 

Nothing beats being there!

 

 

 

02-May-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

Playing For Sam

Fermanagh are to welcome All Ireland finalists Mayo to Brewster Park on Saturday May 4 at 6pm for a pre-Championship friendly meeting in aid of the Sam Bradley Care Fund.  Sam is a 21 month toddler from Bellanaleck, Enniskillen who is currently undergoing treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Sam is the son of the former Fermanagh county footballer Colm Bradley. For more detail see www.togetherforsam.com

 

 

22-Apr-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

Special Olympics Ireland annual Collection Day, will take place on Friday, 26th April 2013 in more than 200 towns and cities throughout Ireland. To make this day a success, and help us to raise essential funding for Special Olympics Ireland, we need your help

We are looking for volunteers to shake in Co Leitrim.  (Carrick On Shannon, Manorhamilton, Mohill, Ballinamore, Drumshanbo).

If you would like to volunteer, and can spare an hour or two of your time, please contact Michael Carty,fundraising Coordinator, Special Olympics Connaught, www.michael.carty@specialolympics.ie   071 9118320

The Collection Day is the biggest annual fundraising event in aid of Special Olympics Ireland. The money raised on the day will be used to ensure that Special Olympics Ireland can continue to realise its promise of offering people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to participate in sport in their area.

 

 

22-Apr-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

The Leitrim Senior football team and management are hosting a general knowledge table quiz on Friday night, 12th April 2013 at 9.00pm in the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon. You can enter a team on the night or pre-book your place by contacting Collette on 086 6020192 or email pro.leitrim@gaa.ie

The inimitable Tommy Moran will be in charge of asking the questions and he assures me that if you are a fan of Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia Britannica, Google Earth and the Irish Sun – you will have no problem in coming up trumps on the night. “It will be a great nights craic – no question about it,” added Tommy before being airlifted to Fort Knox where he will be kept under armed guard with the quiz questions in an isolation unit until his appearance in the Bush Hotel at 9pm next Friday. 

Entry for a table of four is €40 and wed love to see you there.

 

 

08-Apr-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

The Carrick 400 Sevens tournament commences this Saturday 6th April, at 10am. 

32 men and womens teams are taking part.  Tune into Shannonside Radio in the afternoon for continued coverage of the Quarter finals, Semi finals and Finals from Carrick on Shannon.

Background

St Marys Kiltoghert GAA club in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim in association with the Gathering Ireland will host The Carrick 400 GAA Sevens Tournament this weekend, April 6th 2013. This seven aside GAA football tournament is a fully GAA sanctioned event with 64 clubs, 32 men & 32 women’s teams from all over Ireland and the UK making it one of the biggest Seven’s GAA tournaments ever to take place in Ireland. This will bring fellow GAA players & enthusiasts together to enjoy a spectacle of sport while taking the opportunity to sample the vibrant town and nightlife of Carrick-on-Shannon.

The event is incorporating Carrick 400, where Carrick-on-Shannon celebrates its 400th birthday with festivals and events throughout the year showcasing our town.

The tournament is also been ran in conjunction with Leitrim County board with the help of local clubs to provide top quality facilities and referees to ensure a successful event.

 

Coiste Chontae Liatraoma take this opportunity to wish the organising committee and all teams taking part the very best of luck.

 

 

 

06-Apr-13 by Colette Fox – PRO