Gerry passed peacefully from this life on 2nd May 2025, in the exceptional care of the staff of the Knock Ash unit in St Brendan's CNU, Loughrea and surrounded by the love and attention of his family. Predeceased by his father Patrick, his mother Bridget and his sister Pattie. Gerry will be forever loved and always remembered by his wife Elizabeth (Liz), his children Jayne (Baker), Louise, Patrick, Caroline, Sarah and Lisa, his son-in-law Steve, daughter-in-law Caroline, partners, his adored eleven grandchildren Simon, Liam, Siobhan, Rhys, Sinéad, Eoin, Caoimhe, Aisling, Leigh, Tadhg, Reuben, his eight great-grandsons, brother-in-law Derek, his niece Dervilla, nephews, Aidan, Gerald and William, members of the extended family and his many kind neighbours and friends. Gerry will repose at his residence in Ballyfintan (H62 Y074) on Monday 5th of May from 3pm to 6pm. Funeral cortége will arrive at St Brendan's Church, Mullagh on Tuesday 6th May at 11.45am for Requiem Mass for Gerry at 12noon. Burial will take place after Mass in Mount Pleasant Cemetery Loughrea. House private by request on Tuesday morning Those who wish to leave messages of condolence can do so using the condolence page below. In time Gerry’s family will get to read all of your messages and get comfort from them. "Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday, always loved, always missed, always held so dear" memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one Music lovers are in for a rare and unforgettable treat as celebrated singer-songwriter Ultan Conlon brings his soulful voice and evocative songwriting to the atmospheric surroundings of Mount Carmel Chapel Loughrea for an exclusive concert next week this unique event promises an evening of music and heartfelt connection in one of Ireland’s most intimate and beautiful venues Ultan Conlon has long been revered for his poetic lyrics and a voice that effortlessly bridges the gap between folk Over the course of five acclaimed studio albums Ultan has carved out a special place in the Irish music landscape with critics comparing his work to that of Roy Orbison recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Grammy Award-winner Sean Watkins was met with widespread praise both at home and abroad Featuring collaborations with legendary musicians and a distinctive blend of Irish roots and American influence the album cements Ultan’s reputation as a truly world-class talent the lovingly restored chapel boasts stunning acoustics and an intimate atmosphere that allows audiences to experience music in its purest form this concert offers fans a rare opportunity to enjoy Ultan Conlon’s music up close in a space that naturally lends itself to deep listening and emotional resonance Joining Ultan on the night will be Jimmy Higgins all of whom are exceptionally talented musicians in their own right “It’s always special to return to my hometown and perform in places that are close to my heart,” said Ultan “The Mount Carmel Chapel is a truly unique venue playing such an important part in the history of Loughrea and I can’t think of a better place to share my songs “I’m really looking forward to connecting with the audience in such an intimate space and to performing with three superb musicians.” The concert will feature a mix of songs from Conlon’s latest release Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Ultan’s music this promises to be a spellbinding evening of reflection Tickets are limited and available at www.mountcarmelconcerts.ie Pictured: Ultan Conlon (second left) with Miceal O’Connor © Copyright 2023 - Ourside Agency Galway to provide a safer and more secure water supply improve water quality and reduce high levels of leakage The works involve the replacement of 1.8km of aged problematic water mains with new modern pipes The project to replace the water mains in Loughrea Town These works are being carried out as part of Uisce Éireann's National Leakage Reduction Programme The section of works will take place at Castle Street The works will improve the water network in Loughrea Town with a view to lifting the Boil Water Notice affecting customers in the area as the works progress The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers' property boundaries and connecting it to the customers' water supply Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these will be replaced as part of this improvement work The works will be carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by Farrans Construction and are expected to be completed by Summer 2024 The benefits of the leakage reduction works include: Areas of work will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers Traffic management will be in place to allow the works to be delivered safely and efficiently Local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times The works may involve some short-term water interruptions and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours' notice prior to any planned water interruptions We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient and works crews will make every effort to minimise any disruption these necessary works cause Uisce Éireann is a designated activity company 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of Michael passed peacefully from this life on 3rd of May at home and surrounded by his loving and devoted family Predeceased by his parents Thomas and Bridget Christina and Kitty and his grandson Patrick Michael will be forever loved and always remembered by his wife Alacoque his daughter-in-laws and son-in-laws Annette his adored grandchildren and great-grandchild Bernard and Paddy and his sisters Bridie and Carmel members of the extended family and his many kind neighbours and friends Michael will repose at St Thomas' GAA clubhouse Kilchreest (H62 HW02) on Sunday 4th of May from 4pm to 6pm Funeral cortége will arrive at St Teresa's Church Castledaly on Monday 5th at 11.45am for Requiem Mass for Michael at 12 noon Burial will take place after Mass in the adjoining cemetery Mass can be viewed using the following link Michael’s Mass Those who wish to leave messages of condolence can do so using the condolence page below. In time Michael’s family will get to read all of your messages and get comfort from them. FINAL COUNTDOWN: Na Fianna's Jonathan Tracey celebrates with manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s nephew Cathal O Ceallacháin It doesn’t matter for how long you lead or by how much in becoming only the second ever Dublin side to reach the All-Ireland Club hurling final led this semi-final clash on only two occasions The second came in the fourth and final minute of second-half injury-time Na Fianna had been gathering and growing for the entire second half They’ll meet fellow first-time finalists Sars of Cork in a novel decider Trailing 0-11 to 0-6 two minutes into the second period the fourth such time they trailed by that margin Na Fianna thrice came within the minimum without ever going a step further and equalising Parity was eventually and inevitably restored on 55 minutes It was the first time since the 11th minute they were level It was Colin Currie who struck the equaliser It was Currie who struck them in front immediately after following a foul on his namesake Seán After Colin and his team endured such a difficult opening half He accounted for eight of his team's second half 0-11 Tiernan Killeen punished a foul on sub Vince Morgan to bring Loughrea level as the hour mark approached Pic: ©INPHO/Ken SuttonThere was to be only one score in those four allotted minutes It came 18 seconds from the end of those four allotted minutes A darting Ciarán Stacey run drew defenders and opened doors Loughrea were afforded one attempt at forcing extra-time They couldn’t manufacture another equaliser they collapsed at the suddenness of the Na Fianna overtaking manoeuvre even if their opponents had spent much of the second half with their right indicator on and the intention clear The Loughrea lead was four-strong at the break But they’ll have known they were worth more than a four-point advantage There were opportunities to make that six and seven What they didn’t know at half-time was whether those squandered opportunities would come back to bite them wasn’t massively titled in Loughrea’s favour Their respective wides fell into different categories such was the tenacity of Loughrea’s tracking and tackling were forced to shoot from suburban positions out on either sideline Loughrea spent more time in the centre of Thurles After a lifting Shane Morgan free put Loughrea 0-9 to 0-4 in front on 27 minutes the white flag stemming from a superb Morgan dispossession of Ciarán Stacey the Galway champions tallied back-to-back wides Tiernan Killeen and Darren Shaughnessy were disgusted with themselves Brian Ryan and Na Fianna took the let offs It was only their third from play of a half closing in on the 30-minute mark As the latter scoring stat would scream and suggest Na Fianna were unable to find rhythm or fluency They were unable to get key men on the sliotar Donal Burke was a first-half spectator at Semple Stadium He had only one shot in the opening 33 minutes former Galway defender Paul Hoban was carrying out an effective shadowing job on freetaker Colin Currie The latter similarly mushroomed after the restart injected an air of excitement and potential into Loughrea attacks every time he came onto possession at No.11 The corner-forward pair of Anthony Burns and Darren Shaughnessy performed similar roles further in The pair contributed three from play in the opening half They had dealt themselves the better first-half hand How they put their cards on the table after that was Loughrea’s issue Na Fianna’s second half hand was the winning one Only the second club finalists from Dublin can they emulate Cuala and become only the second club champions from the capital From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in ATTENDANCE DOWN: The Kerry and Clare players march behind the Millstreet Pipe Band in the parade before the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship final By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser You have accepted push notifications for this content. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here Gardaí are investigating serious criminal damage to houses and vehicles in Loughrea and Ballinasloe Early Sunday at approximately 3am the front window and door of a house in Gort Bride in Loughrea were smashed There was also significant damage caused to three vehicles parked in the vicinity A few days earlier on Thursday the back window and back door of a house in Hymany Park in Ballinasloe were smashed at approximately noon Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed any of these incidents or who has any other information to contact the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 TFI Local Link Galway will introduce route 439 bus service between Galway and Loughrea This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network Route 439 will operate three evening services Monday to Sunday including public holidays The route will offer connectivity to Galway Cathedral ATU Galway City and Oranmore Centre as well as improved connectivity for the villages and areas of Oranmore Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Galway General Manger Joe Greally said: “TFI Local Link Galway are delighted to deliver this vital connection between Galway City and Loughrea Presently there is no evening/night connection to Loughrea from Galway City This new service will deliver a vital public transport link for students 3 connecting services will enhance the lives of those living along the route and deliver a viable option to the private car.” For route and timetable information  visit www.locallinkgalway.ie/ Learn more about the five-year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan Na Fianna advanced to their first ever AIB All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling Championship final when overcoming Loughrea by the narrowest of margins at a rain-sodden Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon With the sides deadlocked at 0-16 apiece and extra-time a distinct probability Na Fianna raised one final attack that saw Ciaran Stacey race through down the right flank before picking out AJ Murphy for the game-defining score It was a more physical and intense Loughrea that controlled the majority of the first-half with three Tiernan Killeen points helping build an 0-10 to 0-6 advantage by half-time Na Fianna were more assured upon the restart as Liam Rushe and Peter Feeney both impressed with eight second-half points from Colin Currie proving pivotal before Murphy’s dramatic late intervention settled this error-strewn but absorbing encounter Na Fianna were far from their fluent and economical best in a first-half in which they fell behind inside eighteen seconds as Tiernan Killeen opened the scoring for Loughrea A Colin Currie free levelled matters in the 3rd minute but there were already worrying signs for Na Fianna at the back as Cullen Killeen raced through from midfield to restore his team’s lead While Murphy restored parity in the 6th minute from an excellent Kevin Burke pass the Galway champions began to click through the gears as they added two points in quick succession through Darren Shaughnessy and a Tiernan Killen free Scores followed through Shaughnessy and Joseph Mooney and Killeen’s second free saw Loughrea open up a deserved five-point lead by the 17th minute A sublime Seán Currie point helped settle Na Fianna but they continued to face an uphill task as Shane Morgan converted a brace of long-range frees to keep Loughrea on the front foot There were finally some encouraging signs towards the end of the half as Brian Ryan and Seán Currie popped over tidy scores to reduce Na Fianna’s arrears to four points at the break A brace of placed balls from Colin Currie and a Ciaran Stacey point were just reward for an improved showing in the second-half but Loughrea continued to keep their noses in front through points by Morgan and Ian Hanrahan Two further scores by Colin Currie either side of the three-quarter mark saw Na Fianna to within a point of their opponents and Murphy could well have netted in the 52nd minute as he diverted a rebound over the crossbar from close range Scorers from Jamie Ryan and Anthony Burns kept Loughrea in a marginal lead by midway through the final quarter but a trio of Colin Currie points saw Na Fianna take the lead for the first time in the 57th minute Tiernan Killeen levelled matters from a free entering injury time and extra-time looked the most likely outcome before Murphy placed his name in Na Fianna folklore as the Glasnevin side advanced to next month’s final against Sarsfields 1 ‘65’); AJ Murphy 0-3; S Currie 0-2; B Ryan Loughrea: T Killeen 0-5 (3f); S Morgan 0-3 (3f); Darren Shaughnessy Subs**:** J Ryan for N Keary (39); Dylan Shaughnessy for Darren Shaughnessy (55); V Morgan for Caimin Killeen (56) © Copyright Dublin GAA Board, Parnell Park, Donnycarney, Dublin 5. Made by Together Digital This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM Loughrea area councillor Declan Kelly has asked the HSE to carry out an urgent audit of the accessibility of its faciltiies across the country The call was prompted by the recent installation of an automatic door at a relatively new Primary Care Centre in Loughrea The Independent Ireland councillor says it’s not good enough that it took campaigning from a local disability advocate to make that happen Councillor Kelly emailed the HSE in December asking it to carry out an audit at all its faciltiies to ensure that they are accessible: A man in his 40s is appearing before Loughrea District Court this morning after yesterday's seizure of firearms He was arrested after Gardaí discovered two firearms ammunition and a cocaine press at a residence in Woodlawn The firearms have been forwarded for a technical examination by the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau The search at Woodlawn was part of an ongoing operation targeting criminal activity in the Galway Division and surrounding areas The man is expected to appear at Loughrea District Court shortly Loughrea celebrate with the cup at Kenny Park Loughrea are back on the summit of Galway hurling but it sure was a wrestle Although they brought a 100% championship record to a packed Kenny Park in Athenry Not with the weight of final defeats – five since 2007 – or the burden of expectation placed on a team that like everyone else had been living in St Thomas’ shadow up until this year’s semi-finals It was no shot to nothing for Cappataggle either they didn’t know when they will be back in another The account they gave of themselves was a good one even if their second-half shooting was questionable neither team played to their potential but you could give them a pass when so much was at stake Close to 20 scoring opportunities went abegging for Cappataggle and Loughrea’s desperation to win frees in the final quarter exposed their own frailties The game hinged on two second-half moments the first in the fifth minute of the half when Loughrea goalkeeper Gearóid Loughnane kept out Liam Collin’s penalty strike Oran Finn appeared to overstep but referee Brian Keon deemed he had been fouled as he made his way to the Loughrea goal Loughrea’s sight of James Skehill’s goal was unclear up until the 57th minute when Anthony Burns found the corner of the Cappataggle net The excellent Cappataggle full-back James Garvey and Skehill appeared to have snuffed out the danger presented by Joe Mooney but Burns was on hand to squeeze a shot into the goal The score put Loughrea five up and still there were moments in additional time when it didn’t appear enough in that period to bring Cappataggle to within two points and Loughrea’s pessimists may have felt they were going to be foiled from ending their run of five consecutive final losses The tension in the crowd translated onto the field but Loughrea clutched their lead to their chests and saved it and the game could go the other way,” said victorious manager Tommy Kelly We've out-hurled everybody this year that we've played I'm just thrilled with the lads and fair play to them.”  Loughnane’s denial was pivotal and Loughrea appreciated the let-off going as far as five points ahead in the 40th minute The Collins Niall and Liam brought Cappataggle back into it only for Burns to cap his three earlier points with a goal Loughrea had been the stronger side in the opening 10 minutes all of them coming inside the first seven minutes and a couple from their half-back line as Cappataggle were guilty of some wayward shooting A Jarlath Mannion goal attempt was put out by Loughrea netminder Loughnane in the eighth minute Niall Collins sent over the resultant 65 and Cappataggle were up and running they more than matched Loughrea’s early rally to go 0-5 to 0-4 up David Malone sent over back-to-back points and Liam Collins equalised in the 13th minute before referee Brian Coen spotted an off-the-ball foul by Johnny Coen and Niall Collins had an easy free to send over An exquisite point from an acute angle by Neil Keary brought Loughrea but they required another leveller from Anthony Burns in the 23rd minute following a beautiful Mannion point Loughrea went ahead when Tiernan Killeen punished a foul on the roving Shane O’Brien but it was their turn to be hauled back on two occasions before Loughrea finished the half with a flourish Loughrea’s physical edge was demonstrated as they reeled off three scores in a row in additional time go in 0-11 to 0-8 ahead Ian Hanrahan and Tiernan Killeen launching from distance were the scorers their lead was retained but it never felt unassailable It couldn’t be when so much was riding on the day a member of the panel who won their last senior championship 18 years ago he couldn’t go without paying tribute to those who didn’t see action I would have loved to have been on the field of play but I didn't realise maybe until a couple of years later how important of a role you make as a panel member and whatever there were guys there that played in the start of the first round of the championship and got no game time today But they're unbelievable young lads and they're coming and coming and coming and I have no doubt that we'll be knocking around for another few years after this one.”  The Leinster champions will meet Loughrea in an All-Ireland semi-final 10 days before Christmas more hurling articles LIKE CLOCKWORK: The use of the public clock in televised inter-county Gaelic football matches has been called into question following several freezes during the live broadcasts of Sunday’s Connacht and Munster football finals Eimear passed peacefully from this life on Easter Monday, after a long illness borne with great dignity, in the tender loving care of her family. Eimear will be forever loved and always remembered by her heartbroken parents John Joe and Kathleen, her adored children Aida, Maebh and Liam and their Dad, Dave, her aunt Mary (Dunne), cousins, members of the extended family and her many kind neighbours and friends. Eimear will repose in Dignity Funeral Care, funeral home, Barrack Street, Loughrea (H62 DV76) on Thursday 24th April from 5pm with removal at 7pm to St Dympna's Church, Kilnadeema. Requiem Mass will be celebrated for Eimear at 12.30pm on Friday 25th April. Eimear will be laid to rest after Mass in the adjoining cemetery. Eimear's family are very grateful for the support of the community, but have asked that the house remain strictly private on Thursday. ............................................. Donations if desired can be made in Eimear's memory to the Irish ME / CFS Association. Those who wish to leave messages of condolence can do so using the condolence page below. In time Eimear’s family will get to read all of your messages and get comfort from them. ............................................... The locked toilets at the Long Point in Loughrea have been deemed ‘unacceptable’ There have been major improvements in this area in recent years including public lighting a water bottle refill station and more accessible parking Local Councillor Michael Regan believes it’s no longer just a seasonal amenity and so year-round facilities are necessary The Fianna Fáil Councillor says people are being forced to find alternative solutions: Anthony Burns of Loughrea celebrates after scoring what would turn out to be a crucial goal Anthony Burns’ 57th minute goal sealed Loughrea their third ever Galway SHC title in a nervy final at a packed Kenny Park in Athenry Cappataggle had reduced their arrears to two points when Joe Mooney made a bee-line for their goal The excellent James Garvey and goalkeeper James Skehill appeared to have snuffed out the danger but Burns’ follow-up shot found the corner of the Cappataggle goal were left to rue a multitude of missed scoring chances in the second half Gearóid Loughnane’s penalty save from Liam Collins threatened to be pivotal Oran Finn was adjudged by referee Brian Keon to have been upended illegally but the Loughrea goalkeeper was level to Collins’ shot That 35th minute let-off was appreciated by Loughrea Back Cappataggle came in the form of Niall Collins to make it a two-point game in the additional minutes but Loughrea were able to avoid a sixth consecutive final defeat since their previous success in 2006 Loughrea were the stronger side in the opening 10 minutes Darren Shaughnessy of Loughrea is tackled by Michael Garvey.A Jarlath Mannion goal attempt was put out by Loughrea netminder Loughnane in the eighth minute Loughrea’s physical edge was demonstrated as they reeled off three scores in a row to go in 0-11 to 0-8 ahead surrounded by his loving family on Friday 18th April 2025 Predeceased by his brother John and nephew Adrian Bertie will be sadly missed by his loving wife Joan Bertie will lie in Repose in Kilboy’s Funeral Home (H62 KF63) on Monday 21st April from 5.30 – 7pm Bertie’s Requiem Mass will take place in St followed by burial afterwards in Mount Pleasant Cemetery Bertie’s funeral Mass will be streamed live on the following link https://loughreacathedral.ie Bertie’s family would like to express their sincere thanks to all their extended family, neighbours & friends for all their kindness and support at this very sad time. May Bertie’s kind and gentle soul rest in peace. To offer messages of sympathy to Bertie’s family, please use the “Condolences” link below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday it served as a nine-mile lifeline connecting rural Galway to the national rail network until it closed in 1975 – but next month the story of the Loughrea and Attymon Railway branch line will take centrestage once again to mark half a century since its demise That’s because the Kiltulla & District Vintage Show returns with a special celebration of local heritage this May Bank Holiday Weekend – commemorating 85 years of this branch line the Loughrea-to-Attymon Railway served as lifeline connecting that part of the county to the national network and political figures in Loughrea began lobbying for the construction of a railway concerned that the town and its surrounding areas would be left isolated from the rest of the country’s expanding rail network Their fears were realised in 1846 when Loughrea was excluded from the main Galway railway line their efforts culminated in the passing of the Loughrea Railway Act which authorised the formation of the Loughrea and Attymon Light Railway Company Construction of the branch line from Attymon to Loughrea began in 1889 navigating difficult terrain through Killimordaly bog The railway officially opened on 1 December 1890 with Dunsandle as the only intermediate station marking it as the last branch line of its kind to be laid in Ireland Operated by the Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) then the third-largest Irish gauge railway company in the country the line stretched just nine miles—making it the shortest railway in County Galway the exhibition – created in partnership with Dunsandle Railway Station – will showcase over 120 rare photographs and personal stories that bring to life the history of the railway Prominent figures like Lady Gregory utilised the railway to ship wood from her estate at Coole The railway was instrumental in major local developments such as the construction of Loughrea Cathedral special trains were even commissioned for the consecration of Dr largely due to growing competition from buses and lorries rail service was reduced from four trains per day to two snowfall was so severe that services were suspended entirely and did not resume until June of that year Loughrea ratepayers subsidised the railway in a bid to keep it running Public meetings were held to protest against closure proposals the mounting pressure from modern transport alternatives proved insurmountable and the line was officially closed on November 3 1975 its story is the centrepiece of the eighth Kiltulla & District Vintage Show May 3 and 4 – with a packed programme of which the rail exhibition is just one item Sunday’s main show and family fun day offers something for everyone with a wide range of vintage vehicles – including cars and steam engines – as well as a large working display from Emerald Roadmakers a saw bench and wood-cutting demonstration So whether you’re a vintage or railway enthusiast this year’s Kiltulla & District Vintage Show offers a chance to step back in time and celebrate an important part of Ireland’s transport history Pictured: Attymon Railway Station… part of historical exhibition Seamus passed peacefully from this life in his 93rd year surrounded by his loving family and in the wonderful care of the staff of the Galway Hospice Predeceased by his wife Mai and his grandson baby Jack Seamus will be deeply missed by his wife Bridie and his family Mary (Smyth) He will be deeply mourned by members of the extended family and his many kind neighbours and friends Seamus will repose at his residence (H62 WE18) on Saturday 19th April from 5pm to 7pm Funeral cortége will arrive at the Church of the Holy Family Clostoken on Sunday 20th April at 12.45pm for Requiem Mass for Seamus at 1pm Burial will take place after Mass in Clostoken Cemetery For those who are unable to attend, Mass can be viewed using the following link: Mass for Seamus If you would like to make a charitable donation in memory of Seamus, please donate to the Galway Hospice. Messages of condolence can be left for the family on the condolence page below. In time the family will get to read all of your messages and get comfort from them. If you would like to make a donation to the chosen charity please click on the button below. Reposing in St. Mary's Funeral Home, Woodford (H62 YV04), on Friday, April 25th, from 5.30pm with removal at 7pm to St. John the Baptist Church, Woodford. Funeral Mass on Saturday, April 26th, at 11 am with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Mass may be viewed live on www.churchmedia.tv/stjohnbaptist Donations if desired to Cancer Care West via www.cancercarewest.ie/donate and/or Madra - Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption via www.madra.ie/donate Messages of sympathy for Teresa's family may be inserted in the Condolence Book below. Rip.ie, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG With three minutes of normal time remaining Anthony Burns supplied the decisive goal for Loughrea it meant that Loughrea captured a third ever Galway SHC title at Kenny Park but Loughrea did enough to secure a first crown since 2006 Burns' goal was the pivotal moment in the game as Cappataggle had reduced the margin to two points Five minutes after the restart Cappataggle were awarded a penalty but Liam Collins' effort was saved by Gearoid Loughnane continued to battle and were only two points behind late on With the issue delicately poised Burns pounced to score a major following good work by Joe Mooney as Loughrea prevailed in Athenry Scorers for Cappataggle: N Collins 0-8 (5fs) Laois and Dublin through to oneills.com Leinster U20 hurling semi-finals5 hours ago Munster SHC: Limerick assert themselves against Waterford 2 days ago Round-up: Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship2 days ago Cork and Waterford to contest Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Final2 days ago Official Sponsors of the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Official Sponsors of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Championship Almost €180 thousand worth of cocaine has been seized in Loughrea It follows a search of seven properties in the town this morning Gardaí found 2.5 kilos of cocaine using a Garda Dog - as well as €4 thousand in cash they found almost €4 thousand worth of cocaine as well as drug equipment - while smaller amounts of cocaine and cannabis were found elsewhere were arrested but later released - and a file will now be prepared for the DPP An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against the approval of plans for a new Lidl supermarket in Loughrea The project was approved by county planners last month despite some local opposition The site of the proposed new Lidl supermarket is a greenfield site off the R350 County planners gave the green light last month with 26 conditions attached though there were a considerable number of objections The most common issue was the potential for traffic problems in the local area and the wider town - followed closely by the supermarket likely drawing people away from the town centre That position was supported by retail representative association RGDATA the group argued the supermarket plan isn't compatiable with the Government's "Town Centre First" policy and would undermine existing town services RGDATA and several local residents have now lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala Aidan passed away suddenly on Friday 28th of February Predeceased by his parents William and Margaret Aidan will by for ever loved and deeply mourned by his brothers Liam and Gerard Aidan will lie in repose in Kilboy’s Funeral Home Loughrea (Eircode H62 KF63) on Thursday 6th of March followed by burial in the adjoining Cemetery Aidan’s Requiem Mass can be viewed on https://kilboys.com/kilboys-live-stream/ Aidan may your kind and gentle soul rest in peace . The Boil Water Notice on the Loughrea Town Supply in Co Galway has been lifted with immediate effect following consultation with the Health Service Executive customers in Loughrea town can now resume normal use of the public water supply The Boil Water Notice was issued on Sunday Loughrea is usually supplied by the Tuam Regional Water Supply disruption to the town’s supply in the wake of Storm Éowyn meant an alternative temporary supply was activated for the town This supply was placed under a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of approximately 5,500 customers Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann worked to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible Following satisfactory water sampling results Uisce Éireann’s Thomas Gibbons acknowledged the impact of a Boil Water Notice on customers and thanked the community for their support while the notice was in place “Uisce Éireann’s primary focus remains the protection of public health and we worked with our stakeholders to lift the notice as quickly as possible.” and the media for their assistance in sharing information on the Boil Water Notice,” said Thomas © 2025 GalwayDaily. All rights reserved. | Designed by Web Design Ireland The Sports Minister has been questioned in the Dáil over long-running plans for a swimming pool in Loughrea. Despite a local campaign spanning countless years, very little progress has been made in getting the wheels in motion. And speaking in the Dáil, Galway East TD Louis O' Hara said that Galway County Council urgently needs financial support to make inroads. He argued the local authority has been badly underfunded for years and cannot provide matching funding needed to unlock sports grants. In response, Minister Charlie McConalogue said he would engage with Galway County Council - but suggested councillors could be doing more. Galway SHC final: Loughrea 1-15 Cappataggle 0-16Loughrea are celebrating a third Galway senior hurling title and a first since 2006 after seeing off neighbours Cappataggle in a gripping contest at Kenny Park. Anthony Burns’s 57th-minute goal proved to be the winning score as a late rally from Cappataggle still saw them come up two points short. The danger looked to have passed when some excellent defending from Cappataggle full back James Garvey dispossessed Joe Mooney as he cut in from the left-hand side but Burns, who finished with 1-3, swept on to the loose ball and buried a shot across goal to put Loughrea five points clear heading towards injury-time. Niall Collins hit back with three points for Cappataggle to reduce the gap but when the ball was launched into the Loughrea goalmouth for the final attack, it was former Galway player Johnny Coen who emerged with it and burst towards the stands in celebration as the final whistle was blown. Cappataggle, who ended All-Ireland champions St Thomas’ six-year winning run in Galway in the semi-finals, will look back on their first appearance in a senior final as a missed opportunity as eight second-half wides and a missed penalty ultimately proved too costly The five minutes either side of half-time were crucial in deciding the destination of the Tom Callanan Cup for 2024. While both sides enjoyed spells of dominance in a fast-paced first half, three points in added-time from Burns, Tiernan Killeen and Ian Hanrahan saw Loughrea take a 0-11 to 0-8 lead at the break. Cappataggle were given the chance to wipe that lead out when they were awarded a penalty four minutes into the second half but Liam Collins’s low effort was well saved by Gearóid Loughnane, and when Loughrea captain Ian Hanrahan went up the field to strike the next score, his side took a big step towards victory. It looked for a while as if their maiden final appearance might have overwhelmed Cappataggle as Loughrea raced into a four-point lead after just six minutes with points from Shane O’Brien, Anthony Burns, Caimin Killeen and Shane Morgan getting them off to a perfect start in front of a bumper crowd in Athenry. Cappataggle failed to score with any of their first six shots but roared back into it with five points in a row with Niall Collins (two), David Malone (two) and Liam Collins all finding the target. The duel between Collins and Coen was one of the highlights of the day with the youngster getting four points but Coen using his experience to come out on top at some key moments. Injuries deprived Loughrea of two of their star forwards, Jamie Ryan and Martin McManus, for most of the campaign but Burns proved himself a more than able deputy en route to the final and came up trumps once again to lead ‘the Town’ to glory. LOUGHREA: G Loughnane; P Hoban, J Coen, K Hanrahan; S O’Brien (0-1), S Morgan (0-3, 1f, 1 65), B Keary; I Hanrahan (0-2), S Sweeney; Caimin Killeen (0-1), T Killeen (0-4, 3f), J Mooney; A Burns (1-3), Darren Shaughnessy, N Keary (0-1). Subs: Cullen Killeen for Sweeney (11 mins), J Ryan for N Keary (38), Dylan Shaughnessy for Darren Shaughnessy (51), T Hoban for Caimin Killeen (57). CAPPATAGGLE: J Skehill; D Cronin, J Garvey, D Campbell; E Garvey, M Garvey, D Dolan; L Coughlan, Oisín Finn; N Collins (0-8, 5f, 2 65), Oran Finn, D Malone (0-3); L Collins (0-4), R Garvey, J Mannion (0-1). Subs: C Bowes for Oran Finn (40 mins), J Egan for E Garvey (45), J Coughlan for Malone (52). Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC THE demons of the past will be stalking Loughrea ahead of Sunday’s Galway senior hurling showdown against first-time finalists Cappataggle at Kenny Park – a backdrop which cranks up the pressure on Tommy Kelly’s talented charges In 12 past county final appearances – 14 if you include the 2010 and 2022 replays – Loughrea have only managed to get over the line twice 1941 was the club’s breakthrough year but their second title didn’t follow until 2006 when edging out Portumna (1-13 to 0-15) in a fractious encounter at Pearse Stadium A stamping incident involving Joe Canning cast a cloud over Loughrea’s triumph but they remained a competitive force over the following few years when falling short in the finals of 2009 and the club lost its way somewhat in terms of being serious challengers for the Tom Callanan Cup There was sterling work going out at under-age level and the fruits of that labour were evident when a young Loughrea team playing pleasing hurling on the eye took St Thomas’ to a replay in the 2022 county final That progress fuelled hopes that the following season would see a third senior title come to the parish but Turloughmore put a halt to their gallop in the semi-finals But it’s hard to keep a good team down and Loughrea are back in the final after a 100% campaign which saw them overcome a fancied Clarinbridge outfit not once but twice They got a bit careless in their quarter-final against Castlegar after building up a big early lead but a late goal from Anthony Burns bailed them out of trouble Though they’ve had to deal with injury problems – notably the sidelining of Martin McManus for the year with a ruptured cruciate – Jamie Ryan is back in the fold after a serious thumb injury sustained against Antrim in the Leinster championship The talented attacker has been introduced as a substitute in Loughrea’s last two games and his return to fitness is a big boost Neil Keary and Ryan have loads of experience Darren Shaughnessy and Burns are all stylish young players in a team captained by the reliable Ian Hanrahan Joe Mooney and Sean Sweeney will also be hoping to exert a major influence on Sunday Pictured: John Derran of Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry securing possession against Joshua O’Connor of Kinvara during Sunday’s Galway Intermediate hurling final at Kenny Park The TFI Local Link is to introduce a new night-time service between Galway city and Loughrea from Monday week December 23rd It will operate three evening services Monday to Sunday from Galway Cathedral It will also improve connectivity for the villages and areas of Oranmore This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative Galway East Independent TD Sean Canney says it's a viable alternative to the car and more such services are needed for Galway: A Loughrea man has been convicted and fined over carrying out illegal gas works Oliver Williams of Moyleen was also convicted of falsely portraying himself as a registered gas installer He was prosecuted by The Commission for Regulation of Utilities he pleaded guilty to four offences pursuant to the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 Evidence was heard of the “dangerous” condition that pipework was in after Mr Williams removed a gas heater from a campervan The CRU’s Gas Safety Officer said the potential was created for gas to be released into the campervan The court also heard evidence a video was posted on Facebook showing Oliver Williams demonstrating how to repair a gas heater He was also convicted of falsely portrayed himself in a manner likely to suggest he was a registered gas installer Williams received four criminal convictions was fined €1 thousand and was ordered to make a €1 thousand contribution to the costs of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities Jack Meagher of Na Fianna in action against Caimin Killeen of Loughrea during the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-final at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles Na Fianna timed their run perfectly to pip Loughrea and book their place in next month’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Club final They led for the first time in this game in the 57th minute but with Colin Currie in good point-scoring form they overhauled a four-point half-time deficit to edge out the Galway champions AJ Murphy got the decisive score deep in injury time tapping over after Ciarán Stacey broke through the Loughrea cover when the teams were level in what was a thrilling end to a largely forgettable game Loughrea were on the scoreboard in just 30 seconds when Tiernan Kileen tapped over Colin Currie replied before Cullen Kileen and AJ Murphy traded scores to leave the sides tied at 0-2 each after six minutes The Galway men hit a purple patch midway through the half when reeling off five points without replay from the 12th to 17th minute Seán Currie stopped the rot for Na Fianna but they were struggling for any fluency at this point and Loughrea might have been further ahead were in for some errant shooting Still they kept their noses in front and took in a 0-10 to 0-6 lead in at the break after an underwhelming half of hurling There had been some minor flashpoints in the first half and that tension carried into the second Shane Morgan’s third pointed free of the day saw Loughrea move five clear but Na Fianna responded with two points of their own the first time they had managed consecutive points without reply Colin Currie made it three on the spin before Ian Hanarahan hit Loughrea’s first point in almost 15 minutes Currie hit two more to cut the gap to the minimum and finally From there the sides traded blows with Colin Currie hitting eight second-half points Murphy delivered the crucial score as the Mobhi Road outfit became just the second Dublin club to book their place in the All-Ireland senior club hurling final Scorers – Na Fianna: C Currie 0-10 (7f 1 65) Dylan Shaughnessy for Darren Shaughnessy (56) Galway households are being urged to avail of free e-waste and battery recycling events in Loughrea and Oughterard over the next two weekends As part of celebrating 20 years in business WEEE Ireland is hosting the free recycling events with Galway County Council Collection days will take place at the Oughterard GAA pitch this Saturday (April 26th) and at Loughrea Mart the following Saturday Items that can be recycled include old washing machines The Seven Springs Day Centre in Loughrea has been given approval by HIQA to fully reopen It follows a long-running campaign by the Concerned Citizens Group Loughrea - who have held protests spoke at an Oireachtas Committee and set up a petition over its closure The centre will be opened on a phased basis and will be fully operational - providing services five days a week - in the coming weeks There is now also additional space for the day service which delivers essential services and facilities for older people in the community Galway East TD Sean Canney says it's positive news that the service is returning Predeceased by her parents Mary and Seanie and brother Johnnie. Dearly loved aunt to Michelle, Sean, Oisin, Orlagh, Fionn, Aoibhe, Cormac and Caoimhe. Áine will be sadly missed by her dear friend Ann and her family, relatives, extended family and her large circle of friends. Tomorrow is never promised. Rest in peace Áine. Gone but never forgotten. Áine will lie in repose in Kilboy’s Funeral Home, Loughrea (Eircode H62 KF63) on Monday 24th of February from 5 to 7 pm. Áine’s funeral cortege will leave Kilboy’s Funeral Home on Tuesday 25th of February at 12 noon, to arrive at St. Brendan’s Cathedral Loughrea for Requiem mass at 12.30pm followed by Cremation in Shannon Crematorium. The funeral mass can be viewed on https://loughreacathedral.ie/ or https://www.churchservices.tv/Loughrea. Áine’s family will be forever grateful to all the staff of GUH and Galway Hospice for their compassion and for the exceptional standard of care that Áine received. Family flowers only. Donations if desired, to Galway Hospice Foundation. Áine may your kind and gentle soul, rest in peace. Grousehill House, Kilnadeema, Loughrea, Co. Galway, Who passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Saturday 5th of April 2025. Predeceased by his father Patrick, mother Mary-Ann and sons Ger & Gerry. Noel will be sadly missed by his loving wife and best friend Mary. Noel will be deeply mourned by his loving children Anthony, Pat, John, Michael, Francis, Mary, Val, Noeleen, Thomas & Olivia, grandchildren Kerrie, Steven, Hannah, Aidan, Mark, Francis, Lauren, Emma, John, Dayna, Ethan, Alicia, Jessica, Adam, Colm, Abby, Sarah, great grandchildren Kyle, Conor, Freya, Evie, Alfie, Aria, sons & daughters-in-law, partners, his sister Agnes, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours & friends. Noel will lie in repose in Kilboy’s Funeral Home, Loughrea (H62 KF63) this Monday evening (7th April) from 4pm to 6pm. Noel's funeral cortege will arrive to St. Dympna's Church Kilnadeema for Requiem Mass on Tuesday (8th April) at 12 noon, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Donations to Patient Comfort Unit, St Teresa's Ward, UHG. To offer messages of sympathy to the Cunningham family, please use the “Condolences” link below. Eamon passed away peacefully on April 26th Predeceased by by his parents Tommy and Kitty Larkin and his mother-in-law Kathleen Ryan Deeply mourned and sadly missed by his loving wife Maura (nee Ryan friends and all at Tommy Larkin's GAA Club Reposing at his home (H62 V270) on Wednesday, April 30th, from 5 pm with prayers at 8pm. Funeral Mass in St. Joseph's Church, Ballinakill (H62 EK29), on Thursday, May 1st, at 12 noon with burial afterwards in Abbey Cemetery. Mass may be viewed live on https://churchmedia.tv/ballinakill A Shuttle Bus service will be in operation on Wednesday afternoon to facilitate people wishing to visit Eamon's home. Collection points/parking will be at St. Joseph' Church, Ballinakill (H62 EK29) and McCormack's , Curra West (H62 EH28) A man of great kindness and quiet strength, Eamon's warm heart and gentle humour will be lovingly remembered by all who knew him. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the Staff of the ICU at Galway University Hospital for their exceptional care and kindness. Messages of sympathy for Eamon's family may be inserted in the Condolence Book below. THE pathway to an All-Ireland Club hurling final appearance for Loughrea in January looks significantly less difficult after the events of the weekend in the Leinster quarter-finals headlined by new Kilkenny champions Thomastown being beaten out the gate by Westmeath’s Castletown Geoghegan Kilkenny teams have cast a long shadow over the Leinster title race but with competition specialists Ballyhale Shamrocks last year’s All-Ireland finalists O’Loughlin Gaels and now Thomastown out of the reckoning whatever club eventually emerges from the province will hardly strike the fear of God into Loughrea The new Galway title-holders will be taking on the Leinster champions next month with Kilcormac-Killoughey of Offaly the only past winners of the provincial title still in the hunt They are joined in the quest for an All-Ireland club semi-final place by Na Fianna of Dublin Beating Thomastown by 1-25 to 1-14 represented an epic achievement for the Westmeath club and though their opponents had to operate with only 14 players for nearly all of the second-half after the dismissal of Jonjo Farrell with sharpshooter Niall O’Brien accounting for 1-13 of their tally Na Fianna were the most impressive in overcoming Clough-Ballacolla of Laois (3-20 to 1-15) as neither Kilcormac-Killoughey – 1-17 to 1-12 winner over St Mullins of Carlow – and St Martins who beat Naas by five points (1-15 to 0-13) in a revamped Newbridge Only once before have Loughrea contested an All-Ireland club semi-final when they defeated Cushendall of Antrim (1-11 to 0-9) at Cusack Park in Mullingar Vinny Maher and company were subsequently defeated by Ballyhale in the final at Croke Park on a 3-12 to 2-8 scoreline Though Ballygunner are undoubtedly the team to beat in the quest for the Tommy Moore Cup – they made short work of Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney at Walsh Park on Sunday – Loughrea must fancy their chances of getting to the All-Ireland final regardless of who now emerges from Leinster especially given the bounce they will have got from getting the job done in Galway last Sunday week It was a match Loughrea simply had to win given their prominence in the championship over the past three years Though possessing a significant number of young players they have built up considerable experience and were justifiable favourites to cope with the challenge of neighbours Cappataggle Pictured: Galway 2024 TG4 Ladies Football All-Stars award winners who was also chosen as the Player of the Year Ailbhe Davoren and Kate Geraghty at the presentation banquet in the Bonnington Dublin Hotel Construction on a new fire station for Loughrea is expected to be completed by summer 2026 a new fire station for the city is one of the top priorities of the Fire Services over the next five years The Loughrea project is going out to tender for a contracter to build on the site at St Lawrence’s Field Local councillors backed the plans last December despite some concerns with the loss of amenity area at the site However Chief Fire Officer Gerry O’Malley says the location for the facility is ideal from a fire services point of view Construction is to start immediately on the renovation of Loughrea Town Hall following the signing of the contract today The project which has an investment of €4.5 million has been ongoing for several years and is expected to take 18 months to complete with a 158-seat theatre and performance space Galway East TD Sean Canney spoke to Galway Talks about how it will boost Loughrea: A selection convention will take place this evening in Loughrea to select a Fianna Fail candidate who will replace Shane Curley in Galway County Council Mark Larkin who ran in the last local elections in the area and Fidelma Curley who is an aunt in law of Senator Curley who had to vacate his council seat following his election to the Seanad The selection convention takes place this evening at 7pm in the Loughrea Hotel it’ll be another month before the other seat – left vacant by Fine Gael’s PJ Murphy also following his election to the Seanad – is filled with the selection convention to be held on April 14th Multiple raids involving armed Gardaí in the Loughrea area on Friday morning saw two people arrested in connection with a haul of €179,000 worth of cocaine As part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the region with the backing of the Armed Support Unit conducted multiple searches this morning Seven properties in the town were searched under warrant and 2.5 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of €175,000 was recovered by a Garda Dog in an open area Gardaí also found €4,000 in cash at that same address which was also seized as part of the raid €3,750 worth of cocaine and a weighing scales was recovered €350 worth of cocaine and €400 worth of cannabis were seized were arrested and detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act They were subsequently released without charge pending the preparation of files for the Director of Public Prosecutions The drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis Who passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, in the wonderful care of the staff of the Galway Clinic on Thursday 12th December 2024. Predeceased by his father & mother Arthur & Mary, brother Johnny, sisters Mary (Sheil) and Margaret (Lynch). Martin will be sadly missed by his loving wife Patricia. Much loved father of daughters Claire (King), Joanne (Lucas), Cathy, Rachel (Dervan) and son Andrew, sons-in-law, Leo, Mark, Ritchie and Ronan, daughter-in-law Ciara, devoted Grandad to his adored grandchildren Hannah, Rebecca, Leo, Abby, Joseph, Jack, Seren, Thomas, Alex, Alfie and Aria. Deeply mourned by his loving sister Eileen (McGowan), brothers Anthony, Gerry, George, Pa and Paul and aunt Bernadette, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and his many wonderful friends. Martin will lie in Repose in Kilboy’s Funeral Home (H62 KF63) on Saturday 14th December from 5pm to 7pm. Martin’s funeral cortege will arrive to St. Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea, for Requiem Mass on Sunday 15th December at 12 noon, followed by burial afterwards in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Family flowers only, donations if desired, to Galway Hospice Foundation Martin’s family would like to express their sincere thanks to all their extended family, neighbours & friends for all their kindness and support at this very sad time. To offer messages of sympathy to Martin’s family, please use the “Condolences” link below. Pat passed away suddenly but peacefully on 25th December 2024 in Vancouver Pat will be deeply missed and forever remembered by his beloved wife Ann friends and former colleagues of Atlantic Technological University Those who would like to pay their respects to Pat’s family are invited to do so in Dignity Funeral Care Loughrea (H62 DV76) on Saturday 22nd February from 4pm to 6pm A memorial service to honour and celebrate Pat’s life will be held in Connaught Hotel Galway - The Ryan Room (H91 K5DD) on Sunday 23rd February at 12 noon If you would like to make a charitable donation in Pat’s memory, please donate to the Simon Community, Galway as Pat had a sincere empathy for those who struggled with homelessness, using the following link: 'In Memory of Pat Conway' A condolence book has been opened in Pat's memory on the link below where family and friends are invited to leave messages of sympathy for Pat's family. At this very difficult time, the family will get comfort from your messages. especially when a team leaves everything on the field That was Loughrea’s lot after a thrilling All-Ireland Club senior hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium on Sunday It wasn’t as if the champions of Galway didn’t show up or that they produced a performance riddled with mistakes Loughrea’s first-half display was a career best for this team – the only problem was that they should have been more than four points ahead at the break that was the losing and winning of this high-standard All-Ireland semi-final in front of an animated crowd Loughrea only had seven wides in the opening 30 minutes but at least a couple of them should have resulted in routine scores It left them vulnerable if Na Fianna could get some momentum going The Dublin outfit were on the backfoot for long tracts of the first half but a 0-10 to 0-6 interval deficit was manageable especially as they would have the backing of the elements on the resumption Na Fianna gradually ground Loughrea down with full forward AJ Murphy emerging as the hero of the hour with the match-winning point in the last minute of stoppage time after he was put in the clear by the influential Ciaran Stacey It was a devastating outcome for a Loughrea team which gave everything for the cause Making light of their six-week competitive lay-off cohesive hurling which had the strong pre-match favourites in all kinds of trouble particularly down its left flank where Kieran Hanrahan and Brian Keary were nearly unbeatable Ian Hanrahan and Cullen Killeen were dynamic around midfield; while the work-rate of Joe Mooney typified their overall commitment Tiernan Killeen on the forty had former county player Liam Rushe under real pressure; while Anthony Burns and Darren Shaughnessy in the corners looked capable of having a field day Loughrea were doing so many things right and making light of the big occasion But in the context of storming into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes to end up only being four points ahead at the break was disappointing Shaughnessy and Tiernan Killeen spurned two great chances in quick succession in the second quarter at a time when Na Fianna were barely clinging on Those misses were a pity as Loughrea’s build-up play was excellent and the reality is that they were to pay a heavy price for only tacking on three points – two Shane Morgan long-range frees and a quality Burns effort – in the final 17 minutes of the half Over the same period Na Fianna managed to throw themselves a lifeline A brace of points from Séan Currie were augmented by midfielder’s Brian Ryan fine score and a Colin Currie free to keep Loughrea within their sights had their misses too and when free-taker Currie was off-target with two placed balls immediately after the resumption you had a sense it might be Loughrea’s day who was rock-solid in the number six jersey restored their five-point advantage (0-11 to 0-6) from another monster free in the 32nd minute Pictured: Loughrea’s Cullen Killeen and Shane Morgan look to have this situation under control against Sean Burke of Na Fianna during Sunday’s All-Ireland Club senior hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium For Cappataggle or Loughrea, the long wait is over on Sunday (10th November 2024) when they contest the Brooks Senior Hurling Championship Final. This is Cappataggle's first-ever county final after they beat Sarsfields and All-Ireland champions St. Thomas'.  They weren't among the favourites at the start of the campaign but three of the last four first-time finalists went on to claim the Tom Callanan Cup. Loughrea compete in their 13th final but only have two victories to their name - in 1941 and 2006.  They were denied success in the final only after a replay two years ago.  But Loughrea are on five wins from five and accounted for Castlegar and Clarinbridge in thier last two games. To begin the weekend's build-up, Galway Bay FM's 'Hurling Chat' crew of Sean Walsh, Andy Coen, Cyril Farrell and Niall Canavan came into the studio to give their thoughts on how the game will pan out. After the 8pm news, we headed to Dooley's Bar, Cappataggle and joined up with Galway Bay FM's Tommy Devane and Kevin Dwyer to sample the mood in the village. Our next stop was the Auld Triangle, in Loughrea.  Galway Bay FM's Jonathan Higgins and Gordon Duane headed to there to see how the town are looking forward to the match. After 9pm, we went back to Dooley's Bar, Cappataggle to hear from special guests and family members. And afterwards, our final destination was again the Auld Triangle, Loughrea to get their views and see if they will finally have their day. Throw-in at Kenny Park, Athenry on Sunday is 1.45pm and we'll have LIVE coverage here on Galway Bay FM. The 'Over The Line' weekend preview show with Darren Kelly broadcasts every Friday evening from 7pm on Galway Bay FM. Adrian Callinan, Sharon Mooney and Paul Hogan of Loughrea Golf Club with John after their interview on Sunday. The last time Loughrea came out of Galway in 2006, they didn't play their All-Ireland semi-final until February of 2007 when they overcame Ulster champions Cushendall 1-11 to 0-9. In the All-Ireland final on St Patrick's Day that year, however, Loughrea were put to the sword by all-conquering Ballyhale Shamrocks on a 3-12 to 2-8 scoreline. Ahead of their latest tilt at All-Ireland Final qualification, Loughrea manager Tommy Kelly has been speaking to Galway Bay FM's Niall Canavan... All-Ireland club-hurling semi-final: Na Fianna (Dublin) 0-17 Loughrea (Galway) 0-16In every argument, somebody must have the last word. After more than an hour and of pawing and scratching and falling over each other, Na Fianna produced a move that spanned most of the field and ended with AJ Murphy unmarked inside the D with just 10 seconds left in stoppage time. Until then, nothing about this match had been decisive or clear-cut. After a campaign of grinding wins and cliffhangers Na Fianna became just the second Dublin champions to reach the All-Ireland club hurling final. Trailing by five points early in the second half, and searching in vain for inspiration, they finally wore down the Galway champions, bit by torturous bit, like an ECB rate cut. In the entire match Na Fianna led for less than three minutes and didn’t hit the front for the first time until the 57th minute; timing, though, was everything. Loughrea will wonder how it got away from them. In the first half they were on top all over the field and at one stage hit five points without reply. In a game where scoring was difficult it seemed to cause them less trouble than their opponents and there was a spell in the second quarter when they could have put themselves in a commanding position. Na Fianna, though, held tough. Murphy’s winner was his third point from play, but Colin Currie was the simple difference between winning and losing. He finished the game with 10 points, two of them from play in a thunderous second half. Currie missed a couple of frees just after half-time, but he scored with his next five shots, including a long free from near the sideline and a 65 from the same neighbourhood. In the move that led to the winner he composed himself on the ball long enough to see a pass. The Loughrea wing-back Brian Keary should have made an interception but Currie’s good intention was clear. Ciarán Stacey picked up the ball in traffic and swerved into the fast lane. The Na Fianna wing-forward played the scoring pass. “To be honest, they got the better of it in the first half. We didn’t really front up enough I don’t think,” said Currie. “They were all over us physically and they’ll probably be disappointed with a few wides. We really turned it around in the second half from a physical standpoint and we probably got on top from that side of things and that’s where the scoring opportunities came from. “We probably let ourselves down a bit [in the first half]. You don’t want to do that in such big games, the way we played, it wasn’t good enough. We knew we had the second half to turn it around. That’s what this team has been all about, staying in games. We have a lot of talented players throughout the squad but that determination to stay in the game is probably our most important trait.” Loughrea had much the better of the first half and a four-point lead at the break, 0-10 to 0-6, undervalued their superiority. They were sharper and more aggressive and moved the ball with a clearer purpose than the Dublin champions. Loughrea dominated the puckout too, on both sides of the ball, and Na Fianna’s consistent failure to get their hands on primary possession inside the Loughrea half was debilitating. With that platform, Loughrea were able to exploit the space in front of their inside forwards with a steady supply of cute ball. From that source Darren Shaughnessy scored two beautiful points and Anthony Burns landed another. Outside them, Tiernan Killeen was hugely influential at centre forward. Killeen is the only Loughrea player to have made the Galway panel this year and his bustling directness was a problem for Liam Rushe. Na Fianna couldn’t establish any rhythm. Donal Burke, their best player and most bountiful source of scores, didn’t feel the weight of the ball in his hand for the first 20 minutes, and even then, his first possession was inside the Na Fianna 45. He didn’t have his first shot until first half stoppage time, and finished the game without scoring. How the game went for him was a crude metaphor for Na Fianna’s performance. Though he got on the ball a little more after half-time, nothing was coming off. He tried to lob the Loughrea goalkeeper with an audacious shot from about 40 metres, but it missed by a good bit and with his next two possessions he was blocked down. A player of his class might go a month without being blocked down. But when Na Fianna were more like themselves in the final quarter Burke came into it too. He made one crucial intervention on his own 20m line when Loughrea looked like they were going to create a goal chance, and minutes later he was fouled for the free that drew Na Fianna level. Currie was nerveless with that shot after 55 minutes, and he put them ahead two minutes later. Loughrea mustered an equaliser from Killeen, and in stoppage time they won three Na Fianna puck-outs. Each of those attacks, though, led to nothing. Na Fianna had the last word. Na Fianna: J Treacy, S Burke, C McHugh, K Burke, P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney, B Ryan (0-1), S Currie (0-2), C Stacey (0-1), D Burke, J Meagher, C Currie (0-10, 0-7 frees, 0-1 65), AJ Murphy (0-3), G King. Subs: D Clerkin for King, 25 mins; T Brennan for Clerkin, 47 mins; S Barrett for O’Brien, 57 mins; D Ryan for Meagher, 59 mins. Loughrea: G Loughnane, P Hoban, J Coen, K Hanrahan, S O’Brien, S Morgan (0-3, frees), B Keary, I Hanrahan (0-1), Cullen Killeen (0-1), Caimin Killeen, T Killeen (0-5, 0-3 frees), J Mooney (0-1), A Burns (0-2), N Keary, Darren Shaughnessy (0-2). Subs: J Ryan (0-1) for Keary, 40 mins; Dylan Shaughnessy for Darren Shaughnessy, 56 mins; V Morgan for Caimin Killeen, 57 mins. Denis Walsh is a sports writer with The Irish Times Loughrea players celebrate their Galway SHC final success Anthony Burns of Loughrea scores a goal against Cappataggle at Kenny Park in Athenry Dermot CroweSun 10 Nov 2024 at 19:10The agony is over for Loughrea and the emotion at the end spoke volumes for the private torment endured over the 18 years since they won their last Galway senior hurling championship Beaten in the final after a replay two years ago and consigned to defeat in five finals since last being successful bear-hugged to within an inch of his life by grateful players he spoke of how relieved he was that their hard work had been repaid “But how they rallied,” he said of his hurlers and the support of the people in Loughrea The experience of finals probably stood to them here at a compact and atmospheric Kenny Park in Athenry against a Cappataggle side appearing in a final for the first time the losing team fought spiritedly to the end and finished with the last three points after conceding a 57th-minute goal But their shooting overall was a disappointment and they suffered a missed penalty early in the second half from an otherwise outstanding Liam Collins The game’s only goal came in the 57th minute their in-form corner-forward after the initial attempt by Joe Mooney was saved Burns was voted man of the match after scoring 1-3 his three points all coming in the first half Cappataggle brought themselves from five points down at the end of the third quarter to just two but Burns’ goal created a new hill that they couldn’t climb the last three scores in injury-time were Niall Collins’ points his younger brother hitting four from play The lessons will have to be stored away for another day the conquerors of St Thomas’ left to rue 12 wides and a couple of more efforts that dropped short Loughrea had lost 10 finals out of their previous 12 appearances so nobody will begrudge them their change in fortune we beat the army in 1941 and we beat Portumna in 2006 and let’s call a spade a spade referring to the fractious decider when a young Joe Canning suffered a serious injury We’re hurling people and we love it and long may it continue.” whereas ‘Cappy’ had to shake off a 17-point group defeat to Turloughmore before building a run of form ending with a famous win over the holders of the last six years and 2023 All-Ireland champions in the semi-final Twenty minutes before the start they ran out of their dressing room and down the grass embankment behind the goals but their followers had to leave disappointed wing-back Shane O’Brien making a determined run up the field before firing over inside two minutes Burns clipped over the first of his three first-half points and two more from Caimin Killeen and a huge score from centre-back Shane Morgan Cappataggle hit two early wides in a nervy start with Michael Garvey wide from long range and the talented Liam Collins making a fine catch and turn but missing the target But from there they found their groove and hit the next five points without reply Niall Collins opened their scoring from a 65 after an earlier Jarlath Mannion goal attempt was comfortably saved by Gearóid Loughnane who spent the opening half going short from his puck-outs Another Niall Collins free followed a brace from play by Malone and a beautifully-worked score for Liam Collins the run of five points leaving them ahead 16 minutes in An outstanding score from near the sideline by Neil Keary ended an 11-minute wait for a Loughrea white flag tying the teams who were level five times in an entertaining first half Loughrea made a break with three quick scores to lead 0-11 to 0-8 at the mid-point offered Cappy the chance to draw the match again but Collins’ effort to the left of Loughnane was saved low Loughrea captain Ian Hanrahan sent over a score from play and the lead opened to four and then five when Morgan landed a free with 15 minutes to go Cappy tried all they could but Loughrea simply would not take no for answer SCORERS – Loughrea: A Burns 1-3; T Killeen 0-4 (3f); S Morgan (1f 2 65); L Collins 0-4; D Malone 0-3; J Mannion 0-1 Dylan Shaughnessy for Darren Shaughnessy (51) Players Open Weekend at Loughrea Golf Club: Loughrea Golf Club Hosts Players Open Weekend – A Celebration of Golf’s Fifth Major As the world’s top golfers gather in Sawgrass, Florida, for The Players Championship—often hailed as golf’s unofficial fifth Major—Loughrea Golf Club is bringing the excitement closer to home the club is set to host its very own Players Open Weekend a thrilling four-day golfing spectacle designed to capture the spirit of one of the sport’s most prestigious events To kick off the Players Open Weekend, Loughrea Golf Club is adding even more excitement to the mix.  Join Ronan Lardner  The Live Wire broadcasting live from Loughrea Players Weekend a chance to win fantastic prizes and geared up for an unforgettable weekend of competitive play and good craic Loughrea Golf Club invites both members and guests to take part in an 18-Hole Singles Stableford competition This event is a perfect opportunity to test your skills For just €30 (members) or €40 (non-members) participants will not only experience a top-class round of golf but also indulge in a delicious meal in the newly renovated Bar & Restaurant —a fantastic way to unwind after a day on the fairways Spaces for this exciting event are expected to fill quickly, so early booking is highly recommended. Book your tee time by visiting www.loughreaGolfClub.com or calling 091 841049 Whether you're an avid golfer looking to challenge yourself or simply want to enjoy a fantastic weekend of sport Loughrea Golf Club’s Players Open Weekend is the perfect way to celebrate The Players Championship in style Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this unique event—golf