Tag Archives: Castle Bar

News

Tralee Group Takes On Charity Cycle From ‘Castle To Castle’

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John Dennis, Joe Grace, Muireann Dowling, Mark Sheehy and Fergal O’Sullivan looking forward to the cycle from Castlebar to The Castle Bar next week. Photo by Dermot Crean

A GROUP of cyclists from Tralee are taking an unusual route next week from ‘castle to castle’ in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

Mark Sheehy from Tralee and Michael Ferriter from Castlegregory have organised a cycle from Castlebar in Mayo to The Castle Bar in Tralee from Thursday, August 5 to Saturday, August 7.

Mark explained how the idea came about. “We did a cycle from Dublin to Kerry last year in aid of a soup kitchen set up by a friend of ours in Dublin last year so we had a good experience and said we’d do something different this year.”

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That cycle raised thousands for a great cause so the lads had such fun they wanted to do go on another trip. Mark had heard a story about a couple of local lads from town who went on a leisurely cycle one day and somehow ended up in Castlebar in Mayo so that inspired the idea.

Next Thursday, the group of 12 are going from Castlebar to Galway on the first day, then travelling on a coastline route to Clare, ending up in Lahinch on Friday and on to Tralee on Saturday for some refreshments in Rock Street hostelry.

Mark’s grandfather Noel Loughran passed away last year and the Palliative Care Unit provided amazing care for him, so it was decided to raise the money for that great cause.

The cyclists taking part are Mark Sheehy, John Joe Sheehy, Muireann Dowling, Joe Grace, Eamon Sayers, Gavin Duffy, Will Crean, John Dennis, Donal Lyons, Mike Ferriter, Mike Quilter and Derek Donoghue and Aisling O’Brien is in the support car sponsored by Adams of Tralee while Jackie Power Buses are bring them up to Castlebar.

A gofundme  page has been set up and it has realised nearly €5,000 so far (as of 1.15pm on Saturday). If you’d like to support the cycle click here to go to the gofundmepage.

Entertainment, WHAT'S ON

Will ‘The Bolt’ Retain His Title In The Joe Flynn Furlong Dash?

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The five competitors in the One Furlong Dash last year. From left: Niall Phelan, Dominic O’Brien, Joe Donovan, Keith Daly and Martin Lacey. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

EXCITEMENT will be at fever pitch by 4pm this Monday when the Joe Flynn One Furlong Dash for charity sees top athletes compete up Rock Street for the title.

Last year Dominic ‘The Bolt’ O’Brien took the prize for his adept handling of the pint and steady hand, but he’ll have tough competition this year from other bartenders.

In fact, there is an open invitation to bars in town to put forward their candidates for the event.

The competitors begin from Galvin’s Shop and dash to The Castle Bar carrying a full pint of Guinness.

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This is the sixth dash and last year it was renamed in honour of the late Joe Flynn who created a banner for the event which will be on display again on Monday.

The winner Dominic O’Brien is carried shoulder high last year. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

There’s always  a great crowd on the street and it’s for charity so everyone is encouraged to come down, make a donation and have a bit of fun. Sure what else would you be doing on a Bank Holiday Monday?

News

This Great Rock Street Tradition Will Be Held In Joe Flynn’s Memory On Monday

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Joe Flynn

THE ANNUAL ‘One Furlong Dash’ on Rock Street will this year be held in honour of the late Joe Flynn who was well-known face at the event down the years.

Organised by The Castle Bar, starters orders for the race is at 3pm this coming bank holiday Monday. The fun charity event always draws a great crowd on the Rock to witness who is the the quickest barman on the street.

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For years Joe – who passed away in January after battling cancer – and wife Breda held the race finishing line. Last year, Joe, who was a sign-writer by trade created a finishing banner which will be there again this year.

Funds collected on the day will be going to the Cancer Health Link Bus and the Kerry Hospice, both charities were very close to Joe’s heart.

The most sprightly men from bars on The Rock will compete over one furlong starting at Galvin’s shop and finishing outside the Castle Bar. The victorious sprinter will take pride of place on the street for the year.

Joe’s Place, An Sheebeen, The Greyhound Bar and The Castle Bar usually provide willing challengers although bars from all over town are welcome to enter.

The reigning champion is Martin Sampson who represented Joe’s Place. Who this year will steal his crown and consign themselves to Rock Street folklore?

News

Leeds United Players Sign Off On Special Gift For Joe Flynn

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Tony O'Neill, Leeds United, centre of picture making a presentation of a Leeds Football Signed Jersey by the team to Kerry Supporter Joe Flynn at a Leeds Kerry supporters club at the Castle bar on Thursday night. LtoR. Joe Hanley, Anne Pullen, Joe Flynn, Tony O'Neill, Joe Quirke, and Michael (Fox) O'Connor. Photo: John Cleary.
Tony O’Neill (third from right) making a presentation of a Leeds football jersey signed by the team to Leeds supporter Joe Flynn at the Castle Bar on Thursday night.From left: Joe Hanley, Anne Pullen, Joe Flynn, Tony O’Neill, Joe Quirke, and Michael (Fox) O’Connor. Photo by John Cleary.

LEEDS fans from around town gathered at The Castle Bar on Thursday to see their team play Wolves on a special night when everyone went home happy.

Guest of honour was the inspirational Joe Flynn, a great ‘Whites’ fan, who was presented with a jersey signed by the current Leeds players, sent over from Elland Road for Joe who is battling cancer.

“It was a perfect result and a perfect night,” said Leeds United fanatic, Michael ‘Fox’ O’Connor, who helped organise the event in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Services.

“Leeds won 3-2, we raised €315 for charity and Joe had a great time,” he said.

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Leeds fans at The Castle Bar on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

 

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Joe Flynn and Joe Quirke watching the game in the Castle Bar on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

The amount raised adds to the €1,040 raised from the soccer legends game organised by Tralee Dynamos and €300 from a darts game in The Huddle Bar for the charity.

Speaking to Joe on the night, he said it was a great event.

“It’s great craic. We’re having a good laugh with the two Wolves fans here next to me. I’m feeling good, I’ve just come out of hospital this evening after having some treatment, but I’m good,” said Joe.

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Chips Clifford and Cianán Ferris watching the game in the Castle Bar on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean

The presentation to Joe was made at half-time and he was thrilled with the gesture. This was followed by a raucous singalong from the Leeds faithful.

The Castle Bar also provided refreshments on a night where Leeds really delivered on and off the pitch.

• Michael ‘Fox’ O’Connor is trying to revive the local Leeds United fan club with the aim of travelling to matches in the new year. If anyone is interested call Fox on 087-9833075.

News, Sport

Tralee Chess Club Are Masters Of Munster

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Members of Tralee Chess Club who won the Limerick Leader Munster Division 2 Cup, from left: Aland and Eric Salsac, John Keane, Paul Shanahan, Patrick O'Sullivan, Gerry Hurley and Sebastian Kalisea.
Members of Tralee Chess Club who won the Limerick Leader Munster Division 2 Cup, from left: Aland and Eric Salsac, John Keane, Paul Shanahan, Patrick O’Sullivan, Gerry Hurley and Sebastian Kalisea.

TRALEE Chess Club have been collecting silverware in the past week in the form of the Munster League Division 2 Trophy.

A team from Tralee, were crowned champions last Saturday evening in Ennis, where they beat St Michael’s from Limerick 4-1.

The victory means that Tralee Chess Club will play in the top division of Chess in Munster next year.

The club have their base in the upstairs room of The Castle Bar and have been going since 1991.

The last time they won the division was in 2013, but unfortunately could not compete in the top flight the year after because of a number of players leaving the club due to outside influences.

Tralee Chess Club member, Patrick O’Sullivan, is optimistic that the team will be able to pit their best against the best in Munster next season.

“It was a great feeling to win because we’ve had a club Tralee for many years now. You always wonder how our club compares to other clubs around the province, so we can see now that we are a very good team,” said Patrick O’Sullivan.

The league breaks for the summer, then starts up again in September and goes through until May.

Next year, Tralee Chess Club,will look forward to hosting the best in the province and testing their wits even further.

News

PHOTOS: Punters Celebrate Cheltenham Festival In Style At The Castle Bar

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THE Castle Bar was the place to be this week for punters in Tralee who couldn’t be at the real thing at Cheltenham.

The well known pub even went as far as holding a best dressed ladies and men’s competition on Thursday to add a bit of style in the bar.

The winners were Darran Kane and Aileen Riordan who received a hamper each from Sam McAuley’s Chemists.

“The week has gone very, very good,” said Adrian O’Sullivan of the Castle Bar.

“On other years we were up on numbers. After Willie Mullins getting the few winners on Tuesday it has kept the ship afloat with punters winning big in the bar,” said Adrian.

The Castle Bar Cheltenham Rollover competition is a massive draw as well with the winner set to net €5,000 in prize money and a total of almost €18,000 given out in all.

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Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Graham Riordan, Aileen Riordan, George Carnegie, Ilene Cooper and Catherine Dempsey. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Graham Riordan, Aileen Riordan (winners of Best Dressed Lady), George Carnegie, Eileen Cooper and Catherine Dempsey. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

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Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Alan O'Brien, Jennifer Mackey and Brian Mackey. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Alan O’Brien, Jennifer Mackey and Brian Mackey. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Adrian, Grainne and Lorna O'Sullivan. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Adrian, Grainne and Lorna O’Sullivan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: John O'Sullivan and Mike Cronin. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: John O’Sullivan and Mike Cronin. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Francie O'Shea, Darren Kane, Timmy Sugrue and Martin Hobbert. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Francie O’Shea, Darren Kane (winner Best Dressed Man), Timmy Sugrue and Martin Hobbert. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Bruddy Burrows, Caroline Hutchinson and Sean Hutchinson. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Bruddy Burrows, Caroline Hutchinson and Sean Hutchinson. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Tom, Tim and Junior Foley. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Tom, Tim and Junior Foley. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Stephen Curtin, John Bowler and Chris Foley. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Enjoying the Cheltenham Festival at the Castle Bar were, from left: Stephen Curtin, John Bowler and Chris Foley. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
News, Sport

And They’re Off…€18,000 In Prize Money For Castle Bar’s ‘Cheltenham Rollover’

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Getting all geared up for Cheltenham in the Castle Bar were, from left: Fergal, Adrian, Darren, Gerard O’Sullivan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

CHELTENHAM has arrived and  while many pubs and bookies will see a surge in business, one Rock Street hostelry becomes the hub of activity for the week.

It has almost become a tradition for many punters in town to converge on The Castle Bar where their ‘Cheltenham Rollover’ is the highlight of the festival.

And with thousands in prize money at stake it’s a serious business among the craic in the bar during the world famous national hunt festival.

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In total, the ‘Rollover’ will shell out €18,000 in prize money with €5,000 going to the lucky winner.

The ‘Rollover’ victor will also have the privilege of being immortalised in the bar on the list of past winners.

The competition which has been going since 1998 is expected to have 180 entrants before the first race goes to post Tuesday afternoon.

Entrants in the rollover must pick a horse in every race with the winner at the end of the week being determined on points system.

“It’s the next best thing to being there,” said Gerard O’Sullivan of the Castle Bar.

Another big lure for the bar is Locals Day on Thursday where prizes for best dressed lady and best dressed man are awarded.

“We’ve always been busy for Cheltenham, but I suppose since the ‘Rollover’ has started it has become even busier because it’s brought a few extra heads into the bar during the week. It’s got to the stage now where people take their holidays during Cheltenham and spend it all in the bar. It’s good for the whole area and we’ll have a bit of craic as well,” said Gerard.

 

News, Sport

Video: McIlroy Sends Best Wishes To Tralee Golf Club President

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Sean O'Sullivan with Rory McIlroy.
Sean O’Sullivan with Rory McIlroy.

THERE was a nice surprise for Tralee Golf Club President Gerard O’Sullivan Tuesday when the worlds number one golfer Rory McIlroy sent him a video message via Facebook.

“It was a lovely gesture,” said Gerard.  “I haven’t seen it myself yet, but I’ve been getting loads of text messages, mainly slagging me!” he said.

It was a bit of opportunism from Gerard’s nephew Sean O’Sullivan that made it all happen.

Sean works in New York as a Building Manager in the Bloomberg Tower on Lexington Avenue.

While at work, browsing Twitter, Sean came across a photo tweeted by the newly crowned PGA Champion McIlroy of the trophy and the famous Claret Jug he picked up after winning the British Open earlier this summer ribbing fellow pro-golfer Luke Donald.

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Sean spied the room around the two trophies and noticed it was a restaurant not too far from his offices. He promptly left to see if he could catch McIlroy as the County Down native sipped his coffee and he did just that.

All told, Sean spent an hour with the four-time major winner. “If you knew him, that was typical Sean,” said Gerrard.

In the message, McIlroy wishes Gerrard all the best for the year ahead as president of Tralee Golf Club.

Post by Sean O’Sullivan.