Dear Reader - it’s one of those weeks when I’m glad these letters come out on a Tuesday - I was still lost for words on Monday!
The Big Thing
This is what happens when you pay a visit to one of your upcoming gig venues and have a talented photographer in your party.
Theme Nights Unplugged - At Christmas.
Featuring Luke Devaney, Seamie O’Dowd and special guests…
Sunday 15 Dec - King House, Boyle
Friday 20 Dec - Drumcliffe Church (pictured below)
Saturday 21 Dec - Sligo Folk Park, Riverstown (extra capacity added due to demand)
Still some tickets left here.
Where else but Sligo?
“Unbelievable”. Shake head and exhale. Turn to the next person and repeat.
This was Sunday afternoon. And evening.
Over and over again.
For so many of us.
And then Monday morning you wake up and think “did that really happen”?
Because Coolera-Strandhill are Connacht Senior Club Champions.
For the first time in our history and we become only the second ever Sligo club to achieve this, the first since St. Mary’s 41 years ago.
And they deserved every inch of it.
I still don’t have words to describe it, except to say that the feeling at the final whistle on the terrace was as good as anything I experienced as a player on the pitch.
This piece gives an insight into the mindset that led to this victory, and this short video captures the emotion of what went on.
A big shoutout to our ladies team too - who are also Connacht Champions and have contributed massively to an incredible few months for our club. They narrowly (and heartbreakingly) missed out on a place in the All-Ireland final on Saturday but can be proud of a fantastic year.
What’s New?
DES POWER’S 2024 PLAYLIST: Always a highlight of this time of year - when Des sends me on his musical highlights of the past 12 months.
HALL OF FAME: Congrats to Theme Night supporter Roddy Gaynor who was recently inducted into the Pittsburgh State University Hall of Fame for his achievements as a middle-distance track athlete. I have met Roddy on many occasions but had no idea of his accomplishments until I read this.
COACHING/TEACHING: For anyone in these fields, I loved this article about a soccer journalist coaching his son’s underage team.
Finally…
There is something special about this performance…
Till next time - Kieran.
