More than €10,000 raised for Senan Diamond Fund

More than €10,000 in funding has been raised for the cancer treatment of Ardee youngster Senan Diamond.

The two-year-old son of Hugh and Sarah Diamond was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) in June after a large tumour was discovered in his bladder.

Senan is currently enduring intensive chemotherapy in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

The tumour is responding well to treatment but chemotherapy on its own will not be enough to fight the cancer.

Senan’s team of doctors have referred him to a specialist in France who offers surgery along with brachytherapy – a form of radiotherapy – to treat ERMS in bladder/prostate regions.

A fund has been set up to help pay for little Senan’s travel and treatment with over €10,000 having been taken in to date on Go Fund Me.

This has been helped by tweets from celebrities including Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, Home and Away star Dan Ewing and boxers Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlon and Andy Lee who is auctioning gloves from his fight with Peter Quillin in aid of Senan. An anonymous gamer, known online as Tactical Potato and believed to be from Ardee, has also raised huge awareness of the campaign.

Ardee Cycling Club are also hosting a 70km cycle this Sunday while Ruth Kelly Brady and Friends will be hosting an evening of song on October 24^th in the Bohemian Centre in Ardee, with funds being split between Senan and the Jack and Jill Foundation.

A benefit night with music and entertainment will also take place in the St Mary’s GFC clubrooms on November 20^th.

For further details email senandiamondbenefitfund@gmail.com or visit the Senan Diamond Twitter page. You can also donate via Go Fund Me or via Ardee Credit Union – BIC: ARCUIE21XXX IBAN: IE 73ARCU99104001794009

St Mary’s Ardee have big plans for Pairc Mhuire

St Mary’s GFC in Ardee are hoping to carry out a series of alterations to their grounds, Pairc Mhuire, on the Drogheda Road.

The club have applied to Louth County Council for planning permission to construction a new gym and a hurling/kick wall unit.

They also hope to install a walking/running track along the western side of the site with relevant lighting lamp stands.

They also hope to demolish two buildings to the eastern boundary of the site and will replace them with a steel frame building.

The council are due to decide on the matter by June 17^th.

Darren Clarke withdraws himself from Louth panel a month before the championship

Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke has left the Louth panel just weeks ahead of their Leinster Championship opener against Westmeath in Mullingar on Saturday May 17^th.

Writing via his Twitter page last night, the forward said: “Sad to say, I’ve had to withdraw from the Louth senior panel for the rest of ‘this’ year. Wished the lads all the best. #AnLuAbu”

He later added: “Focus is now back with the club. Big win tonight. Nice to be back playing 60 mins competitive football. #StMarysGFC”

Clarke cut a peripheral figure this year under manager Aidan O’Rourke. While the Ardee man had his injury problems, he was used sparingly throughout a disappointing league campaign and was even substituted after being introduced in one of the games.

The fact Clarke played for his club St Mary’s in their 3-19 to 1-8 victory over Dundalk Young Irelands last night shows that his withdrawal from the county panel is not injury-related with relations between him and the management team understood to be strained.

The fact he said “this year” in quotations marks suggests he does want to return in future but at a stage when O’Rourke is no longer at the helm.

The manager’s future is likely to come under scrutiny at the end of the season after the side picked up just two points from their entire league campaign and failed to win a single match. If a disappointing championship campaign follows then it is likely many clubs will back up threats to call for a change in direction.

St Mary’s GFC to host poker tournament this Friday

St Mary’s GFC in Ardee will host a poker tournament in their clubhouse at Pairc Mhuire.

Registration takes place at 7.30pm with the tournament starting at 8pm. Entry costs €25 while a drinks promotion will be available on the night.

For further details contact 087-2821715.

DVD released on Louth 1957 team

A new DVD has been put together commemorating the Louth 1957 All-Ireland team.

The new release, which also features interviews with greats from St Mary’s GFC, was put together by the Ardee-based club.

It features recorded interviews with the likes of Patsy Coleman, Kevin Beahan, Jim Judge, Jim McDonnell, Dan O’Neill, Aiden Magennis, Jim McArdle, Alfie Monk, Pat Markey, Jackie Reynolds, Paddy Beahan, Johnny Ross and Jim Roe.

Sean Boyle also reflects on 15 golden years from 1938 to 1953, while there is also video recordings of the 1957 and 1950 All-Ireland finals.

To get your hands on this DVD call Brendan Matthews on 087-3264733 or email brendan1matthews@yahoo.ie

It is also available from St Mary’s GFC or O’Neill’s Menswear Ardee.

White collar boxing in Ardee this weekend

St Mary’s GFC and Advanced Digital Security Ireland will host a white collar boxing night tomorrow at 7.30pm in the Ardee Parish Centre.

38 participants are due to take part on the night, with tickets on sale on the night priced €20.