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Rachael Carvill is a talented and dedicated Taekwon-Do athlete from Mayobridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. She began her Tae Kwon Do journey at just seven years old, inspired by her cousins and older brother. Training under Cathal Fegan at his School of Tae Kwon Do in Warrenpoint, Rachael showed early promise and earned her black belt by the age of 13.
At only 14, Rachael made history by becoming the International Tae Kwon Do Federation (ITF) Under-18 Hyper Weight World Champion in Amsterdam, making her the youngest competitor in her division. This remarkable achievement brought pride to her community and established her as one of the most promising young martial artists in the country.
Her dedication and hard work has continued to pay off. Rachael has now qualified for the Irish National Team and will represent Ireland at the upcoming ITF World Championships—an incredible milestone that reflects her talent and perseverance.
Never one to stand still, Rachael recently joined a local boxing club St Patricks ABC in Burren to further challenge herself and broaden her skill set. Her commitment paid off quickly when she became all Ireland champion within a year.
Rachael has secured two major sponsors,Harrison Contracts, Annalong and Shannon Valley Group, Donabate whose support has been instrumental in her journey. Without their generous backing Rachael would not have been able to train, travel, and compete at the level required to chase her dreams and excel on the international stage.
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Newry has joined the Parkrun movement with a weekly run organised every Saturday morning in the city.
Taking place on the Carlingford Lough Greenway, participants meet Saturdays at 9.30am at the entrance to the Greenway at the Albert Basin in the city before embarking on the 5k jaunt.
The event is free, fun, and friendly. You can walk, jog, run, volunteer or even just spectate. Before you take part you MUST register with Parkrun at www.parkrun.org.uk
Last weekend's Parkrun had 150 finishes.
The Parkrun is organised by volunteers. If you would like to help you can email newrygreenway@parkrun.com
Many of the participants get a post parkrun coffee at Courtney's Cafe on the Mill Street/ St Marys Street corner.
Newry City Councillor Cathal King commended those involved in organising the event and said the parkrun location is a great opportunity to showcase Newry, especially when the new city park gets built. "Well done all those who have worked together to get this Event started and on the calendar.
"Over the past few months myself and my colleagues were happy to give them the support and practical help we could" Cllr King added “The location for Newry’s Parkrun is the scenic Carlingford Lough Greenway, starting at the Albert Basin. In time it will be great to see our Parkrun start from our new city centre park. With plenty of amenities and parking nearby, this is a great opportunity to showcase our city.
“This is a really positive development for the area and gives people a glimpse of the potential this site holds for the wider community”.
See www.parkrun.org.uk/newrygreenway for more information
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The Shinken Shobu Ryu Judo club based in Warrenpoint have had a busy 3 weeks with team members competing locally in Craigavon and further afield in Dublin and High Wycombe.
First up father and son team Martin and Charlie Fearon competed at the Shinsei judo club Kyu grade (coloured belts) shiai competition. The pair travelled to the South Lakes’ Leisure Centre, Craigavon, on 18 May. Not only are they father and son but both won matches by Kesa Gatame (hold down) for Osaekomi (timed pin). Both father and son secured silver medals. A great achievement for Charlie as this was his first ever competition.
Next up on Saturday 24 May head coach Dermot McCaul and Paul McConville travelled to England to test their shiai skills at the High Wycombe Masters. This competition attracts competitors from across Europe and beyond. Dermot who gives up so much of his time to running the club and the development of his students faced down some tough challengers and secured a Bronze medal. It would be difficult to find anyone with a technical knowledge on par with Dermot. Then Paul made his move, Paul is a groundwork specialist and can tie even the most experienced competitor up in knots. This was on display when he one match when he had submitted his opponent in such away that his opponent and other competitors where left wondering how he managed it with such ease. Paul had an amazing showing and secured a silver medal.
The next day Sunday 25 May it was time for the Kata team to step up to the mark. Coach Nigel O’Neil and his kata partner Damian O’Hare attended the Irish Open Judo Kata Championships. The team are heave favourites due to the fact that Shinken Shobu Ryu is one of the highest quality Kata clubs in the UK and Ireland. Nigel and Damien competed in three categories:
Kime no Kata: The Kata of real fighting
Katame no kata: The Kata of Ground fighting techniques
Kodakan goshin jutsu: The Kata of self defence
Against tough competition from across Ireland and the UK, Nigel and Damien held their nerve. After a full day they had secured 1st place in all three categories.
On Sunday 1 June Head coach Dermot and Club team mate Patrick McCambridge attended the national Dan (Black belt) Grading. Paddy has already won his 100 points via competition, which left him needing to complete the technical portion of the grading. This involves testing on throwing, pinning, chokes/Strangles and joint locks as well as performing a Kata. Paddy had success performed all eliminates and has been awarded his 2nd Dan. Dermot who has already achieved his technical dan grade was facing a line up of other black belts to gain the points for his competitive 3rd dan. Dermot fought valiantly however did not reach the full 100 points. We have every confidence that Dermot will gain these points in the next outings, starting with the British Masters.
The team will in the coming weeks be running a ladies self-defence course and a new beginners class. To register your interest simply email the team at Shinkenshobu2021@gmail.com
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Armagh LGFA have claimed the All-Ireland U14 Bronze Championship title with a two point win over Limerick in an entertaining tie in Kinnegad yesterday 8 June.
The Orchard County made up for loss in the Gold final last year to overcame a gallant Limerick side. Limerick created a goal chance inside the opening minute but Ciara McCarthy shot wide. Grace Stewart got Armagh’s opening point in the second minute while Armagh keeper Niamh Jordan made a fine save from Eve Egan in the sixth minute.
Armagh got their second point in the ninth minute. Limerick had to wait until the 18th minute before they got their first score on the board; Emma Halley with a pointed free.
Gemma Marsden and Halley traded points before Ciara O’Reilly found the back of the net for the Orchard County in the 19th minute. Stewart’s effort came off the butt of the post minutes later as Armagh went in search of further scores. Halley got her third point in the 25th minute to cut the gap to three points. A point from sub Pippa Mooney saw Armagh lead 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.
It was a one point game in the 32nd minute when substitute Eavan Lyons scored a fantastic goal. Eve Egan levelled matters two minutes later. In the 36th minute Limerick took the lead for the first time. It didn’t last long and 1-1 in the space of one minute saw Armagh in front again by three, with sub Alex Quinn getting the goal.
Jordan pulled off an excellent save in the 41st minute to deny Egan. In the 46th minute Armagh stretched their lead to seven points. Limerick, though, battled back and a goal from Halley in the 47th minute cut the deficit to four. Marsden replied with a point for Armagh before Halley palmed the ball to the net in the 50th minute to leave just two between the sides.
It was end to end stuff in the closing stages. In the 55th minute O’Reilly grabbed her second and Armagh’s third goal. Limerick got late points but Armagh held on for the win.
Scorers - Armagh: C O’Reilly 2-2, A Quinn 1-1, G Marsden 0-3, G Stewart 0-2, P Mooney, M Campbell 0-1 each.
Limerick: E Halley 2-4 (1f), E Lyons 1-1, E Egan 0-2, L Collins 0-1
Armagh: N Jordan; L Woods, S Lavery, J Donnelly; C Moriarty, A Reid, L Egan; A Coleman, E McCormack; G Stewart, G Marsden, M Campbell; K Cumiskey, C O’Reilly, A O’Neill. Subs used: P Mooney, M Campbell, A Quinn, J Nugent.
Limerick: E Culhane; E Dowling, C Bresnan, L Healy; M Kitson, K Riall, C Youta; K Williams, S Hanley; C McCarthy, M Conneely, L Stokes; E Egan, E Halley, S Lynch. Subs used: L Healy, L Collins, J Frawley, E Lyons, M O’Brien, N Reidy, A Carr, A McDonnell, A McNamara.
Referee: Anthony Campbell (Derry).
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Meath came from four points down with three minutes remaining to earn a dramatic draw against Armagh in their opening game in Group 3 of the TG4 All-Ireland SFC.
Caroline O’Hanlon kicked over a free in the 57th minute to extend Armagh’s lead to four points but credit to Meath they dug in at the end. A goal from substitute Shauna Ennis and then a point from Vikki Wall earned Shane McCormack’s side a draw.
Kelly Mallon opened the scoring inside the second minute of play. Meath edged ahead after four minutes of play before three points in a row including a lovely score from Niamh Reel saw Armagh go ahead by two in the seventh minute.
Meath were back in front in the 12th minute when Wall found the back of the net with a fine finish. Ciara Smyth followed that up with a neat point. Down the other end Meath keeper Robyn Murray brought off a good save to deny Aoife McCoy, the ball came back out to Niamh Henderson and she fired over.
McCoy found the back of the net in the 21st minute with an excellent strike to put Armagh back ahead. There were two in it minutes later when Reel kicked over a free.
Wall played the ball to Aoibhín Cleary in the 27th minute and she fired a brilliant strike to the net. Just on the stroke of half-time another Reel free levelled matters for the third time — Meath 2-4 Armagh 1-7.
Mallon and Duggan (free) traded points in the early exchanges of the second half. An excellent point from Clery put Meath ahead in the 39th minute. Minutes later Niamh Coleman played the ball to Mallon and she fired low to the net. Reel hit over her fourth free of the game to extend Armagh’s lead to four in the 43rd minute.
It was now advantage Armagh and Meath worked hard to get back into the game but the Orchard County’s defence stood firm. Duggan hit over a much needed score from a free in the 47th minute to put three between the sides.
The lead was four again in the 57th minute when O’Hanlon kicked over a free. She claimed the ball on the line when Duggan kicked a free but there was still time for late drama.
Scorers - Meath: V Wall 1-3 (1f), A Cleary 1-1, S Ennis 1-0, E Duggan 0-3 (2fs), C Smyth 0-1.
Armagh: N Reel 0-5 (4fs), K Mallon 1-2, A McCoy 1-1, N Henderson 0-2, C O’Hanlon 0-1 (f).
Meath: R Murray; A Sheridan, M.K. Lynch, K Newe; A Cleary, S Wall, K Kealy; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth; E Duggan, V Wall, K Cole. Subs: K Bermingham for Farrelly (38), S Ennis for Cole (45), C Lawlor for Kealy (47).
Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, C McNally, M McCann; E Druse, C Towe, G Ferguson; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; L McConville, A McCoy, K Mallon; S Quigley, N Henderson, N Reel. Subs: R Mulligan for Quigley (ht), M Lennon for C McNally (47), E Lavery for McCann (52).
Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).
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"Do or die" was the message coming out of the Down camp this week as they faced Tyrone at Pairc Esler yesterday, 8 June in the TG4 LGFA Intermediate All Ireland Championship.
Despite having the chances to win last time out against Westmeath, the painful loss meant that they had to avoid defeat against Tyrone to have any chance of progression in the Championship.
This was always going to be incredibly tight game as a single extra time point in Down's favour was the difference when these teams last faced each other in the Ulster semi final, and so it proved to be exactly that, with these two evenly matched sides.
Tyrone were stronger in the opening few minutes. With Aoibhinn McHugh, Niamh O'Neill, Aoife Horisk and especially centre forward Sorcha Gormley all shining for the visitors and they would go on to be massive threats to the Down defence throughout the game.
O'Neill opened the scoring for Tyrone and but for waywood shooting the visitors should have added another two scores to that single point. The Tyrone early pressure was turned on its head with seven minutes on the clock. A nice interchange of handpassing between Meghan Doherty, Niamh King and Niamh Rice, left Rice through on goal. As the Rostrevor forward was about to pull the trigger she was bundled over by a lunge from Tyrone's Michaela Moore and referee Antony Marron had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick. Burren's Eimear Fitzpatrick showed no sign of pressure after last week's saved penalty, as she confidently blasted the ball into the corner of the net for a vital Down goal.
Fitzpatrick followed this up with two converted frees in quick succession to extend the Down lead.
Tyrone almost hit back with a goal of their own as Horisk unleashed a powerful drive that was heading into the top corner, but Down keeper Cara Bradley flung out an outstretched hand to tip the ball over for a single rather than the maximum.
Horisk was denied another goal chance when good work from Clara Mulvenna closed down the Errigal Ciaran forward. However play was pulled back for Tyrone to convert the free to leave the score at Down 1-02 to Tyrone 0-3.
Down pressed forward again and as the Tyrone defence opened up in front of Ciara McCreaner the Bredagh defender gladly accepted the invitation to shoot and cleared the bar. Tyrone reeled Down back in with three late converted frees. The last on the stroke of half time brought the teams in level. Down 1-3 v Tyrone 0-6
Fitzpatrick has been deadly from frees all season and opened the second half scoring with another long range converted free in. But then Tyrone really stepped up the pressure. Aoibhinn McHugh powerful run and clever hand pass, left Sorcha Gormley in space on the right and she made no mistake burying the ball into the net.
Down hit back with yet another Fitzpatrick free but that was cancelled out by Tyrone's Niamh O Neill. O'Neill must have one of the best left foots in ladies football and put the ball over with ease.
Player of the match Gormley got another point as she raced through the middle. Gormley's pace and work rate gave the Down defence no rest bite throughout the game and the Tyrone forward was a real live wire throughout the game.
Down were working incredibly hard. A patient build up where they recycled the ball multiple times was rewarded when Niamh King found a touch of space and cleared the black spot to bring Down within two of the visitors.
Fitzpatrick and Horisk exchanged frees before danger woman Gormley pointed again. Castlewellan's King then done well getting a shot off at full pace to keep Down in touch.
Three unanswered Tyrone points followed, and it looked like the game had slipped away from Down, but a bit of magic from young Niamh Rice got Down a much needed penalty and a lifeline back into the game. Rice weaved her way past several Tyrone defenders before being brought down. Second half substitute Aine Smyth dispatched the penalty to reduce the gap to two in Tyrone's favour.
With time running low Down pushed bodies forward and left gaps in defence. Aoife McGahan expoilted this and slotted over for the visitors and a three point lead.
A few scrambled balls into the Tyrone square in added on time was well dealt with as Down tried everything to get the goal they so desperately needed. It was not to be as Tyrone held out in this highly entertaining Championship game by three. The large crowd, although disappointed we're well entertained by two cracking teams. Tyrone now face West Meath to see who will win this group while Down face a relegation playoff to stay in next year's Intermediate Championship.
Final Score: Down 2-8 (14) v Tyrone 1-14 (17)
Down: C.Bradley. A. Greene. N.McGrath. N.McClory. C.Mulvenna (c). A.Brogan. E.Sands. M.Doherty. A.Laverty. E.Fitzpatrick (1-5). L.Duffy. N.Burns. N.King(0-2). N.Rice. V. McCormack. C.McCreanor (0-1). A.Smyth (1-0).
Tyrone: A.Coyle. J.Lyons. G.McKenna. E.Quinn. S.McCarroll. M.Moore. C.Canavan. A.McHugh. M.Mallon (0-1). E.McNamee. S.Gormley (1-3). A.Horisk (0-5). N.O'Neill (0-4). C.McCrossan. C.Coulton. A.McGahan (0-1)
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The recent AGM of Newry Rugby Club heard of plans in place to strengthen the club to ensure that it continues to maintain its prominent place in Junior Rugby in the province.
The well attended meeting was indicative of the renewed enthusiasm the club is currently experiencing.
Newly elected Chairman Paul Little highlighted the plans for the coming season and introduced the newly appointed Director of Rugby Trevor Sansom. Little commented that Sansom who hails from South Africa “brings a wealth of experience having played and coached at a high level in provincial Rugby in his home country.”
Sansom retired from playing due to a shoulder injury and turned to coaching with some considerable success.
Having decided to move to Ireland he settled with his young family in Newry where he coached the under 12s alongside compatriot Riann Fourie. He brings a coaching style encompassing attention to detail and mastery of the basics of the game which he feels is critical to the implementation of any game plan.
Due to the efforts of the Recruitment sub-committee a large number of experienced players have committed for the forthcoming season and Sansom is keen to start working with them when training recommences in July.
The club is keen to add to the playing numbers so if anyone is interested in joining us on our exciting journey next season please contact Eamon McCormick on 07754392204.
To give any inspiring players a taste of the game the club holds a session of tag Rugby each Thursday night at 7.30pm. Anyone is welcome to attend.
With a thriving youth section bringing on the next generation of senior players the club is well placed to progress and all involved can’t wait for the new season to begin.
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The 2025 Modern Tyres Ulster Rally is returning to a two-day format following last years one day event. Spectators can look forward to classic special stages with real European prestige including an exciting night stage on the weekend of August 15 and 16.
Entries are now open and Northern Ireland Motor Club anticipates another strong field of competitors. Across the two legs of the asphalt event, crews from the UK and Ireland can look forward to tackling more than one hundred competitive miles in the Newry and Banbridge areas.
Based in Modern Tyres’ state-of-the-art facility in the Carnbane Industrial Estate in Newry the Ulster Rally gets underway on Friday afternoon from 3pm with the first of three stages.
These are repeated that evening, with organisers scheduling a regroup in Newry followed by a visit to the service park back at Modern Tyres’ premises when light pods will be fitted. Friday's leg is due to conclude around 11.30pm – and cover almost forty-five stage miles.
The action resumes at 9.30am on Saturday, with stages based around Banbridge.
Again, three distinct stages will be run twice, with a regroup in Banbridge and service at Modern Tyres. At fifty-six miles, Saturday’s action ends at 4.45pm when the winners are crowned.
Clerk of the Course, Wayne Turkington, said: “In a nod to the Ulster Rally’s rich heritage, this year’s event is going to feature the return of several classic stages,
including one not seen since 1998, alongside a brand-new test. In fact, only one stage from last year will be used in this edition, ensuring a fresh and exciting challenge for every single competitor.”
As one of only two international rallies in the UK, the Modern tyres Ulster Rally is once again a round of the FIA European Rally Trophy and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
Saturday will also feature standalone competition for the Irish Tarmac Championship’s Junior drivers, with the popular Micra Challenge making its much-anticipated return.
“With a mix of night-time action, legendary roads and international championship status, August’s rally promises to be one of the highlights of the motorsport calendar,” he added.
This is the fifth year Modern Tyres is backing the Ulster Rally, with a series of special nods planned to celebrate the business’s sixtieth anniversary in 2025.
The 2025 event can be followed via the Ulster Rally website www.ulsterrally.com and the official Facebook account at www.facebook.com
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When it comes to searching for inspiration in their pursuit of TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship glory, Aoife McCoy and the Armagh ladies footballers have the ideal guiding forces.
Back on July 28 of last year, the Armagh men’s team edged out Galway to claim the second All-Ireland senior football championship title in their history – and the first since a breakthrough success in 2002. In this 1-11 to 0-13 triumph at Croke Park, defensive duo Barry McCambridge and Connaire Mackin played crucial roles in getting the Orchard County over the line.
Eight days earlier, McCambridge's sisters Clodagh and Meabh featured alongside Mackin's sibling Blaithin (his other sister Aimee was missing through injury) as Armagh lost out to Kerry at the penultimate stage of the LGFA’s top-tier championship at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore.
The aforementioned McCoy lined out at centre-half forward in this game and as Armagh aim to go a couple of steps further in this year’s Brendan Martin Cup, she acknowledges the achievements of their male counterparts could help to spur them on.
“I think plenty of people have said it. The boys winning the All-Ireland last year, not really realising it, but it has maybe been a good push for ourselves as well. It has just brought a lot of happiness and stuff to the county. I think for ourselves it probably has pushed us on,” McCoy explained.
“We have a lot of girls that have siblings that are involved in that panel. The likes of Clodagh and the Mackins and stuff like that. Definitely you’re trying to emulate that success. Even without knowing it, it probably has pushed us on that bit more too.”
Despite losing out to Galway on the same margin that they defeated them by in that 2024 decider, the Armagh men had already qualified for the quarter-final phase of the All-Ireland senior championship prior to their group stage meeting last weekend. McCoy and her Orchard colleagues will also be hoping to have booked a spot in the last-eight of the Brendan Martin Cup by the time the final whistle sounds in their Group 3 clash with Kildare at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds today (throw-in 2pm).
Should Armagh get the better of the Lilywhites this afternoon, they will join Meath – who they have drawn with in their sole group fixture to date – in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals on the weekend of July 5/6. The Orchard women could also potentially claim top spot ahead of a Meath side that secured a three-point victory against provincial rivals Kildare last weekend, but McCoy stressed the main focus will be on trying to get the better of the latter side on home soil.
“At the end of the day, we’re going out to get a win first of all. A win will basically secure us a spot in the quarter-final and then after that, obviously we’d love to finish first in the group. To get that home quarter-final, that would be great. We’ll be focusing really on a win first and then just take it from there to see how it goes.
“They [Kildare] have obviously come into Division One this year and they’ve maintained their status there. In 2023 they won the intermediate, so they’re a very good side. We played them earlier in the year down in Silverbridge.
“That was a home game for us. We had a very good performance that day, we were going pretty well in the league at the time, but they’re a very good team and they have some quality players.”
While McCoy has played in no fewer than six Lidl National Football League finals since breaking onto the Armagh panel in 2014 – winning a brace of Division 2 crowns to go alongside victories in Division 1 and Division 3 – her sole All-Ireland final appearance to date at adult level has been on the club scene.
Although she hails from St Patrick’s Dromintee GAC, McCoy had a previous spell with Shane O’Neills in Camlough at a point when her home club weren’t in a position to field a team. Joining her on this adopted side were fellow Dromintee footballers Shauna Grey and Katie Daly, and it proved to be a productive time for this triumvirate.
After helping them to secure county and provincial honours earlier in the year, McCoy, Grey and Daly featured for Shane O’Neills in an AIB All-Ireland intermediate club championship final against Galway’s Annaghdown at Parnell Park in December 2016. A superb 2-4 haul from Aimee Mackin wasn’t enough to get the Armagh and Ulster champions past their Connacht opponents, but McCoy admitted reaching this showpiece was part of a great adventure with the Camlough outfit.
“It was really nice. I think momentum just grew with Shane O’Neills that year. They had a very good team, but momentum just seemed to build each game. A great experience to say that you played in an All-Ireland club final and unfortunately we just couldn’t get the result.
“I have to say, it was a really enjoyable couple of years with Shane O’Neills. Obviously Dromintee is my club and I absolutely love it, but we probably couldn’t have asked for a better club to be transferred to. It was a brilliant experience with a great group of girls.”
Even though she has been working from home for the past few years in her role as a software engineer with Liberty IT, McCoy currently lives in Lisburn – a place just outside of Belfast that forms the boundary between Antrim and Down. This leaves her with a slightly longer journey to inter-county training than those who are based within Armagh, but the 2024 TG4 All Star winner doesn’t see this as a major burden.
“It’s about 50 minutes up and down to training. There are people who travel far worse than that. I can’t really complain too much,” McCoy added.
“It’s my only job that I’ve had since I graduated out of university. I’m in the company probably coming up to 10 years now. Which is mental, but it’s a great company. I’m very lucky since the Covid pandemic I’ve been working from home. It suits with the football as well. It gives me that bit of flexibility.”
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