The Month's Mind Mass for former Irish rugby international Tony O'Sullivan will be celebrated in the Jesuit Church Sea Road on Saturday week 6 October at 12 noon.

There was a familiarity about the civic reception in Eyre Square for the victorious Galway minor football team even if there was a newness about the occasion. All the ingredients were there, the Mayor Cllr. Tom Costello and his fellow councillors in their robes, the City Manager was in attendance and the City Sword and Mace embellished the occasion. The location may have been different in the revamped Square but there was one feature that enjoys a great continuity when the label of authenticity was well stamped with Brendan Coffey making a cameo appearance from stage right. A fine gesture on his part given that he came out of retirement to give the occasion his seal of approval. No wonder Roches Stores changed hands since he retired! The Mayor made a very good snappy address, well prepared, in both Irish and English that added considerably to the occasion. Well done again to Mul's Minors, enjoy the acclaim and here's hoping there are no life or social casualties from the new found celebrity status.

The win brings to mind the Galway involvement in minor finals, not as extensive as one might imagine. The competition was first played for in 1929 but Galway never made it to the final until 1952. Galway contested seven All Ireland Minor football finals, winning six.

1952: Won against Cavan
1960: Won against Cork
1970: Won against Kerry (replay)
1976: Won against Cork
1986: Won against Cork
1994: Lost to Kerry
2007: Won against Derry

The All Ireland football finals in Croke Park reminds us of the Offaly team of 25 years ago that was celebrated on the day. Among those taking the applause was a then youthful wing forward Aidan O'Halloran, the Clifden bank manager and rugby coach. Another world, another time.

Don't forget the four students Patrick O'Malley (Bushy Park), Niall Higgins (Castlegar), Martin Freeney (High Street) and Fergus Colleran (Ballagh) who successfully made the Irish Sea crossing in a currach in aid of the RNLI. The lads have opened an account RNLI Sea Challenge in the AIB Lynch's Castle. The A/C No. is 20787071. Well worth your support. An outstanding charity and an outstanding fundraising effort.

Well done to the girls from Salthill Devon who won the Connacht Under 12 championship in Sligo on Sunday. They beat Dunmore (representing the Roscommon League) in the final and now have a date in Dublin at the end of October for the All Ireland finals. But Dunmore, Colga and Shiveen Rovers will also play in the All Ireland finals. We wish them all well.

Ireland's rugby team disappointed against France last weekend. Among the handful not to disappoint were the two who served their apprenticeship with Connacht, Eoin Reddan and Jerry Flannery. Without that experience it is very possible that they might never have played representative rugby. And to think that those who gave Eddie O'Sullivan a new four year contract before this RWC are the same people who had a mind to close Connacht down a few years ago. Preserve us all from gobshi...

Here's an exclusive, we don't have many. The diary eavesdropped on those in the know and found out that the star of Connacht's win over the Dragons on Friday night Aidan Wynne spent some time in Eddie the Eagle's suit last season! What a change! Don't really know if he passed muster then but he was terrific on Friday. A season is a long time in, I suppose, an eagle's suit!