On the first weekend in May a sea of gold and green jerseys descended upon the Big Apple, as Gaelic Park hosted New York versus Leitrim. But when the dust has settled, bar stools emptied, and flights returned, those left behind might ponder what kind of place Leitrim is?

Carrick on Shannon in County Leitrim is celebrating a year full of activities as 2013 marks the 400th anniversary since King James 1st granted the town charter.

The rematch of last year’s County final had an eerily familiar start with Kenny O’Connor involved again in the fireworks. He received a straight red after two minutes when he was deemed to have hit Ciaran O’Connor off the ball.

The hope that’s springs eternal for New York was stamped out most viciously, on the scoreboard at least by a Leitrim side that was not in the least feeling sympathy for an over matched opponent.

Irish based, Leitrim Tourism, is in New York this week to launch a recruitment drive to increase the number of Leitrim Ambassadors in the US. The initiative is targeting people who come from Leitrim and are now living in New York, and the US, and is encouraging them to become advocates of their native county by creating awareness of what’s on offer and encouraging others to consider the beautiful county in the West of Ireland for future vacations.
 
The search for ambassadors was officially initiated last evening in the well known New York based Irish bar, Rosie O’Gradys. A large Leitrim contingent attended the event all entertained by famous Leitrim son, writer and actor, Seamus O’Rourke.
 
The event coincides with a GAA match which sees Leitrim’s Senior team take on New York in the Connacht Senior Football Championship.  The highly anticipated match takes place in Gaelic Park at 3pm on Sunday, 5th May. The quarter final of the Connacht championship is expected to attract a large crowd to Gaelic Park where Leitrim Tourism officials will be on hand to meet natives of the county and encourage them to take part in this new initiative.
 
In order to continue the success of the Gathering initiative Leitrim folk are being encouraged to tell their friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues about the County of Leitrim and to increase people’s awareness of what’s on offer to those who visit. This initiative seeks to build on the success of the 2013 year of the Gathering and encourages people to consider Lovely Leitrim for a future vacation next year and beyond.

Leitrim Tourism are set to launch a recruitment drive to increase the number of Leitrim Ambassadors in the U.S.

The Leitrim Genealogy Centre is organizing the return of the Leitrim Roots Festival for September 2013. The Leitrim Roots Festival hopes to attract anyone who has connections with Leitrim.  Its aim is to get visitors to spend a week in Leitrim and get to know the beauty and history of the county of their ancestors. The festival is also for visitors who want to have a genuine Irish experience and interact with local communities and it is for Leitrim people who would like to experience all that their home county has to offer.

Irish police are mystified after a property developer missing for eight months was found wandering the road in Leitrim in a distressed state.

Leitrim finally got back into the winner’s enclosure with a three-point win over hosts Sligo in the FBD League final on Sunday as new captain Emyln Mulligan lifted a trophy in his first big game as skipper.

Mourners at the funerals of three victims of a blaze in their home heard this week how it was the second fire tragedy to strike the family.

One of the smallest counties in Ireland hopes it can borrow a social media catchphrase to capture a world-wide tourist audience - an innovation welcomed by Tourism Minister Michael Ring at the Leitrim Roots Festival 2013 launch.

Leitrim has announced its own innovative idea to promote the county for the Gathering 2013 by hosting a live Trad session webcast on Tuesday 20th November.

County Leitrim is welcoming those intending to take part in The Gathering Ireland 2013 to attend “Percy’s Party”, a celebration of the Irish compose Percy French.

Junior Football Final

Senior Football
Kerry Stroll forward

Intermediate football

Rory Woods pointed the way for Leitrim with a seven point haul in this victory that paves the way for Leitrim to make a challenge at three in a row glory as the season heads across the halfway line.

McGuigan Leads Tyrone to Victory