Austin, TX
Austin's Celtic Cowboys mark 20
The Celtic Cowboys of Austin, Texas, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. Members and friends of the sport and social club met on the rooftop of the Texas Bankers Association building in downtown Austin to commemorate the occasion with a gala.
The Celtic Cowboys were founded by Limerick man Pat Doab in 2004 and they sponsor teams in golf, soccer, hurling, and Gaelic football. The past two decades of the club’s existence have seen a number of accolades on the field, with the GAA sides being particularly strong. The men’s Gaelic football and hurling teams won their first national titles in their divisions in 2008 and 2011, and the ladies’ Gaelic football side won their first in 2018. The Cowboys also served as host to the GAA Hurling All-Stars showcase in 2015 and the LGFA Ladies’ Football All-Star showcase in 2023. The numerous soccer sides have won local, state, and national tournaments throughout the years as well, making athletic excellence a through-line of the club’s ongoing history.
Conor Ryan leads members of the Celtic Cowboys in “The Fields of Athenry.”
However, according to club founder Doab, the club’s reach goes beyond the playing field. “The organization was and continues to be around connection and community, where sport is the cornerstone of that community,” he told me. “It doesn’t require members to actively participate in the sports, but to feel part of a supportive group.”
The Texas and Austin Roses of Tralee at the 20th Anniversary Gala with the Texas State Capitol in the background.
The Celtic Cowboys host numerous networking and social events throughout the year, and provide a “soft-landing program for anyone that moves to the Austin area.” Indeed, hundreds of members from Ireland, the U.S. and elsewhere have passed through the ranks of the club in the last two decades. It is clear that the Celtic Cowboys are at the center of Austin’s burgeoning Irish community.
Sound check on the roof. Texas’ famous Hill Country in the distance.
“Congratulations to the club on 20 years,” said Robert Hull, the Consul General of Ireland based in Austin, at the gala. He had particular praise for Pat Doab, whose “drive led to the creation of the club.” Hull also noted Doab’s work on the Austin Limerick Sister City Initiative, which has led to the recognition of an official Friendship City status between the two.
When asked to reflect on what has kept the club going for so long, Doab said, “Being part of an organization that’s volunteer driven is a wonderful experience. It takes a village to maintain a community for any length of time and this is something everyone associated with the club should be proud of.”
He also acknowledged the contributions of deceased members. “It’s important that we remember the loved ones that have passed away in these 20 short years, an integral part of our community. Family and wonderful friends to us, we will always remember them.”
With 20 years’ history already, the future looks bright for the Celtic Cowboys of Austin, Texas.
Austin, TX
More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in high water, governor says – WTOP News
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in…
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in high water, governor says.
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Kerrville issued a shelter-in-place Thursday morning, with heavy rain causing reported evacuations early Thursday morning. A Flash Flood Warning is currently in place for Kerr County as the Guadalupe River continues to rise.
Around 5:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave is moving down” the Guadalupe River.
KXAN First Warning Weather Meteorologist Kristen Currie said approximately 11 inches of rain have fallen northwest of Kerr County since 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The Guadalupe River is expected to reach major flood stage in multiple areas.
Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter said “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.” Officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
Here are the latest headlines:
Live updates
7:03 a.m.: KXAN’s Kevin Baskar is in Gillespie County providing updates on the latest flood conditions in the area. Watch his update below.
6:37 a.m.: Kerr County officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
6:27 a.m.: Video shows emergency crews hauling boats and rescue equipment through Kerrville.
6:15 a.m. NewsNation correspondent Xavier Walton and his photographer captured a structure being swept up in river water and crashing into a Kerrville bridge. The structure appears to be some sort of shipping container, pushing against the bridge.
Watch the video below:
6:08 a.m.: Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter confirms “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.”
6:02 a.m.: The Guadalupe River at Center Point is expected to crest at 35 feet, which is the same crest as July 4, 2025.
5:57 a.m.: The National Weather Service said “a large deadly flood wave” is moving down the Guadalupe River.
5:49 a.m.: The Comfort Volunteer Fire Department said it has units in Kerrville and Centerpoint alerting people along the Guadalupe River. They’re helping Kerr County with evacuations along Highway 27 between Comfort and Centerpoint. They said all VFD personnel are OK.
5:30 a.m.: The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it’s received reports of “street flooding in Ingram, and it’s likely many roads and city streets are flooded as well.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flood threats continue across parts of South Central Texas, Austin Pets Alive! has activated emergency response efforts to support animal shelters affected by the inclement weather.
In a social media post, APA! wrote, “We began offering aid last night, working to secure fosters for 10 dogs in the Castroville shelter, an open-air shelter that sits at the bottom of a valley.”
APA! said the situation escalated overnight with additional shelters reporting flooding. One shelter confirmed that floodwaters reached its facility, APA! added.
Communities overwhelmed due to weather include Uvalde, Castroville and Sabinal.
The nonprofit is asking the Austin community to foster, adopt or donate to free up capacity for animals displaced by the disaster. APA! needs to clear out its facilities to assist the animals in need of shelter.
Here are ways you can help:
- Adopt: APA! is offering a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” on all animals.
- Foster: The shelter is seeking foster homes for a minimum of three weeks.
- Donate: Proceeds will fund vans and response teams setting up a staging and triage center at the heart of the disaster zone, along with an expanded stockpile of preventatives, PPE and additional supplies.
If you would like to donate, click here.
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