Hi all,
An updated version of last week’s notes are now up online. Sorry about not noticing it earlier.
Joe
Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Lanesboro in Grip of Festival Season
During an interview with Ger Hand on the John Murray show a lady sent a text to say what a beautiful place Lanesboro seemed to be by Ger’s description. If that same lady travelled to Lanesboro and Ballyleague right now she would be truly taken by the sheer beauty of both villages. Both sides are really stunning and the work that is being done by both communities is truly remarkable. Irrespective of the score in the Tidy Towns the pride in both communities is really something to behold.
Last weekend we welcomed the Audi Athlone National series triathlon to our community. To say it was a magnificent presentation by the local Lanesboro Triathlon club would surely be an understatement. The area at the car park and duck pond was an absolutely beautiful setting for the swim, cycle and run and the huge crowd attending as well as those participating were taken by the beauty and presentation of our area.
Each day huge numbers are attracted to the banks of the Shannon and the wonderful weekend seen many availing of the continued great weather to sunbathe and enjoy the beauty of our Shannon banks. More and more young and indeed older people are enjoying the river for swimming and it brings back many memories of the long hot summer days of years gone by when we all availed of the Shannon for swimming. The only thing that is missing is the diving board which brought us so much fun.
As we look forward, we hope, that the wonderful weather will continue into the Lough Ree Environment Festival next weekend and the Gathering Festival on August weekend and our communities will continue to blossom in terms of the natural beauty and the huge numbers returning to the area will enjoy everything that is good and great about Lanesboro and Ballyleague.
Yes indeed, our community of Lanesboro and Ballyleague is the place to be and the best place in the world to live.
Huge Triathlon Success
In the days leading up to Saturday the temperatures were hot and boiling from early morning and as we thought of the upcoming Saturday we could only wish for a drop in temperatures to make it more comfortable for the competitors in the Audi Athlone Two Provinces National Triathlon Series. In the days leading up to the Saturday the hugely impressive organiser were creating a wonderful atmosphere and the Lanesboro Gathering committee played their part in putting up bunting earlier than they intended for their Gathering Festival at the end of the month.
Saturday morning was to everyone’s wishes with a drop in temperatures and some cloud cover and the first event of the triathlon, the swim, had an 11am start. The sight from ‘Lancashire’, Albert Gill’s field, which was being used as the official car park, was a sight to behold. Close to 500 cars and camper vans were parked in the field and as you made your way to the transition area at the green area beside the duck pond you could only see a mass of competitors and a huge number of spectators and supporters. There was a wonderful excitement as Niall O’Donoghue declared the race off. Seeing almost 450 competitors in the water was a sight to behold as they made their way around the 750m course before embarking on the cycle that took the riders to Scramogue and back again to the transition area. Following the exertions of the 20 cycle the competitors took to running the 5k run that took them up to Harold’s Crossroad and back down through the Main Street to the finish at the car park. Mariusz Olejniczak from the Naas Triathlon club came home first covering the course in 59minutes and 41 seconds just 3 seconds ahead of Eamon Mc Andrew from the Sligo Triathlon Club. The first local home was Naoise Sudway who also claimed first prize in the Junior section in a time of 1.06.23 followed by Joe Masterson and then Naoise’s mother Marie who won her category, Colm Daly was the other category winner with many tremendous local performances. The relay team of Rachael Eavers, swim, and local lads Michael Finn, bicycle and John Finn, run won the relay category.
A feature of the day was the 76 young people that contested the Kidathon prior to the main event. It was tremendous to see so many young people taking part in such a tough but hugely enjoyable sporting event.
A word of congratulations must go to the local triathlon club for their staging of this hugely successful event.
€15,000 for Edward
When you are finishing off building your new house and having just got married there can be no better surprise than to hear that you have just won the €15,000 in the local Lanesboro Tourism Lotto draw. Edward Kelly, Rathcline Road, was the lucky man and it is wonderful for himself and his wife Michelle, nee Connerton that their four lucky numbers came out last weekend. We congratulate Edward and Michelle on their excellent win.
The €50 winner was Maura mc Loughlin, Ballyleague and the three 20 winners were Pat Kilcoyne, Barnacor, Mary Feeney, Gurteengar and Mary Sweeney c/o Friday Market.
Cemetery Sunday
The final Blessing of graves and Mass in the parish will take place at in Clonbonny on Sunday next 21st July. People with family members interred in any of the graveyards are encouraged to tend to their family graves in time for the blessing of the graves and Mass. The blessing of the graves will commence at 6pm at each cemetery.
Championship begins on Saturday
Rathcline Intermediates will commence their championship campaign on this coming Saturday 20th July in Ballymahon where they will take on Legan. A lot of preparation has gone into the team for this championship and we hope that a huge number of supporters will travel to Ballymahon for the 7pm throw in. We wish the lads well and look forward to a long summer supporting them as they seek to regain senior championship status.
Rathcline Ladies
The Rathcline ladies commenced their championship campaign on Sunday evening last when they travelled to Carrickedmond for what on paper was going to be a tough opening game. It was not to disappoint with the game swinging to and fro throughout the hour. Our ladies having kicked numerous wides showed commendable spirit throughout. At the final whistle the scoreline finish with our ladies scoring 1-14 and Carrickedmond 4-5 – a draw which was probably a fair result. They now play Edgeworthstown in the final group game in August.
The club wishes Rathcline intermediate team the very best of luck in the Intermediate championship in Ballymahon on Saturday next at 7pm.
The club congratulates the Lanesboro triathlon club on a wonderful occasion last Saturday.
Lanesboro Tourism Co-Op
Congratulations to Edward Kelly, Rathcline Rd, who was the lucky winner of the €15,000 jackpot this week. Jackpot now stands at €3,000 and your continued support will be appreciated. The flowers are all looking lovely at the moment. Please continue to dead head and water hanging baskets and window boxes.
Lough Ree Golfing Society
The next outing of the society is to Longford Golf Course on Saturday 17th August.
As well as this outing the society are having an outing to Longford on Wednesday the 7th August to facilitate golfers who are home in Lanesborough for the Gathering Weekend. All interested in taking part in this Wednesday outing please contact Frank at 0879730611 so that the society can arrange a time sheet. The Society is planning to book the tee from 10 am onwards. Hope to meet some new friends and old for an enjoyable day’s golf.
Lough Ree Environmental Summer Festival
Sample delights of the Shannon at Lough Ree Environmental Summer Festival this weekend. This year is the 16th Anniversary of the Summer Festival and it is proudly sponsored by ABBOTT Longford. The theme is ‘The Great Outdoors’. Since the inaugural school in 1998, the event has grown to be one of the most important festivals of its kind on the island of Ireland.
The Summer Festival includes a Nature Program, Arts Program, and a Heritage Awareness Programme and for the second time a Science Programme. This year we are honoured to have former Lanesborough native Kip Carroll to launch the festival. Kip is a renowned photographer who has built up a reputation in fine fashion photography over the past 25 years. He grew up in Clonbonny, Lanesborough and Longford town. Most people will be familiar with his work in the Sunday Independent’s Life Magazine. His images have also appeared in Hello Magazine, OK! Magazine, Irish Tattler, Image, the Gloss, Stern, Social & Personal, the Times, the Guardian to mention but a few. His work covers fashion, portraits, weddings and fine art landscape photography. We are really excited to welcome back Kip to Lanesborough and the Shannon to launch this year’s programme.
The Heritage Programme includes an exhibition tracing the history and origins of Lanesborough through the ages with a glimpse of what the town was like years ago. This exhibition will be on display in the Lough Ree Resource Centre for the duration of the Summer Festival. New trips include a visit to the Lough Bannow Bog with Sue Moles (Wild Life Ranger). This trip explores the local bog area, which is a home to a host of wild flora and butterflies while the bog itself offers a rich environment of sphagnum mosses, lichens, insect eating plants and rare flowering plants, also another new trip is a visit to the Woodland Walk to explore the conserved woodland on the eastern shores of Lough Ree. Why not take a trip with Declan Gilmore to see the beautiful village of Newtowncashel, this trip include a bus from Lanesborough and a tour of Cashel and its surrounding areas
The exciting School’s Nature competition will also be displayed in the Resource Centre. Also there will be a trip to the ESB station. The wind turbine renewable energy sector will have talks and displays on Wind and Solar Energy. In association with Lanesborough Camera Club there is an exhibition in the Resource Centre Hall. There will also be a family day on Sunday 21st July with raft races, duck race, bouncing castles and an Air Display by one of Irelands greatest stunt pilots David Bruton. If you would like to request a detailed brochure of the event or book on one of the many trips please contact the Lough Ree Resource office on 086 445 4874 or email info@loughree.ie or loughreeresources@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook – Lough Ree Community Resources. Many of the trips have limited numbers of places available so it is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment.
Lanesboro 2000 Bridge Club
The results of the Summer Bridge competition held on Monday night last 8th July are; N/S:
1st Kitty O’Dowd and Chris McGrath, 2nd Ann Fallon and Ann Delaney, 3rd Nancy Dolan and Eileen Kelly and 4th Mary Jameson and M. Hynes. E/W: 1st K. Hanley and Mary Fallon, 2nd Freda Kenny and Mary Moran, 3rd Elsie Maxwell and M. O’Dowd, 3rd Brendan Dowling and Goretti Kenny. Summer Bridge continues every Monday at 7.45pm.
The Gathering Festival
The announcement of the Gathering Festival list of events has generated a tremendous positive response from within and outside the community. We look forward to seeing and welcoming everyone from all parts of the country and world to join us in what promises to be a wonderful and very special time in Lanesboro.
Don’t for that tickets for the Saturday night with Brendan Bowyer and Sunday night Knights of Leon are limited and early booking is advisable such has been the positive response in the past few days. Tickets are priced at €15 and bookings can be made at O’Brien’s – phone 043-3321107 or you can email me at joea@iol.ie
Two local Stalwarts Pass Away
Last week the communities on both sides of the bridge lost wonderful men who brought so much to our community. The legacy of memories given to us by both men will live long in our memories
On the afternoon of Wednesday 10th July the news broke of the tragic and sad death of Joe Cox, Cloontuskert. Joe was a native of Scramogue who worked with Bord na Mona until his retirement. He was predeceased by his late wife Maura. Joe has left an indelible within our community- he was a warm friendly helpful and extremely popular man. A wonderful gardener whose garden was a pleasure to see and a man who tended to greatly to Cloontuskert cemetery. Joe will be long remembered for his warmth and neighbourliness and his warm and cheery greeting will be missed by everyone that had the pleasure of his company. His passing will leave a great emptiness in our community.
His remains reposed in Smyth’s Funeral Home on Saturday before the removal of his remains to the Church of the Holy Rosary. Following his funeral mass on Sunday his remains were laid to rest in his beloved Cloontuskert cemetery. To his daughters Mary and Ann, sons JP and Peter, brother Pakie, sister Chrissie, relatives and many friends we extend our deepest sympathy.
On Friday last 12th July the entire area was shocked and saddened when learning of the death at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe of PJ O’Loughlin, Rathcline Road. He was predeceased some years back by his late wife Maureen. PJ a former woodwork teacher and Deputy Principal in Lanesboro Vocational school will long be remembered for his quiet and unique manner in teaching and in life. Family values were very important to PJ. He was a man of quick wit and to be in his company was always a joy. PJ was an avid and skilful boatman and it was fitting and no accident that the house he built on the Rathcline looked down on the harbour where his boat was moored. PJ was a wonderful neighbour and friend and his passing will be sadly missed.
PJ’s remains reposed at his residence until he was removed to St. Mary’s Church, Lanesboro, on Sunday for his Funeral Mass. Following Mass PJ was laid to rest alongside his wife Maureen. To his son Michael, daughters Mary, Margaret, Teresa, Patricia, Breda and Sheila, brother Conn, sister Mary, relatives and many friends we extend our sincere sympathy.
Golf Classic
The memory of Paul Enright will live on when a Golf Classic in his name will take place at Longford Golf Club on Saturday 10th August. The sum raised for the Golf Classic will go to the Oncology Ward of Galway Clinic and all golfers are asked to bring along their golfing friends to support a wonderful cause and acknowledge the memory of a great man. To compete will cost €200 for a team of 4.
Engagement
Congratulations to Amy Gill, daughter of Albert and Mairéad Gill, Rathcline Road and James Kelly, son of James and Nora Kelly, Knockrockery, who announced their engagement recently.
Sympathy
We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to John and Teresa Costello, Gardenstown on the death on Tuesday last 9th July of Michael Costello, Brownstown, Hollymount, Co. Mayo.
Local Man in Rescue
Last week at San Francisco airport an Asiana Airlines Flight Boeing 777 from South Korea to San Fransisco crashed and burst into flames while attempting to land. Two young people on a school trip were killed in the accident. 305 people on the plane survived with up to 180 needing hospital treatment.
Working at the airport at the time of the accident was Val Kirwan, formerly of the Green, in his job as a San Fransisco cop. He was until recently a motorbike cop before having been stationed at San Fransisco airport. Val reacted to the accident and in footage from the accident he can be seen lading a young man away from the wreckage of the aeroplane. We would like to say well done to Val on his work in rescuing people from the plane and look forward to seeing him back home in the near future where no doubt we will learn the story of the full tragic event.
Sponsored Swim for Cystic Fibrosis
Lanesboro Triathlon club are in the process of organising a sponsored swim from Kilnacarrow (Bord na Mona) bridge to Lanesboro on August Bank Holiday weekend – most probably Sunday 4th or Monday 5th August in the afternoon in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. The date details will be confirmed in the very near future.
The club is seeking volunteer swimmers to join with them on the swim. If you are interested please contact sponsoredswim@trilanesboro.com. This will be a wonderful and new challenge for swimmers but most definitely an excellent cause will benefit to a major extent.
Be an active part of Lanesboro Library this summer
Lanesboro Library – Summer Reading Buzz
Summer Reading Buzz – Pick up an entry form in your local library and collect some surprises on the way – you can enter as often as you wish!
Photography Competition – ‘Summer in Longford’ Photographs will be displayed in local libraries for the month of September
Bee Crafty – Arts & Crafts – Friday 19th July at 11am (all ages)
Storytelling with Chris Thompson – Everyone Loves Summer! – Tuesday 23rd July at 3pm (age 3-8)
Caring for your pet, learn about responsible animal ownership – with Longford Co Council Veterinary Dept. and Irish Dogs Trust – Wednesday 24th July at 3pm (all ages)
Summer Surfing at Lanesboro Library. Want to improve your computer skills or just want to know how to email and use social media?
Tailored Internet Courses to suit your needs; Introduction to social media Facebook & Twitter; Learn how to use the Internet for Internet Banking, Motor tax etc. Learn how to upload photos on your laptop or PC; Keep in touch with family & friends using Skype; Touch typing and Basic computer skills; How to use your IPAD to get the most from it.
€50 for 5 weeks (1 hour per week)
For more information contact Lanesboro Library 043 332 129 or email Stella at lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Co Longford VEC visits Lanesboro Library – The Adult Educational Guidance Service (Co Longford VEC) will visit Lanesboro Library on Tuesday July 16th from 2-4pm. If you are interested in getting back to learning and want to know what’s available locally, come and chat with Mary or Liz, both qualified guidance counsellors, who will be happy to go through your options with you. This is a free service and all are welcome
Bookings now being taken
The annual one day retreat to Lough Derg will take place on Sunday 25th August leaving Ballyleague Hall at 7am. Last year there was a great demand for this annual one day retreat and early bookings are advisable. The bus will pick up pilgrims at Scramogue, Rooskey and Carrick-on-Shannon. The cost of entry to the island is €40 and the bus fare is extra. For bookings and further details you are asked to contact Mary at 043-33 21969.
Saturday next your Opportunity for Recycling
A free electrical recycling day will take place next Saturday 20th July in Lanesboro car park from 10am to 4pm. You can bring anything household with a plug or battery, TV’s and aerials, Microwaves, IT equipment, dishwashers, Fridge freezers, Power tools, Kettles and Toasters and all waste batteries.
This is an ideal way for everybody to take advantage of getting rid of all the above mentioned from about their own homes.
Ballyleague Tidy Towns
FLAG DAY: Ballyleague Tidy Towns would like to sincerely thank each and every person who supported our Flag Day and bought a duck for our forthcoming duck race before, during or after the Triathlon on Saturday last. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped us on the day, Joe Cribbin from Daybreak in Ballyleague for providing the van and Jim Burke from Accoustagraph in Ballyleague for proving the sound system for the van. Our thanks also to Detta Cox for the hospitality suite on the day and Gerry Trimble for the collection buckets! Hearty congratulations to the organisers of the Two Provinces Triathlon for another high quality event. You should all be proud of yourselves. It was a really great day.
Shannon Gaels
During this wonderful spell of weather you begin to wonder why so many of our minor players are dragging their feet in terms of training and attending. It is the perfect time to be out and about in Clonbonny joining with their friends and having the craic as they prepare for the Minor Championship. I would ask parents to have a word with the lads and encourage them to go out to training. The championship will commence on this coming Monday against Kenagh/Moydow and it would be great to have everyone there in attendance. Parents and supporters alike are encouraged to travel to support the players on Monday for a 7.30pm throw in.
Our U16 team were very unlucky to be beaten in their final at the Laurels against Northern Gaels on Saturday last. It was a great performance and they were unlucky to come up short on the day.
Training for the U14 takes place every Tuesday and Saturday.
Under6, U8, U10 and U12 training takes place in Clonbonny on Friday from 7 to 8pm. Parents are encouraged to come out with their young players and help ensure that the numbers stay strong during these few weeks.
Good luck to the senior team when they play Legan Sarsfields in Ballymahon on Saturday evening next at 7pm. All club supporters are asked to along and cheer the lads on.
The club urges full support for all the Gathering events. Tickets €15 for Brendan Bowyer on Saturday and Knights of Leon are available from O’Brien’s shop.
Rathcline GAA
Championship 2013 – Rathcline’s first round championship game against Legan Sarsfields will take place next Saturday 20th July at 7pm in Leo Casey Park – Ballymahon. We hope there will be a sizable turnout from the parish to support the lads as they kick off their pursuit of the Intermediate Championship.
Galway Races – The inaugural Rathcline GAA Race day will take place at the Galway Races on Monday 29th July. The club hope to replicate the success of that achieved by Longford County Board at Punchestown only on a much smaller scale which will satisfy the needs of our own club. The occasion will present our parishioners, members, supporters and friends a fantastic afternoon of horse racing on opening day of the 2013 festival. The club have agreed an attractive hospitality package with the organisers in Ballybrit which surpasses that seen at the Annual Punchestown County Board Fundraiser. Most people will be familiar with the Galway Races but for those who are not; a great day out is always guaranteed. Ballybrit at the end of July is always the highlight of the horse racing calendar in Ireland and it is the aim of Rathcline GAA to tap into the atmosphere, banter and craic to serve our own needs as well as giving something back to our supporters. For more information, please contact Albert Cooney, Alan Fayne or Liam Connerton. With less than two weeks left to the event, table bookings are now being accepted by the club.
Club Rathcline Lotto Draw – The Jackpot total of €600 was not won this weekend with numbers drawn as follows: 2, 6, 10, 22, 29, and 38. Congratulations to our four €25 winners this week as follows: (1) Gerry O’ Donnell – Curraghroe (2) Alan Maxwell – Corrigeen (3) Larry Bannon – Legan (4) Brendan & Vera Whitty – Clonbonny. Next week’s Jackpot will €700.
Rathcline GAA extends its sympathies to O’Loughlin Family – Rathcline Road on the death of PJ on Friday last.
Triathlon – Congratulations to Lanesboro Triathlon Club on the major success of the annual “Two Provinces Triathlon”. Great credit must go to the organising committee in hosting and running this event which show cased Lanesboro/Ballyleague in all its glory. The club would like to thank all our own members, players and supporters who volunteered on the day and we hope that next year’s event will be bigger and better than before.
Rathcline Ladies – Well done to Rathcline Ladies who showed great spirit and determination to grab a draw in their opening match of the 2013 championship against Carrickedmond on Sunday last. The next game will be a home match against Mostrim which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 25th August.
Shannon Gaels – Coaching for U6, U8, U10 and U12 will continue in Clonbonny on Friday in Clonbonny from 7pm to 8pm as normal.
Western Gaels – U14 – Preparations are now in full swing for the first round of the championship which is scheduled to kick off in mid July. Training continues in Clonbonny on this Tuesday evening coming between 8pm – 9pm and then again on Saturday between 5pm – 6pm.
U16 – Round 4 of the Special Juvenile League Division 1 will take place a week later on 16th July playing Northern Gaels in the Laurels at 7:30pm. The first round of the championship is due to take place on 15th August with an away match to St. Colmcilles. Commiserations to the team who were narrowly beaten by Northern Gaels on Saturday afternoon last in the Shield Final.
Minor – Training for U16 & Minor continues this week per the normal routine. Players will get the usual text message in advance of training.
Gathering 2013 – Shannon Gaels are organising a choir for a special mass during the Gathering celebrations on the August Bank holiday weekend. Anyone wishing to participate in the Choir can give their names to Brendan Keane.
St. Faithleach’s GAA
Roscommon Minors – Connacht Final: Best of luck to Diarmuid Murtagh along with the Roscommon minor team, in the Connacht GAA Minor Championship Final this coming Sunday 21st July, against Mayo at 12.00pm in McHale Park.
Senior League – O’Rourke Cup: Our seniors have a game against Kilbride on Wednesday evening next 17th July at 7.00pm in Ballyleague.
LGFA – Connacht: Congratulations to Rachel Costello along with the Roscommon U16 girls, winners of the Connacht U16B Championship title, defeating Leitrim in the Final on Saturday last in Ballyhaunis and to Amanda Mc Loone along with the Roscommon Ladies, runners-up in the Connacht Intermediate Championship.
Junior League: Our juniors had a win over Kilbride on Tuesday evening last at home. Final Score – St. Faithleachs 4-08 Kilbride 2-14, followed by a win over St. Barry’s on Sunday evening last in Tarmonbarry with the final score – St. Faithleachs 4-14 St. Barry’s 2-08. The next game is against Kilglass on Saturday evening next 20th July at 7.00pm in Ballyleague.
U14 – Championship: Our U14 boys have a game against Kilmore/Shannon Gaels on Thursday evening next 18th July at 7.00pm in Ballyleague.
St. Faithleachs GAA Cúl Camp 2013: Our Cul Camp takes place this week at St. Faithleachs GAA Club Grounds. We wish all participants a great week of sport, fun and activities.
Texas Holdem Poker: in St. Faithleachs GAA Club House on Saturday 3rd August. Registration will take place at 5.30pm. The game starts at 6.00pm. Cost €25.
Cards: Every Tuesday in the clubhouse, 9.00pm. All welcome. Joint winners – Gemma/Freda and John O/Pakie. Last game – Tom/Padraig. The ticket winners were – Gerry, James, Sonny and Michael.
Sympathy: The Club extends deepest sympathy to the Cox family, on the death of Joe Cox, Cloontuskert, to daughters Mary and Ann, sons J.P. and Peter, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. The Club extends deepest sympathy to the O’Loughlin Family, Lanesboro, on the death of P.J. O’Loughlin, former Deputy Principal of Lanesboro Vocational School.