Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
The Green – a living memory
The Green was built by Mc Loughlin’s construction company, Longford. The engineer for the project was by the name of Mc Namara and he was the first resident in the Green – he lived in No. 49 which was the first completed house.
The people of the Green had a tremendous work ethic and that definitely rubbed off on their children as many of them went on to have very successful careers in their chosen paths in life. While sport and fun was essential growing up; parents ensured that education was a major priority for their children’s progression.
An addition to the sporting heroes, I omitted to mention that Gerry Geheran 25, was the first player from the Green to play with Longford Town. Gerard Flynn 12, gained worldwide acclaim as a show jumper rode for the army equitation school and represented Ireland in many Nation Cups and Aga Khan competitions. Denis Connerton 29, went on to be Longford football manager.
Willie Farrell 19 won gold in the Community Games cross-country and his sister Mary 19 was the first lady from the Green and as far as I know county Longford to represent Ireland in cross country. Willie also represented Ireland in the international schools. A feature of Willie Farrell’s cross-country win was that the news came through to the late Jim Mc Gann who, at the time, had the only phone on the Green. Padraig Connerton 29, won the All-Ireland schools 100m and represented Ireland. Lorna Crooke 15, and Mary Frances Brophy 52, having won the Connaught minor schools U14 went on in the same year to win the All-Ireland schools senior. Jason Gray 25, won All-Ireland U14 championship.
Jack Harte 33, has become a literary colossus with a host of publications and the most poignant publication was In the Wake of the Bagger which recounted the entire family moving from Easkey, Co. Sligo to Lanesboro and a new life for himself, Lollie and the family. Tess Murphy 1 became librarian in the library at 60, and it is a position her daughters Stella holds in Lanesboro and Eithne in Strokestown. Alan Flanagan son of Jimmy and Bernie 42 has become a very successful playwright.
On the political from both, the late, Danny O’Brien 21, and his sister Mary Teresa Sweeney 21, were both elected representatives Danny in Trim, Co. Meath and Mary Teresa in Shannon, Co. Clare.
Kevin Reynolds 2, Declan and the late Liam Ganly 18 and later 48 joined the priesthood,
There was a band formed on the Green – Mick Regan 12, was the lead singer and his favourite song was The Shores of America, Jim Donoghoe played the fiddle, Christy O’Reilly 27, played the accordion, Mick Cahalan 50, was another band member and Eamon Linnane 20, played the drums and the concertina. Billy Connerton 29, drove the band to their venues. The band played regularly at the billets in Ballyglass for the workers who resided there and also in Mc Kenna Hall at Tullyvrane cross. There is a question as to whether Paddy Keaveney 25 and later 51 may also have been involved with the band. I know Paddy lives in Elphin and if anyone is in contact can they ask him to get in touch.
Here I am looking for more help; Did Lynam’s live in 59 Ward’s house first? Did Joe Garry live in 37 or 41? Was there a family of Sheehy or Ó Siochán living on the Green? Did a family of Hannon’s live in 10? Can Jim Burke’s sister please ring me again as we got cut off last week? I have the name Bríd Mulvihill in No. 40, did she or her family live on the Green, what number and did she attend on the opening day of the girls school? Did a family of Kellet’s live on the Green? Was there a Michael Quinn in 31/32 or 33?
2016 Centenary Programme
Do we in Lanesboro have any interest in the 2016 Centenary? In 1966 the pageant of 1916 was produced and presented. Is there anyone interested in developing any ideas to celebrate the centenary of 1916? Longford County Council have a steering committee in place and are encouraging communities to be active in the celebrations of the centenary.
Their next step is to encourage interested groups or individuals to take ownership of the ideas and to progress them for inclusion in the Longford 2016 programme which will be launched in October/November 2015.
This will be a local project and there is some small funding available to help towards the costs. Application forms are available from O’Brien’s shop.
All applications for funding this year must be completed on this form and submitted on or before the 28th May 2015 either by email or in writing to Mary Carleton Reynolds, Longford Coordinator, Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, Town Centre, Longford www.longfordlibrary.ie
50/50
The weekly 50/50 draw took place on Monday night last 11th May in the Peer Inn. The total prize money stood at €393 and the winner was Michael Shanley Snr. Killashee. Tickets are available throughout the town, from any committee member or O’Brien’s shop. Please support and be part of a winning team.
Emergency Medical/Defibrillator Assistance
If you need to contact the out of hours doctors service MIDOC you must ring 1850-302702.
If there is a need for the use of the defibrillator or ambulance you must ring 999 or 112. Ask for the emergency service, give your name, address and location when help is needed. You are asked to be as precise as possible to save time.
The lasting memory of the fun and enjoyment provided to thousands of children by an outdoor swimming pool on the banks of the Shannon has provided the inspiration for a new ceramic art project getting underway in Ballyleague and Lanesborough this week.
Birth
Congratulations are extended to Richard and Mairéad Rooney, Rathcline, on the recent birth of a baby boy.
Lough Ree Golfing Society
Lough Ree Golfing Society held its May outing on the undulating scenic countryside of Castle Barna Golf course in County Offaly on Saturday 16th May. In gusty conditions and deceptively fast greens scoring was never going to be easy. For the first time since the formation of the Lough Ree Golfing Society, the nearest the hole prize was not claimed. Despite the 9th hole measuring a mere 105 meters ‘a flick of a Sand wedge’ nobody managed to hold the green, indeed many is the golf ball that was donated to the nearby Grand Canal. It was left to Galway man and great supporter of the society Timmy Glynn to shoot the only sub-par round of the day and claim first prize. Second place went to the inform Fintan Jordan and John Martin was third. Nines were won by society Captain Mick Brennan and Sean O’Donnell. The Ladies section was won by Bernie Taylor, second was Antoinette O’Donnell. For the next outing the Lough Ree goes to Loughrea Golf Club on Saturday 20th June with the tee time 11.00 to 12.00.
First for Rathcline GAA
Rathcline GAA are hosting a Monster Auction on Sunday 28th June at 1pm in Clonbonny. The club is asking the community for donations of goods and services which we can use in the auction and they are hoping that over the next few weeks you can assess what you can donate towards the auction. The club is actively asking people to donate goods for auction e.g. gym equipment, household goods, furniture, antiques, toys, building materials, fuels, vouchers, tickets etc. Services can also be donated e.g. tradesman services, gardening, painting, physiotherapy, hairdressing, beauty treatments etc. Lifestyle donations such as holiday breaks, gym memberships and activities of all sorts. Donations can be left into Farrell’s Agri Supplies or contact Gerald Farrell on (086) 8745180.
The club has huge undertakings to make repayments on the club grounds, run the club for the year and at the same time try and put some funds together to help further develop the club grounds at Clonbonny. If you can help please do not hesitate to contact Gerald.
The present executive, as with all previous executives, are only minders and developers of the club providing football for boys and girls, ladies and men and ensuring that the future will be bright for the future generations. I am sure some of you reading this will be some of the executives in the coming years and I am sure you will want to receive the reins of the club in an excellent state. Please be supportive and encourage where you can others to donate towards the Auction and help progress your own club and parish.
Tidy Towns
Preparations are continuing for this year’s Tidy Towns competition. Many projects under the various judging categories have been completed in recent months. These projects will be outlined in the next edition of the newsletter, available next week in local shops/website/churches. Judging is scheduled to commence on Monday, 13th June. Weekly clean up starts this Wednesday 20th May from 8 to 9pm and continues each Wed evening. Please come along and help. The meeting point is the Parish Hall and all volunteers to bring a yard brush/spade. Together everyone can continue Lanesborough’s progress in the competition year on year, by painting a wall/gate, putting out a window box/hanging baskets and joining in the weekly clean up. The Tidy Towns competition is hosting a table quiz in The Yatch Bar on Friday 5th June at 8.30pm and your support would be very much appreciated to help fund the preparations for the competition. The committee wishes neighbours Ballyleague the very best of luck with the opening of the new riverbank project which is a great credit to the committee for delivering this magnificent project
Events at our Library
RDS Primary Science Fair
Lanesboro Primary School entry for the RDS Primary Science Fair is on display in library until Saturday 23rd May. Their project is entitled ‘What Factors Influence Floating?’ Come along and see their wonderful work!
Art Class no 6 continues on Wednesday 20th May at 8pm.
Book Club continues on Friday 29th May at 11am. All welcome.
Lasraí Writers Group: Next meeting is on Monday June 8th 7 – 9pm. New members welcome.
Knitting & Crochet Group meetings every Monday 2 – 4pm. All welcome.
Active Age Group meetings every Tuesday 3 – 4pm. New members welcome.
ESOL classes (English for speakers of other languages) continues each Tuesday evening 7 – 9pm.
Daffodils are on sale in the library in aid of Irish Cancer Society for €3. Please support this very deserving cause.
The library is still collecting unwanted foreign currency and old coins/notes in aid of ISPCC. The smallest donation can make a huge difference.
Used stamps also being collected at the library for ISPCC.
Acknowledgement
Over the past two weeks a number of people have commented on the tidiness of the town. There has been tremendous work down day in day out by the local FAS team under the supervision of John L Farrell. The entire area is looking fabulous with not only the town but all approach roads also looking fabulous. We must acknowledge their great work and thank them for enhancing our town to such an excellent extent.
Siamsa
An Irish Language Summer Course (SIAMSA!) will take place from Monday 6th July to Friday 10th July in Gaelscoil Longfoirt. The course will take place from 9.30am to 3.00pm each day and will cater for students from Second Class to First Year. Further information and applications forms available from Yvonne Ní Mhurchú 087-2642665.
Derek Ryan Live
Abbeylara will open their new Parish Centre on Friday 12th June 2015 with Derek Ryan & his band.
Many locals have contributed to their fundraising and they would like everyone to go along and join in the Abbeylara celebrations.
Lough Ree AC
Congratulations to club member Ryan Murray who won gold in the Discus event at the Connaught Schools Track and Field during the week. No doubt Mark will be very proud of Ryan’s success. Also congratulations to all our athletes who were successful in the recent community games competition. Next competition is the Longford County Community Games Finals at the end of the month.
Community Games Results
The Lanesboro Community Games finals took place on the track on Tuesday week last. It was a shame that the Community Games finals had to clash with Lanesboro Primary school playing in the schoolboy final in Pearse Park. An excellent turnout really enjoyed their evening at the track. The committee were delighted with the turn out and also the extra help they received from Conor and Ronan English and Stephen O Dowd and would like to thank the lads for their help.
The swimming each year gets more and more competitive and it is a great thing to see so many more involving themselves in swimming.
The results are: Swimming – Congratulations to the following children who were medal winners in the recent County Swimming Finals: Boys U 12 50m Backstroke, 1st Dúileach Ryan, U 12 50m Breaststroke, 3rd Ernie Brunt, U 13 Boys Freestyle Relay ; 1st Lanesboro – Ernie Brunt, Dylan Hanly, Ivan Johnston, Duileach Ryan, Kevin Tansey, U 16 Medley Relay- Evan Chalmers, Ronan English, Michal Kajan, Séadhna Ryan.
Girls U 10 25m Backstroke, 3rd Aoife Kennelly, U 12 50M Backstroke, 2nd Jane Dowd, U 14 50m Backstroke, 1st Orla Ryan, U 14 50m Freestyle 2nd Hazel Johnston, U 13 Freestyle Relay; 1st Lanesboro – Sionna Crossan, Jane Dowd, Hazel Johnston, Aoife English, Ella Hogan.
Results from Lanesboro Community Games Sports Day
Girls and Boys : U 8 60M; 1st Katelyn Herbert and Orla Chawke, 2nd Emma Feeney, 3rd Saoirse Mimnagh, 1st Ben Murphy, 2nd Euan Cullen, 3rd Rián Shanley, 80M; 1st Katelyn Herbert, 2nd Emma Feeney, 3rd Heather Mitchell, 1st Ben Murphy, 2nd Euan Cullen, 3rd Lee Geraghty, U 10 100M ; 1st Aoife Kennelly, 2nd Hannah Mitchell, 3rd Polly Myhill, 1st Kieran O Dowd, 2nd Cormac Ó Dowd , 3rd Ruairí Carling, 200M ; 1st Aoife Kennelly, 2nd Alice Johnston, 1st Kieran O Dowd, 2nd Cormac O Dowd, 3rd Joshua Crawford, Hurdles; 1st Aoife Kennelly, 2nd Polly Myhill, Alice Johnston, 1st Kieran O Dowd, 2nd Joshua Crawford, 3rd Sam Murphy, U 12 100M; 1st Caoilinn Flood, 2nd Ella Hogan, 3rd Jane Dowd, 1st Aaron Kenny, 2nd Jimmy Farrell, 3rd Edgars Veinbergs 600M; 1st Caoilinn Flood, 2nd Ella Hogan, 3rd Victoria Jedrych, 1st Ivan Johnston, 2nd Aaron Kenny, 3rd Dylan Hanly, Ball Throw; 1st Victoria Jedrych, 2nd Ella Hogan, 3rd Abby Mitchell, 1st Jimmy Farrell, 2nd Aaron Kenny, 3rd Edgars Veimbergs, U 14 100M 1st Aisling Farrell, 2nd Leah Wyse, 3rd Áine Kennelly, 1st Seadhna Ryan, 2nd Mark Dowd, 800M 1st Áine Kennelly, 2nd Róisín Brennan, 3rd Hazel Johnston, 1st Séadhna Ryan, 2nd Mark Dowd, Shot Putt; 1st Leah Wyse, 2nd Áine Kennelly, 3rd Aoife English, 1st Mark Dowd, Long Puck; 1st Róisín Brennan, 2nd Leah Wyse, 3rd Áine Kennelly, 1st Seadhna Ryan, 2nd Mark Dowd, Hurdles; 1st Aoife Nolan, 2nd Aisling Farrell, 3rd Hazel Johnston, 1st Seadhna Ryan, 2nd Mark Dowd, Long Jump; 1st Hazel Johnston, 2nd Róisín Brennan, 3rd Aoife Nolan, 1st Mark Dowd, 2nd Seadhna Ryan, U16 100M 1st Orla Keane, 2nd Lucy Ann Myhill, 1st David Dalton, 2nd Bryn Peters, 3rd Dominic Jeffreys, 200M ; 1st Orla Keane and Lucy Ann Myhill, 2nd Blessing Salami, 1500M; 1st Lucy Ann Myhill, 2nd Orla Keane, 1st David Dalton, 2nd Dominic Jeffrey.
Rathcline Ladies
The Rathcline ladies would like to thank everyone for their clothes contributions. Your response was fabulous and thank you very much.
On Friday and Saturday next the club will be doing a ‘bag pack’ in Keane’s SuperValu and they will appreciate your support.
There are no club fixtures this week so training will continue.
On Friday last the U14 team had an excellent victory over Grattan’s while the U12 team after a titanic struggle came out on the wrong end of the scoreline against Ardagh.
Shannon Gaels
Congratulations to both Longford Minors and Senior teams on their respective wins over the weekend.
Western Gaels U14 Division 3 Team play St Vincent’s on Tuesday 19th May in Dunbeggan at 7.30pm
Shannon Gaels U10 will host Blitz on Wednesday 20th May in Clonbonny at 7pm
Western Gaels U13 League continues on Thursday 21st May in Allen Park Clonguish at 7.30pm.
Rathcline GAA
Monster Auction – Rathcline GAA are hosting a Monster Auction on Sunday 28th June at 1pm in Clonbonny. We are asking the community for donations of goods and services which we can use in the auction so get thinking over the next few weeks of what you can donate. We are looking for people to donate goods for auction e.g. gym equipment, household goods, furniture, antiques, toys, building materials, fuels, vouchers, tickets etc. Services can also be donated e.g. tradesman services, gardening, painting, physiotherapy, hairdressing, beauty treatments etc. Donations can be left into Farrell’s Agri Supplies or contact Gerald Farrell on (086) 8745180. Thank you in advance from all at Rathcline GFC
50/50 Draw – Congratulations to Michael Shanley Senior, Killashee, who was last week’s winner of €393 in our 50/50 draw. The draw is proving to be very successful and we hope that jackpots will increase during the summer months when we have more home matches. A reminder that the draw takes place every Monday night at 9pm and envelopes are available in all local businesses.
Topaz Cash For Clubs – Thanks to everyone in the community who supported our recent Topaz Cash for Clubs scheme. Unfortunately we didn’t win any of the top prizes but we are still in with a chance of winning €1000. All clubs who participated in the scheme are guaranteed €250. Once again a big thanks to all.
Longford seniors – Well done to Longford on their win over Offaly in the first round of the championship at the weekend. Our own Liam Connerton played a part in the final ten minutes as Longford made a great comeback. Next up is Dublin in Croke Park on Sunday May 31st.
Longford Minors – Well done to the Longford minors on their win over Carlow in the Leinster Minor Football Championship on Friday night and to Kevin Sorohan who is part of the team.
League Division 2 – With Longford overcoming Offaly in the championship our league games are now on hold for a few weeks. Next up for is Ballymahon on Friday June 5th in Ballymahon at 8pm. Please keep an eye on fixtures for any changes in the meantime. Our latest results and fixtures can be obtained from the Club Fixtures & Results section on our website
Congratulations to Longford Minors and Seniors on their respective wins in the championships over the weekend.
Western Gaels U14’s – The Division 3 team will play St. Vincent’s on Tuesday 19th May in Dunbeggan at 7.30pm.
Shannon Gaels U10’s will hold a blitz on Wednesday 20th May in Clonbonny at 7pm.
Western Gaels U13 league continues on Thursday 21st May in Allen Park Clonguish at 7.30pm.
Lanesboro Bridge Club
The results of the competition held on Wednesday last 11th May are; N/S 1st Gemma Douglas and Elish Gray, 2nd Una Clarke and Eileen Kelly, 3rd Katharine Harrison and Bernadette Gillen. E/W 1st Maureen Hynes and Patsy Canavan, 2nd Brendan Dowling and Mike Flynn, 3rd Una Lawlor and Brid Mc Dermott.
Lough Ree Festival:
The Waterways Ireland Lough Ree Summer Prom Festival in Ballyleague kicks off on Thursday week May 28th with a very special concert by the Roscommon Solstice Choir in a marquee at the Waterways Ireland marina. This renowned choir has over 90 singers and proceeds from this concert will go to St Christopher’s services in Longford.
The festival in our Shannonside town has several top class music events. On Friday night May 29th the special guests will be the Army Band of the 2nd Brigade from Custume barracks in Athlone who will perform in the marquee in the marina at 6.30pm while there’s a great treat on Saturday May 30th when the 50 young members of the Roscommon Youth Orchestra play in the marina marquee at 3.30pm.
Saturday night’s highlight will be the performance of the ‘Rise the Dust’ Céilí Band in the marquee with the dancing and the craic starting at 9pm.
On Sunday afternoon May 31st the festival music continues with a great local line up of artists in the marquee. Included among the acts will be Sean Brennan, Frank Nelson, Gerry Keenan , Joe Duffy ,Jimmy Hussey, Patricia Lane, Big Idea Band ,Noel Carberry, John Crilly plus a 4 piece backing group in an event organised by the Lough Ree Angling hub.
For the full programme of an action-packed festival go to www.loughree.ie The family fun day on the banks of the Shannon on the Sunday afternoon 31st May should be a great highlight.
There are many free elements to the weekend in Ballyleague that are organised by Lough Ree Angling Hub and are supported by Roscommon County Council, Fáilte Ireland and Irish Public Bodies Mutual Trust as part of the Community Diaspora Initiative.
Mens Shed Calendar
Last November members of Ballyleague Lanesborough Mens Shed, Lanesborough Triathlon club, Rathcline, Killashee and St Faithleach’s GAA clubs, Rathcline ladies club and local man Gerard Masterson decided to bare (nearly) all for a charity calendar. This week St Christopher’s Services in Longford were the first beneficiaries of the popular calendar when a cheque for 3000 Euro was handed over by some of those who took part. The Mens shed wish to thank everyone who bought a calendar or bought an ad in it. A second cheque will be presented to the Roscommon Committee of Pieta House West during the forthcoming festival in Ballyleague.
Graduation Mass
The Graduation Mass for the Leaving Certificate students of Lanesboro Community College will take place in the college on this Thursday evening 21st May at 8pm.
St. Faithleach’s GAA
Hodson Bay Hotel JBFC: Junior men played Boyle on Friday evening last. Result: Boyle 1-12 St. Faithleach’s 0-07. Team: D. Thompson, W. O’Donoghue, J. Farrell, D. Lulham, R. Guinan, P. Hunt, K. O’Grady, P. Reynolds (0-03), A. Manning, N. Dooney, B. Hussey, P. Brennan, S. Walsh, A. Brehon (0-04), J. Kelly. Subs; P. Kenny for W. O’Donoghue, A. Kenny for J. Kelly. Junior Ladies lost to Padraig Pearses in their league game on Sunday morning. Team: S. O’Neill, A. Ormsby, Q. Cox, M. Byrne, M. Banahan, E. Kenny, E. Hegarty, J. Geoghegan, R. Banahan, L. Mc Loone, C. Brennan, M. Corcoran, S. Brennan. Subs: L. Hoare, N. Hegarty.
U12 Boys: Travelled to St. Michael’s on Friday where they were defeated. Team: K. Mc Donagh Donlon, F. Dunne, O. Kelly, S. Cullen, D. Cullen, J. Murray, L. Kilcoyne, M. O’Brien, J. O’Connor, C. Gannon, R. Byrne. Subs; S. Ryan, O. Murray, F. Reynolds, D. Walsh. The next game on Sunday 24th in Ballyleague. U6: Open night for all U6 girls and boys on Wed 20th at 7pm. We would like to encourage all parents and guardians to stay for the hour and meet each other over tea/ coffee, as it is the perfect opportunity to connect with children’s team mates in a noncompetitive fun environment. Open to all within the parish and registration is not a prerequisite as can be done on night. “Fit Kid Camp”: St. Faithleach’s GAA is running our “Fit Kid Camp” from August 17th to 21st- more info on registration on our Facebook page in the coming week. Best of luck to our club reps Ellen Irwin, Kate McPhillips and Jennifer Brennan as they play for Roscommon U14 Girls in the Connacht A Final against Galway in Ballinlough at 4pm on Sunday next 24th May. Cards take place every Tuesday night at 8:30pm in the clubhouse. Club Draw: Tickets are now on sale for our Monster Club Draw from local retailer’s and club officers, your support is greatly appreciated.