Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Death
Nothing brought our community to a standstill like the extremely sad news we received on Saturday 11th August when we learned of the death of a young woman in our community, Bernadette Casey, Lehery. Bernie as she was more commonly known was wife of Mark Casey and mother to Briain, Cormac and Niamh. She was lady with a quiet disposition but with a strong will and she stood for all the good and right things in life without fear or favour. Bernie was a real family woman and her pride and joy was her husband and children. She was a woman with strong ethics and an enthusiastic lady with a heart of gold and had a great caring for all she encountered. Bernie worked in FBD for a number of years in Roscommon Town. In recent times she succumbed to illness but as was the spirit of the lady she fought it with her inimitable strength and dignity and her demise weakened the heart of everyone that had the pleasure to know her. No more will we receive that warm welcome and that beautiful smile, but it is the lasting memory she has left us with that will always warm our hearts when we think of Bernie. She was far too young to leave us, and it was a journey that no man and his young family should have to make. Such was the popularity of the lady that people travelled from far and wide to extend their sympathies and to make it one of the biggest funerals in the area for a long time. Bernie reposed at Glennon’s Funeral Home on Monday before her removal to St. Mary’s Church Lanesboro on Monday. Following her Funeral Mass burial took place to Clonbonny Cemetery. To her husband Mark, sons Briain, Cormac, daughter Niamh, brothers Joseph and Gerard, mother in law Mae Casey, relatives and a huge number of friends we extend our deepest sympathy.
Cleanest in Ireland
The first litter survey of Ireland’s coasts and waterways has found that 40% of rivers, beaches and harbours were littered or heavily littered. The survey was carried out by An Taisce for Business Against Litter and it examined 50 sites to see what areas, if any, could match the European standards. From the 50 there were only four locations throughout the country that met the European standards and Lanesboro was announced one of the four.
The honour of being named as one of the four is huge for Lanesboro and Ballyleague and it is something that we must as a community keep working on the maintain the standard that is now set – have no doubt but they will be back for another survey
This award comes as no surprise to our local people considering the amount of work that is continually done by the tidy towns committees on both sides of the bridge. Their work sometimes goes unnoticed, but this accolade highlights the magnificent work that continues to be done in Lanesboro and Ballyleague by both committees and pride of place that we all have in our community on both sides of the bridge.
So many people visiting Lanesboro and Ballyleague that call to our shop continue to make the comment of how beautiful our community is. It is great to hear strangers making comment on our beauty and as said previously the majority of all this praise goes to both Tidy Towns committees along with the people of the areas and the pride they show in our community.
Lough Ree Golfing Society
The fifth outing of 2018 was to Athenry Golf Club on Friday last 17th August. The day was overcast and drizzly but was still enjoyable. There was a very good turnout and the scores were good, the course was nice and level with “no big hills”, and the greens reasonably easy to read. The comments afterwards were all positive. There is little doubt that the society will be going back there again. The golfer of the year is very close with just a couple of points between the first five. The next outing will take place to Carrick on Shannon on September 21st at 11.30am. The results from Athenry are; 1st Timmy Glynn 35pts, 2nd Ronan Cullen 32pts and 3rd Tony Patton 30pts. The front nine was won by Jimmy Flanagan and the back nine was won by Paul Farrell. Nearest the pin winner was Ollie Murphy and the longest drive was won by Alan Farrell.
Championship
Next Sunday evening at a venue yet to be decided Rathcline will take on Cashel in the Intermediate Championship Quarter Final at 6.45pm. As with al local derbies there will be little or nothing between the teams. The level of support for Rathcline will be a huge factor as our very young team need all the vocal support they can get. Come along and support the team and cheer them onto a semi-final place.
St. Faithleach’s travelled to Knockrockery on Saturday last for a vital Roscommon Championship game against Padraig Pearses. Despite the best efforts St. Faithleach’s came out on the wrong side of a 1-11 to 1-07 result. The championship continues in two weeks again when St. Faithleach’s travel to Elphin to take on Elphin.
Donal’s Bungee Jump
On Saturday 15th September Donal Chapman will undertake a 160ft Bungee Jump to raise funds for MS Longford, Irish Wheelchair Association and DPOL Longford. This is a massive undertaking for Donal and we encourage everyone to support this Bungee jump. Sponsorship cards are available in every local business and we hope he is rewarded greatly for his bravery in this jump.
Fun Run/Walk on Saturday
The Rathcline Ladies GAA club will hold a Run/Walk to raise funds for new gear for the players and they are seeking your support. The Fun Run/Walk will take place on Saturday next 25th August and registration will take place from 10.30am in the Rathcline GAA clubhouse. The distances vary from 500m right up to 4k.
We would urge everyone in the community, their family and friends to take part or just contribute an entry fee. Every euro will be greatly appreciated, and the club looks forward to seeing a great crowd out on the day.
Heritage Week
Below is a list of some of the events from Wednesday to Sunday that are taking place for Heritage Week and there is a great variety over the few days. There are some fascinating events planned and you should attend at least one and be part of this fabulous week.
At Corlea Interpretive Centre, Kenagh: Culture & History events: Surnames & Songs of The People with Aidan & Joyce O’Hara, Weds 22nd at 7.30pm;
Excavation of an Iron Age Settlement with local archaeologist Brian O’Hara, on Thurs 23rd at 7.30pm;
Uilleann Pipes – A History, Sun 26th 2-5pm, with Corlea Guide and master piper Noel Carberry and friends.
Walking Tours: Historical walking tours will take place in Legan Village with Martin Morris and Hugh Farrell on Wednesday 22nd from 7pm and in Edgeworthstown on Sun 26th from 3pm, the latter marking the 250th birthday of Maria Edgeworth.
Traditional Irish Music: O’Farrell Reynolds MSS (1865-1930), Granard Library, Saturday 25th August 7.30pm. Cumann Ceoil Chonmhaicne are hosting this fascinating evening bringing to life, for the first time in nearly a century, music from locally-collected manuscripts with musicians Antoin McGabhann, Geraldine McLynn and Conor Ward.
We also have another very special event, held as part of the Longford Library, Heritage & Archives Services Local History Lecture Series. Prof. William Nolan, Emeritus Professor in the UCD School of Geography, will be giving a talk entitled: ‘Landed estates in County Longford, 1841-1911‘. It takes place in Ballymahon Library on Thursday evening, 23 August, at 8 pm. All are welcome. Prof. Nolan is a leading figure in local history in Ireland and he has written extensively on this subject.
Summer Exhibition & Silent Auction 2018
Brushstrokes Art Group are holding an exhibition in St. Mary’s Hall, Lanesborough, from Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August. We are also hosting a Silent Auction of artwork, with the proceeds going to Cancer Research in memory of David Farrell. Please come along, show your support and enjoy the artwork.
€13,400 Tidy Towns
The Lanesboro Tidy Towns Lottery draw took place on Tuesday morning last. There was no winner of the €13,300 jackpot and the jackpot, for this week, will now rise to €13,400. The numbers drawn were 1, 3, 8 and 15. The winner of the €50 prize was Theresa and Annette c/o Friday Market, and the three €20 prizes were won by Teresa and Kathleen, Church View, Mary Slattery, Ballyleague and Geraldine Farrell c/o Mags.
The committee thanks you for your ongoing support.
Please note that winners can collect their winning cheques in the Co-Op office only every Friday from 9am.
Lanesboro ICA Day Trip
The local Lanesboro Guild of the ICA is going on a Day Trip on Sunday 16th September to Dublin where after tea and scones there will be a guided tour of Glasnevin Cemetery. This will be followed by a tour of the nearby National Botanic Gardens. On the way home there will be a three-course meal in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar. The cost of the trip is €60 and if you are interested please TEXT Ann-Marie 087-6791332 as soon as possible or you can phone the above number after 7pm. The bus will leave from St. Mary’s Parish Hall at 8am on the morning.
In our Library
Poetry & Music Group – Heritage Week
At our Poetry & Music group meeting on Monday 27th August, to coincide with Heritage Week, local historian John Casey will regale us with Local Folklore & Historical Stories. Come along, enjoy a cuppa and a few tales!
Lanesboro Library at 4pm – all welcome!
Membership
Library membership is free for everyone and provides you with complimentary access to books and p.c.’s in the library as well as a range of digital services.
Download free eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines and newspapers with your library card and pin. Renew or request books on our website www.longfordlibrary.ie<http://www.longfordlibrary.ie/>
Babble & Books Parent & Toddler Group
This group will continue every Wednesday morning at 10.30am. All welcome to come along and interact with other children ages 0-4 yrs., play with our Lego table/building blocks, toy box, colouring tables and hear a story or two!
Book Club
Book Club continues on Friday 31st August at 11am. Book choices this month are The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan, Ithaca by Alan McMonagle or Grace after Henry by Eithne Shorthall. All welcome to come along for a chat and a cuppa!
Saturday Morning Family Fun at the Library
The final Family Fun Morning of the Summer took place on
Saturday 18th August. Thanks to all the parents and children who came along during the Summer. Hallowe’en is just around the corner and we will have another morning of family fun then!
Competitions at the Library
Library is running a ‘Book Review’ competition and ‘Create your own Story’ competitions this Summer. There will be a special prize for 1st place!
Pick up your entry form at the library.
Beginners Italian Course
A six-week Italian course will take place in the Library starting on Monday 17th September at 7pm. Course costs €50 in total and must be paid in advance.
Contact Stella to book your place on 0433321291 or email lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie<mailto:lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie>
Opening Hours
Monday 2pm – 8pm, Tuesday 2pm – 6pm, Wed & Fri 10am – 1pm & 2pm – 5pm,
Sat 10am – 1pm.
Foreign Currency & Used Stamps
We are still collecting unwanted foreign currency and old coins/notes in aid of ISPCC. The smallest donation can make a huge difference.
We also collect used stamps in aid of ISPCC. Thank you.
Learn new language
Learn a new language online with Mango (over 71 languages available) or learn a new skill with Universal Class which offers over 400 free online courses.
Call to the library for your free library card & pin or further information.
Healthcare Monitoring – have you registered?
Shannonside Digital Skills are putting together a new plan for a pilot scheme in the Lanesborough Ballyleague area in the coming months.
The scheme will allow 20 people who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, COPD or other chronic illness to decide themselves to have their critical daily medical readings monitored by the use of new technology in the comfort of their own home through the use of broadband. These readings will then be monitored in conjunction with a specialised nurse service so that any healthcare readings of concern will be brought to the attention of the person immediately and action proposed.
This pilot project is now only at developmental stage. Participation will be purely on a voluntary basis for each person (10 from Ballyleague and 10 from Lanesborough) and each person who volunteers must firstly fill out a questionnaire and consult with their own GP.
This is the first pilot of its kind in the republic of Ireland and to find our more information please contact Debbie at (086) 223 0971 or Adrian at 04333 21734
The pilot will not start until the initial questionnaire has been successfully completed by all 20 people.
To seek a questionnaire please e mail: shannonsiderenewal@gmail.com
50/50
On Monday night last, the draw took place for the weekly 50/50 draw. The winning names this week were Patricia Brady, Church View and Audrey Sorohan, Carraroe. The winning envelope was worth €316. We would like to congratulate the two ladies on their win and thank them for their support of the 50/50
The club thanks everyone for their continued support and encourage everyone to persist in your support as your name will surely be drawn out soon. Tickets are on sale in local shops and businesses throughout the town at €2 each. Alternatively, you can by the pink ticket for the year for just €100 and have 2 free weeks. The club would like to thank everyone that continues to support the draw on a weekly basis and the many people that buy the one-year ticket.
Birth
Many congratulations to Jason and Emma Fallon, Lismacmanus, on the birth last week of a baby girl.
Blood Donation Clinic
If you previously missed the opportunity to donate blood in Longford at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, you have the opportunity to donate in the Abbey Hotel Roscommon on this Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd August.
Blood donations during holiday time decreases and it is very important that blood donations rise at this time of the year such is the increased demands for blood for so many reasons especially the amount of accidents that occur.
Thursday night in the Library
Last Thursday week there was a fabulous night in our local library. With the Lough Ree Monster Festival on the following weekend the Longford County Library and our own Library and the Lasraí Writer group collaborated to host an evening to be part of the Festival. They had invited local author and playwright Jack Harte attend and read from his latest book ‘Rehabilitating the Serpent’. Jack arrived and read for us on the same night that his play ‘Language of the Mute’ was opening in Montreal, Canada. The readings were interspersed into three sections and in between the attendance were regaled with wonderful music and song from Mary Mc Gushin, Philip Tierney, Joe Mc Grath, Paddy Baxter and the harmonious songs of Frank Conmy. It was a most enjoyable evening and it pleasure to be in attendance. A big word of thanks must go to County Librarian Mart Reynold, our own librarian, Stella and the local writers’ group for their hard work in preparing the entire evening.
Monster Festival
A huge amount of work went into the preparation of this years Lough Ree Monster Festival by a very hard-working committee and in some respects, this was an outstanding weekend. Once again, the Lough Ree Sub Aqua club and Gerry Shanley Carpentry played a massive role in the entire Festival and the hard-working committee and non-committee that gave up of their time were not found wanting at any stage through the weekend. Everyone that worked and helped out must be commended for their time and efforts.
The arrival of the Lough Ree Monster once again brought a great crowd to the banks of the Shannon to welcome it back for the weekend. This was preceded by a Kiddies Disco which was a great hit with all the youngsters of the area. The night finished with an 80’s Disco with Martin Mc Nally as our DJ.
Saturday night saw Ireland’s finest entertainer Mike Denver play before a big crowd in the Big Red Barn
Sunday there was kiddies’ games and sports in the afternoon. Later that evening we said a farewell to the Monster again to a huge crowd. Allied to the departure of the Monster there was a fabulous Firework display which was widely accepted as being one of the best in the region in a long time. Dancing on Sunday night finished the Festival and the Conquerors provided a wonderful nights dancing. Part of the night was the Jiving competition which attracted great interest.
The Murray Amusements were a great hit with the weather being quite good throughout the weekend and we would like to thank Jim Murray and his family for bringing their amusements to our Festival and give it an added attraction.
As we look forward the committee must look at the future development of the Lough Ree Monster Festival and to make the festival a greater success and the creation of a new Monster. There is a new older and younger range of people and with an array of skills from both sides of the bridge and indeed the wider community needed to drive the Lough Ree Monster Festival forward. There are many aspects of the weekend that should never be lost to the community and a new fresher and vibrant outlook is required to make it a fabulous event for our community. The Lough Ree Monster Festival is for all the local communities and without new involvement all will be lost. There will be a meeting called in the very near future inviting everyone to come along and express their views on the route going forward.
Rathcline GAA.
Division 2 League:
On Sunday last in Clonbonny a crucial game in the Division 2 league when we took on Fr. Manning Gaels. We had an outstanding victory on a scoreline of 2-10 to 3-6. This victory leaves us very much in the hunt for promotion to Division 1. We have four games left in the Division and it is imperative that we win all four games. The next game in the League is on Wednesday week 29th August in Ballymore at 7pm.
All-Ireland Hurling Final Draw
The winner of the two All-Ireland Hurling Final tickets was Jarlath Ruane, Oranmore, Co. Galway and the ticket was sold in Adie’s bar. Second prize of €100 was won by Emma Kenny, Cloontuskert.
Championship:
On Sunday next our Intermediate team will play Cashel in a local derby and the prize to the winner will be a place in the Intermediate championship semi-final. We wish the lads the very best of luck and we hope for a victory that will bring us a step closer to retaining the Gerry Hennessy Cup. The venue for the game will be set on Monday and we hope there will be a huge support to cheer on the lads.
50/50
On Monday night last the draw took place for the weekly 50/50 draw. The winning names this week were Patricia Brady, Church View and Audrey Sorohan, Carraroe. The winning envelope was worth €316. We would like to congratulate the two ladies on their win and thank them for their support of the 50/50
The club thanks everyone for their continued support and encourage everyone to persist in your support as your name will surely be drawn out soon. Tickets are on sale in local shops and businesses throughout the town at €2 each. Alternatively, you can by the pink ticket for the year for just €100 and have 2 free weeks. The club would like to thank everyone that continues to support the draw on a weekly basis and the many people that buy the one-year ticket.
St. Faithleach’s GAA
Senior Championship: Round three of the Senior Championship took place on Saturday evening against Padraig Pearses. Result: St. Faithleach’s 1-7 Padraig Pearses 1-11. Team: Michael O’Donnell, Daniel Foley, Connell Kennelly, Karl Nerney, David Harrison, Adrian Murtagh, Cathal Gunn, Darren Nerney, Brian Murtagh (1-0), David Rooney (0-1), Ciarán Murtagh (0-1), Jonathon Hussey, Aidan Dooney, Diarmuid Murtagh (0-5), Darragh Hussey. Substitution(s): Colm Mangan, Mikey Cox, Jordan Donlon.
Junior A Championship: St. Faithleach’s played St. Dominic’s in Lisnamult on Friday evening. Result: St. Faithleach’s 0-14 St. Dominic’s 2-11. Team: Stephen O’Connor, Gavin Carberry, Jack Irwin (0-1), Brian Scally, Mike-Frank O’Grady, Derek Murray, Ryan Guinan, James Quigley, Henry Kenny, Ben Hussey, Conor Smith (0-4), Daniel McDermott (0-1), Jordan Donlon (0-9), Alan Brehon, Jerome Kelly. Substitution(s): Kevin Trautt & Greg McGrath.
Minor Ladies Championship: The ladies played Padraig Pearses on Thursday last in Ballyleague resulting in a draw, they now face St. Dominic’s in the Division 1 Semi Final. Date and time T.B.C.
Minor Championship: Result: St. Faithleach’s 1-13 Elphin/Ballinameen 2-12. Team: Michael O’Donnell, Mark Cox, Aaron Glennon, David Kilcoyne, Cian Glennon, Kevin Trautt, Ronan Banahan, Ruari Trimble, James Browne, Michael Dunne, Daniel McDermott, Mark Silva, Jack Murray, Cian O’Brien, Nathan McGovern, Dylan Donlon.
Go Games Blitz: Our U8 and U10 teams will be participating in the County Blitz in the Connacht Centre of Excellence on Saturday 25th, best of luck to all our members and we hope that everyone had a fantastic day.
Best of luck: To Roscommon Intermediate ladies, management and Amanda McLoone in the All Ireland Intermediate Semi Final against Meath on Saturday 25th.
Good luck: To Roscommon Gaelic Master’s and Alan Brehon who are through to the All-Ireland Shield Final after beating Galway last week.