Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Election Fever in our community
The slogan ‘Vote Longford’ never rang truer than on Monday evening last when the final count in the General Election for the Longford Westmeath constituency took place at the John Count McCormack Hall in the Athlone Institute of Technology where a massive transfer (2,828) of Micheál Carrigy’s votes went to Joe Flaherty hence electing Joe in second place behind Sinn Fein’s Sorcha Clarke. Joe’s final vote of 11,064 was just 213 shy of the quota of 11,277. From what I am told if roles were reversed the same huge vote would have went to Micheál. Praise must really go to the voters of County Longford who stuck with the county line and helped elect one of our county candidates.
Lanesboro is rightly proud of the election of Joe; it was clearly seen in the votes he received that he is our favoured son. Joe, son of the late PJ and Mary Flaherty, Knock, in this election makes history by becoming the first Lanesboro born and reared man to win his seat in the Dáil for his home constituency. He received a massive 526 votes in the three booths in Lanesboro National School, a huge number that set him firmly on the road to victory.
Apart from the runaway vote for Sinn Fein’s Sorcha Clarke – a common sight throughout most of the constituencies in the country – it was remarkable that the final difference between the four candidates vying for three seats was so tight that it was only 1061.
Lanesboro and Longford now have the TD we craved. We wish Joe the very best of luck and offer him every support in what no doubt will be a really tough task.
On our west bank of the Shannon the Roscommon/Galway election was not in any way less enthralling. With the Sinn Fein rise in the polls and the realignment of the constituency adding a further 6,000 voters to the constituency nobody was sure as to how things were to pan out. In the end both Independent candidates Michael Fitzmaurice and Denis Naughton retained their seats with some comfort both with impressive vote numbers while the third and final seat was a fight between Fianna Fail’s Eugene Murphy and Sinn Fein’s Claire Kirrane. The rising tide that had Sinn Fein receiving huge votes topping the polls country wide was also clear to be seen in Roscommon/Galway constituency with Claire Kirrane receiving a huge first preference vote of 8003. Eugene Murphy’s vote of 4945 left him with a lot of headway to make in overtaking Claire Kirrane. In the end the task of pulling back that vote proved to be insurmountable and Claire emerged victorious with a final vote including preferences of 10,545 to Eugene’s 9204.
We commiserate with all those that put themselves forward in both constituencies and did not achieve a seat. It was not to be their day, perhaps in the elections to come their ambition will be achieved. It is no easy task to put yourself forward and follow that up with three solid hard weeks of day and night canvassing, plotting and planning. It takes great bravery, and everyone must be commended for their tremendous efforts.
Tribute Gathering
On Saturday 1st February a gathering of invited people and friends packed into Lanesboro local library for a Tribute Gathering to the memory of Jimmy and Carmel Casey, Carrowstrawley who passed away during 2018 and John Killian who passed away in 2019. The location of the library was fitting as there was not a better place to sum up the three people as they were a fountain of knowledge.
All three had an insatiable hunger for knowledge and they thoroughly enjoyed imparting all of their knowledge to all and sundry. When we remember John, Carmel and Jimmy we think of writings, poetry, short stories and tales around a fireplace and folklore. We think of their devotion to each other in the case of Carmel and Jimmy, to their townlands, and all three to their parishes, their family and friends. In the company of any or all you always felt at home, at ease and you were always the wiser on departure. Their knowledge and interests covered all aspects of local, literary, country and sporting life.
The Tribute Gathering was quite a unique occasion and there is tremendous credit to the organising team of Evelyn Rooney, Tommy Murray, Jack Bannon, Ray Mc Cormack, Sylvester Carroll, Sr. Rose Moran, Margaret Nohilly and John Casey as this was one of the finest occasions in Lanesboro Library that has hosted many special occasions down through the years. There was great music and song further enhancing the occasion and that was provided by Ruby O’Flynn a granddaughter of Jimmy and Carmel, P.J. Donnellan, Mary McGushin and Paddy Baxter
County librarian, Mary Carlton Reynolds, and local librarians Stella O’Sullivan, and Mary Kelly must be thanked for all their assistance and they also played their part in the presentation of a fabulous afternoon by having the library available and providing the refreshments.
Recorded Miracle
From the book ‘The Village of Bernadette’ written by couple, Colm Keane, author and journalist and former newsreader Una O’Hagan the story of the miracle of Gortgallon man Patrick Casey was detailed.
In 1913 Patrick Casey, a married man with four children, went to Lourdes with the Irish National Pilgrimage. Patrick suffered greatly with a disorder called Acromegaly. Patrick was affected with a form of Acromegaly that created swelling of the joints and paralysis of the limbs from the hips down. The medical diagnosis was that Patrick chances of recovery were very slim, in fact one said, ‘no hope’.
In the book, Patrick’s case is well documented from the depth of his pain due to his condition, to achieving a major success in being able to leave his native Gortgallon for Lourdes, to his miracle in Lourdes and his journey back home to Lanesboro and his prayers of gratitude in St. Mary’s Church.
His torchlight trip of huge proportions down the Strokestown Road to Gortgallon was a joyous celebration and his journey home was led by the Cloontuskert band.
In the following days and weeks, the doctors that tended to Patrick said of his miraculous recovery that “his cure had to have been miraculous as Patrick could not have been cured by human means”.
This is a remarkable story in history of one of our own people and it is great to have Patrick’s story documented in this great book.
My thanks to Colm for allowing me use a synopsis Patrick’s story for our local notes.
Lourdes Pilgrimage
This year the Ardagh Clonmacnoise Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from Friday 29th May until Wednesday 3rd June and the inclusive cost is €749. Pilgrimage director is Fr. Bernard Noonan 09064 81180. The flight departure is from Knock Airport. For bookings contact Joe Walsh Tours 01-2410811/2.
Club Membership Night
The club will host a registration and membership evening this Friday 21st February. This is a new idea from the new executive to help boost membership numbers. All members enrolled will be entered in the All-Ireland Football final draw for 2 Premium stand tickets.
New Defibrillator
Fermoyle National School Parent’s Association are hoping to purchase a Defibrillator to be installed outside Fermoyle School in the coming year. This will be of great benefit to the students and staff attending the school, along with the wider Community who reside in the surrounding areas.
The Parent’s Association has already received a generous donation from Innis Ree Lodge Nursing Home and Lanesboro ESB, so the remaining cost to install this lifesaving device is €2,000. We are reaching out for your support to help complete the purchase of the Defibrillator.
If you could please help support this worthy cause with any donation or sponsorship, it would be greatly appreciated.
Please make contact with any of the following members of Fermoyle Parent’s Association if you are able to do so: Karen Johnston, Eilish Dillon, Deirdre Kenny, Audrey Sorohan, Sinéad Farrell, Serena Gibbons or Siobhan Curran. You can also contact via email at fermoyleparents@gmail.com
Next Blood Donation Clinic
The next blood donation clinic locally will take place in the Longford Arms Hotel on Tuesday 25th Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th February. The clinic will be open from 4.30pm to 8pm each day.
There are eight different blood types and at the end of this week there was only full supply for two. Please make every effort to attend help ensure that all blood types are fully available for the continuous urgent blood need.
75th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation
This year on Monday 27th January there was worldwide celebration of the liberation of the prisoners in Auschwitz concentration camp. Little was known of prisoner 151418. Prisoner 151418 was 17 years of age when Poland was occupied. Just because he had over the allotted amount of margarine in his possession when searched he was sent to prison. Prisoner 151418 half Polish half German was sentenced to six-months and then a further 18 months for lying in court by saying he could not speak German. After serving his two years he was “set free” only to be transported to Auschwitz concentration camp.
When the Russians closed in prisoner 151418 along with the other prisoners were moved in the infamous cattle trains to a new prison Bergen Belsen.
During April 1945 and after a time in Bergen Belsen food was so scarce that prisoner 151418 and his friends decided to raid the kitchen. They were caught, and he was shot by an SS man. Following the single shot, he dropped to the floor and the SS man believed the prisoner was dead, but he was wrong. After regaining consciousness, he heard commotion and singing outside and learned that he and his fellow prisoners were all liberated.
Prisoner 151418 was sent for rehabilitation in Sweden where he met his future wife. They headed off for Canada but ended up in Ireland where they stayed. Prisoner 151418 and his wife had four daughters and one son.
This man, prisoner 151418, showed tremendous courage and strength of mind to survive such a horrendous time in the life of his and his fellow prisoners.
In the words of Leondros Philiotis, grandson of prisoner 151418 and the writer of a much lengthier piece from which my synopsis is taken
This man was prisoner 151418
This man is a symbol of hope
His man is a symbol of the human spirit
This man is the symbol of the suffering endured by so many
This man is Marian Hoedt.
This man is my grandfather
You may ask why I am writing this and its significance. In the above piece I mentioned that Marian Hoedt had four daughters and one son and one of his daughters is Caroline McEvoy that reared her family, Simon, Sharon, Stephanie and Mary on the Green. Marian passed away in 2003.
I would like to thank Caroline for granting me permission to write this piece on her father.
Éigse Pete Carberry
The Éigse Pete Carberry Irish music weekend will take place on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April in Lanesboro. This will be the second year of this event and it will be preceded the weekend before by the County Longford Fleadh so it will be a tremendous celebration of Irish music over a 10-day period.
We all remember last year and what a huge success the inaugural Éigse Pete Carberry weekend remembering the piping of Pete Carberry was. The quality of the Irish musicians that came to celebrate from all over the country to celebrate the piping of Pete and the musical exploits of the Carberry family was truly fantastic.
The weekend music created a great vibe throughout the town, it extended from St. Mary’s Hall to the library, to bars and shops creating a great atmosphere throughout Lanesboro and Ballyleague.
We are expecting that the second Éigse Pete Carberry weekend will be another rousing occasion and it is most definitely be a weekend not to be missed. If you want to hear Irish Music in its purist state and played like you cannot believe, then you must be in Lanesboro for the weekend. As mentioned previously the weekend date had to be changed from the original date and now takes place in Lanesboro on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April
The committee is receiving requests for all types of accommodation for the weekend and if you can help in putting people up you can drop an email to me joeaobrien@outlook.com phone 0862460840 or call into the shop and leave your name.
Rathcline Special General Meeting
Following the failure to elect a committee at the AGM the Rathcline club held a Special General Meeting in the clubhouse in Clonbonny on Thursday night last. For details of the committee see the Rathcline GAA notes.
Table Quiz
Killashee GAA club are seeking your support for a Table Quiz that will be held in McPartlands bar Clondra on Friday week 28th February. The club has a major development plan in place, they are now attempting to offset some of the costs with this Table Quiz and they seek the support of our readers. The quiz will start at 9pm. The cost of taking part is €10 per person or €40 for a table. There will also be a raffle and spot prizes.
Weekly Card Game
The results of the game played on Sunday night last are: 1st Tom and Nancy, 2nd Johnno and Noreen. The last game winners were Eugene and Barney. The raffle winners were Mike Flynn, Packie Feeney, Mary Greg & Mary Featherstone.
The 25-card drive continues every Sunday evening at 8.30pm sharp in Lanesboro Parish Hall. Thanks to all for their continued support.
Ballyleague NS Enrolment
Ballyleague N.S. Enrolment: Parents of new entrants who wish to enrol their children for School Academic Year 2020/2021 are invited to visit the school on this Wednesday, 19th February from 2:15pm until 3pm. If this date/time is unsuitable, please contact the school on 043-3321906 to make alternative arrangements. We look forward to meeting you on the day.
Lanesboro Bridge Club
The results of the game played on Wednesday night 5th February were N/S 1st Mona O’Flaherty and Maureen Hynes, 2nd Frank and Frances Brennan, 3rd Cyril Hussey and Elish Gray. E/W 1st Katharine Harrison and Philomena Walsh, 2nd Ita Farrell and Teresa Kiernan, 3rd Maura Hanly and Mary Connor.
Our Library Events
Knitting & Crochet Club
Knitting & Crochet Club continues every Monday 2-4pm.
New members always welcome!
Poetry & Music Group
Poetry & Music Circle continues on Monday 24th February from 4.15pm until 5.30pm.
All welcome to come along and join in with this very vibrant group!
ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) takes place in the Library every Tuesday evening 7-9pm.
Contact Nuala Donlon on nuala.donlon@lwetb.ie for further information.
Easter Flower Arranging Course
Easter Flower Arranging course is now fully booked.
There has been a date change so course will now start on Monday March 2nd and following 3 Monday evenings 6.30-8pm.
Memory Matters & Brain Health
As part of Healthy Ireland at your Library, Lanesboro Library will host a very interesting talk on Memory Matters & Brain Health with Pauline Lee from HSE.
This event takes place on Monday 30th March at 7pm.
This is a free event, and all are welcome to come along.
Light refreshments will be served.
Contact library on 0433321291 or email lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie for info.
Coping with Anxiety in Children through Mindfulness
As part of Healthy Ireland at your Library, we are delighted to welcome psychologist Paul Marsden back to Lanesboro Library to give a very interesting talk on ‘Coping with Anxiety in Children through Mindfulness’. The talk will be very helpful to all parents where children are anxious at home, with their friends, coming up to exam time etc. This is a free event and all are welcome along on Monday 20th April at 7pm.
Foreign Currency & Used Stamps
We are still collecting unwanted foreign currency and old coins/notes in aid of Koins for Kids. The smallest donation can make a huge difference.
We also collect used stamps in aid of ISPCC. Thank you.
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.
Check out our Online Services where you can download free eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines and newspapers, learn a new language or do an online course. All you need is your library card and pin. Renew or request books on our website www.longfordlibrary.ie
New Boat Project/ Angling Hub AGM
Lough Ree Angling hub will launch a new Access for All boat service on the River Shannon in June 2020. This new state of the art angling boat will be powered by two engines and will have the capacity to carry ten people and a crew of two on the river. This passenger boat will be the first in Britain and Ireland to carry seven people who are disabled and wheelchair-bound or have mobility issues. It will also serve as a heritage tourism service as required.
In preparation for the boat’s launch in June, the angling hub is recruiting and training a panel of up to 20 people who will operate the boat on a full-time, part-time paid and voluntary basis. Part of this group will also offer their services as angling ghillies to visitors to the area – when required.
A training course has now been organised for early May for people who are interested in committing themselves to taking part in this training and , to inform people who might be interested in taking part , an information meeting will take place on Wednesday February 26th at 8pm in St Marys hall beside the bridge in Lanesborough .
All those with an interest in boating and fishing are invited to attend – especially present or previous workers with Bord na Móna or ESB who may be looking for alternative employment.
This meeting will be followed by the Annual General Meeting of the Lough Ree Angling hub where plans will be confirmed for this year’s International Angling competitions in this area and new coaching events in the area.
For further information please contact Alan at loughreeanglinghub@gmail.com
Ballyboro FC Oskar Night DVD
A limited number of the Ballyboro Oskar Night DVD’s are on sale and it gives you a chance to relive the great drama of that special Movie night. In total there were 8 films produced and great memories of a special year. DVD on sale in O’Brien’s Corner shop now. Priced €20 each and special offer of 3 DVDs for €50. Postal orders (€30 each) will be taken by e mail only at: ballyboroastropitchcommittee@gmail.com
5-a-side booking
Bookings are now being taken for weekly rental of the new Ballyboro FC 3G Pitch at Lanesborough Community College. To book in for a 5 side match or a 7 a side game in November please register NOW by signing up with a user account at www.bookapitch.com and the venue will be there for you to select under BALLYBORO ASTRO. If you want any more details send an e mail please to ballyboroastropitchcommittee@gmail.com
Tidy Towns Lotto
The winning numbers drawn in the Lanesboro Tourism Co-Op on Tuesday morning 11th February were 12, 13, 17 and 19. There was nobody with the winning numbers and the jackpot pool has now risen to €7,500. The €50 prize winner was Lisa Mullane and three winners of the €20 were Bernadette Dowd, Thureen, Marie Cleary c/o Vinnie, and Bernie Hanley, Corrigeen.
50/50
The 50/50 draw took place on Monday 10th February and the envelope drawn out was in the name of Louis Mullooly, Lehery. This week’s winning pool was €332.
You have four options when buying your tickets, (1) buy your €2 ticket, (2) 3 the tickets for €5, (3) the green envelope where you pay €50 for a six-month term with one free draw and (4) the pink envelope where you pay €100 for a 12-month period with two free draws. Those tickets are available in any of the local shops and pubs or from any member of the club executive.
Community Challenge 2020
This Challenge organised by the Roscommon Sports Park Committee in conjunction with Roscommon Sports Partnership takes place on Friday March 6th and involves a 5 and 10 k Moonlight walk/run around Roscommon Town. It promises to be a fun filled challenging one and will include all our community, of every ability and age.
Currently there are 100+ participants taking part in bi weekly training sessions organised under the watchful eye of Noel Feeley and his staff at Roscommon Sports Partnership. Organisers are very indebted to them for their help and dedication. Classes cater for walkers’ runners and runner/walkers, beginners and the more experienced. Participants cover an age range of 10 to 90, so everyone is included.
On the night, it is hoped to have a field of over 350 and more taking part. This event is about community, it’s about involvement it’s about being the best and fittest you can be. It’s about meeting up and chatting.
Funds raised by this event will be used towards the completion of the dressing and meeting rooms at Roscommon Community Sports Park and Roscommon Special Olympics Club. The Astro turf pitches were completed in 2014 and are very busy every night of the week. The new dressing rooms and meeting rooms will compliment an already super facility. Special Olympics Roscommon were delighted to be offered the opportunity to avail of the top half of this building on a permanent basis where they will be able to organise extra sessions, in more codes and also provide more opportunities for their members aged 3 to 60 years of age. The meeting rooms will also be available to other groups who may wish to use the facilities. The building will also include a Changing Places accredited facility, which will be the first of its kind in county Roscommon., If you would like to take part you can sign up using this link
https://www.popupraces.ie/race/roscommon-community-challenge-2020/ More information available on our Facebook page Roscommon community challenge 2020 There are also a range of sponsorship opportunities for companies and business to get involved and due recognition will be given to all who donate. For further details on how you can get involved please contact Jacqueline Mc Cormack on 0861721181 jacquelinemc@eircom.net
Ballyboro
Storm Dennis played havoc with the fixture list at the weekend as all games were called off.
Hopefully the weather will be more benign this weekend when the two games are scheduled for Abbeycartron on Saturday; The under 13s play Stonepark at 10.30am, while the under 15s play Gaels United, kick off 11am. On Sunday the under 12s meet Gaels United in Abbeycartron at 1pm, while the under 14s are away to Castlepollard Celtic, 12.30 kick off.
Rathcline
Club Membership Night
The club will host a registration evening this Friday night 21st February. This is a new idea from the new executive to help boost membership numbers. All members will be entered in the All-Ireland Football final draw for 2 Premium stand tickets.
AGM
At a very well attended Special General Meeting held in Clonbonny on Thursday night last a new executive was formed to run the club for the coming year. The following were elected to serve Rathcline for the coming year.
Chairman – Micheál O’Sullivan, Vice Chairman – Gerard Farrell, Secretary – Jimmy Flood, Assistant Secretaries – Neil O’Connor, Treasurer – Marie Farrell, Assistant Treasurer – Stephen Rooney, Registrars – Gerard Farrell, Claire Carberry, Brendan Rhatigan, and Peter Skelly, Players Registrars – James Hanley and David Rooney. PRO’s – Caroline Ginty and Joe O’Brien. The position of Irish Officer is in the hands of the Shannon Gaels Minor Club. Coaching Officers – Seadna Ryan, Kevin Connaughton and Kevin Hanley. Development Officers – Liam Connerton, Ryan Fallon, Sean Kenny and Seadna Ryan. Children’s Officer – Mark Glancy. Field Committee lead – Johnny Hanley. County Board Delegates – Louis Skelly, Peter Skelly, Seamus Flynn with sub. Micheál O’Sullivan. Pitch co-ordinator – Tommy Donoghue. Minor Board Liaison – Sean Kenny, Alan Fayne. Ladies Board Liaison – to be nominated by Ladies committee. Insurance Officers – Jimmy Flood and Neil O’Connor.
Micheál asked that all the club executive should encourage everyone including parishioners and club supporters both home and abroad to become club members. We need a vibrant club and with a big club membership base we will attain that vibrancy. Membership is just €20 and club membership can be obtained from and of the registrars mentioned or from any of the club executive. Micheál and treasurer Marie also asked that greater efforts should be made to further develop the 50/50 and that the weekly prize should always be close to if not over €500 a week.
50/50
The 50/50 draw took place on Monday 10th February and the envelope drawn out was in the name of Louis Mullooly, Lehery. This week’s winning pool was €332.
Don’t forget the four options when buying your tickets, (1) buy your €2 ticket, (2) 3 tickets for €5, (3) the green envelope where you pay €50 for a six-month term with one free draw and (4) the pink envelope where you pay €100 for a 12-month period with two free draws. Those tickets are available in any of the local shops and pubs or from any member of the club executive.
Join Club Longford
Rathcline are well represented with Club Longford with John Finn, Seadhna Ryan and current county chairman Albert Cooney all founder members.
Club Longford in now up and running and everyone is encouraged to join up and help in the promotion of football and hurling in the county. psychopath
When you join Club Longford you will receive a Longford GAA hat and pen. You will be added to a text service and receive text alert with announcements about the senior team before league and championship games. You will be entered into a draw for Two Football and Hurling All-Ireland final tickets. Joining will cost you just €40 and you can do so by logging onto www.clublongford.ie