Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Christmas Mass at St. Mary’s
There will be 4 Masses on Christmas Eve and 2 Masses on Christmas Day.
Tickets for all the Masses have been allocated and if you have not got a colour coded ticket you are advised not to turn up.
Fr. Sergiy, Fr. Merlyn and Fr. Turlough would like to thank everyone for their support over the past few months and say that you made them very welcome to our parish.
They would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Holy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year.
Confession for Christmas
Confession will take place after morning Mass Monday to Thursday 10.30am to 11am.
Production Ceases
Friday last 18th December was a momentous day for everyone in our community and especially for the ESB workers as close to the midday hour the power station ceased its production of electricity in Lanesboro after 62 years of production.
The power station which has been a major part of our lives for so long came to it conclusion and we are all saddened but its departure. We all have memories of the power station being built, for our older generation the original plant, or the new extensions until its demise and the rise of the new station just 15 years ago. We fondly remember all those that worked in the power station, some came from other counties and lived their lives and reared their children amongst us while others were from the local and surrounding communities – all getting great jobs.
ESB along with Bord na Mona brought great prosperity to our community and for that we will be eternally grateful.
It is said that Friday was a dark day, but I firmly believe that it was just the end of an era where times have changed and moved on so dramatically. I am off the opinion that there is not only a wonderful opportunity for both companies to but a spectacular opportunity for both of them to play their part with the local community in the future developments that are being envisaged for Lanesboro and Ballyleague.
There are several feasibility studies being undertaken at the moment allied to the Just Transition Fund funding announcements which is bringing over €3m into our community and cementing the view of a bright future. There has been a proposal by Catherine Hannon, Regional Manager at Department Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to be formed with Lanesboro proposed as being the central location of this hub. There are only two similar Biosphere Reserves in the country, and it would be fabulous if we were the centre of the third.
As the saying goes ‘God does not close a door without opening another one’ and this is our golden opportunity as a community to be progressive and supportive of the many opportunities that are starting to arise to make our community one of the best places in the country to live and work in.
Community College Enrolment
Enrolment to First year in Lanesboro Community College for 2021/2022 is now open. Application forms are available by emailing the school at Admin.lcc@lwetb.ie or by phone on 0906500140
Christmas and New Year Greetings
We have gone through an extremely difficult year where the Covid Virus brought everything we planned to do to a sharp and sudden stop. It has affected the health of many and caused the death of some family members in our own families and our wider family grouping. It also caused the death and ill health to some of our friends.
I would like to say that we remember everyone that has been affected by this virus and our thoughts and good wishes goes to you, your families and friends.
I would like to wish everyone a loving and warm Christmas full of hope for the future. We would like to expect that 2021 will be a new way forward free of this virus where we can all smile, laugh and travel freely with our loved ones and friends. You are all deep in my thoughts and prayers.
Lanesborough Primary School Enrolment
Lanesborough Primary School is now accepting applications for enrolments for September 2021. Please email the Principal at smgslb2020@gmail.com for an application form.
Christmas Swim
This year due to Corona Virus it has been a year of total disruptions. I have just been told that the Virus has claimed another event with the cancellation of the Annual Christmas Swim.
The swim has long been a tradition on Christmas morning and a great meeting place for young and old as they annually renew acquaintances while watching the hardy souls entering the icy cold Shannon waters all to support the club and their collections for local charities.
It is an event that will be sadly missed, and we look forward to it returning on Christmas Day 2021.
The Lough Ree Sub Aqua/ Search and Rescue club would like to thank everyone for their continued great support and wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Christmas Lighting.
As there can be no church gate collections to raise money to help defray the costs of the lighting of both sides of the bridge the committees appeal to your generosity. There has been a tremendous response by the community to the Lighting committee’s appeal for support and if you have not already done so you can make your donation to Mark Casey, Brigid Mullooly, Margaret Gillen or you can leave your donation into O’Brien’s shop for collection for Lanesboro or Noel Moran, Gerry Trimble or on the GoFundMe page ‘Ballyleague Christmas Lights Fundraiser 2020’ for your Ballyleague contribution.
St. Vincent de Paul
The local Longford St. Vincent de Paul organisers would like to thank everyone that has contributed so generously to their envelope appeal that had drop off points in the presbytery and O’Brien’s Shop.
Birdwatch Ireland
Between December and February every year Birdwatch Ireland asks members of the public to watch and keep an eye on all the birds and to record the number of each bird that arrive in their garden each week. The Irish Garden Bird survey provides important information on bird populations and also gives an indication as to the state of the environment.
All details can be found on the Birdwatch Ireland website www.birdwatchireland.ie .
Rathcline GAA Annual Draw
The Rathcline GAA club are once again holding their Annual Christmas Draw. The draw will take place on Saturday 9th January. Due to the Corona Virus restriction the club is unsure as to the venue for the draw. Tickets are priced €20 each and the prize structure is 1st €3,000, 2nd €1,000, 3rd €500, 4th €250, 5th €250 and 6th €250.
Old Photographs
In the past I have been searching for old photographs of the Green and those that lived there. I received some at the time and in recent time some have dropped me in some more.
People during Corona virus pandemic have had time to do deep cleans of their homes and have discovered many items previously thought lost and of sentimental value. If you have discovered any old photographs of the Green or photographs of the people living, there at any time or any of the events that occurred there over the years I would appreciate if you could coy/scan or drop them in to me in the shop for immediate scanning. You can email the scanned photographs to me at joeaobrien@outlook.com Thank you in advance
Reading for Christmas
Some local books that are essential reading over the Christmas and New Year period are now on the bookshelves. The reappearance of the hugely popular Sliabh Bán is again proving very popular as is the current best seller Roscommon Biography.
Talk to the Samaritans
Are you struggling to cope with life? Do you think it would be a help to talk about your problems in confidence? It does not matter who you are, how you feel or what has happened to you the Samaritans are always there and ready to talk with you. Don’t let things get you down just contact, and someone will talk with you. The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year just phone 116123.
Towns Lotto Winner
The numbers drawn in the Lanesboro Tidy Towns Lotto on Tuesday 15th December were 5, 7, 13 and 26. There was nobody with the four numbers and the jackpot for the draw on Tuesday December stood at €3,100. The main consolation prize of €50 went to Michael Mulvihill, Clonterm, Longford and the three other €20 prizes went to Eileen Mullen c/o Xlntee, Mike Mullooly c/o Mags and Madaleine Murray, The Green.
Support line for Older People
ALONE manage a national support line for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID 19.
Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice. The support line is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm for helpful information. Please ring 0818 222024.
St. Mary’s Church
Christmas Masses.
Please see the ‘Christmas at St. Mary’s’ item included in these notes.
Offertory Boxes
A number of the new offertory boxes have yet to be collected from the church. It would be appreciated if the boxes could be collected as soon as possible.
Reconciliation Service
See ‘Confessions for Christmas’ elsewhere in these notes
Townsland Masses
The townsland Masses next weekend are as follows: Saturday, 26th December evening at 7.30pm is for Fermoyle, Green Gardens, Gurteengar, Killinure and Knock Manor. Mass for Sunday morning 27th at 9.30am is for the townslands of Knock, Lehery and Lismacmanus. Sunday 28th at 11.30am, Mass is for Lisduff, Lisnacusha, Lisrevagh, Mahoraveen, Main Street and Mount Davis.
All the daily masses are being streamed lived on Facebook ‘St. Mary’s Parish Lanesboro’ you can log onto the Masses at 10am Monday to Thursday, 7pm on Friday evening, 7.30pm Saturday and 11.30am on Sunday.
Mass intentions will continue to be booked for weekdays for the present. People wishing to book masses can do so by contacting Fr Sergiy before or after mass during the week in the Sacristy. All that have booked masses are asked to rebook them for weekdays for the foreseeable future.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confession will take place on Friday evenings from 6pm until private mass time of 7pm.
Fr. Sergiy Ruchenko can be contacted at the presbytery or by phoning 3321166 or 0833892362. Alternatively, you can contact Fr. Merlyn Kenny, Newtowncashel 0860603433 and Fr. Turlough Baxter, Killashee 0879972259 who are assisting Fr. Sergiy during his ministery in the parish.
Church activities
Eucharistic Adoration will take place on Tuesday’s from 10.30am until 8pm and it is hoped that there will be two people in attendance for each hour.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions will take place on Friday evenings from 6pm until private mass time of 7pm.
Lanesboro Library
Lanesboro Library has reopened for Browse & Borrow service on the following days – Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm and on Saturday 10am to 1pm
Only 4 Customer or 1 family allowed at any one time. All children under 12 MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Photocopying/Printing & Scanning services are available.
Living Well
Living Well – the next online programme dates for January 2021 are Thursday 7th January, Tuesday 12th January & Monday 18th January.
If you are living with a long-term health condition you may be interested in doing the Living Well Programme. This is a six-week online programme delivered in 2.5-hour weekly sessions where you will learn new skills to manage your health condition on a day to day basis. More now than ever it is important we look after are mental and physical health.
Please note you do not have to disclose your health condition on the programme. Please contact Olga on 086 6078950 or by email olga.maguire@mayocil.ie
You can find out more information on the programme on the website: www.hse.ie/livingwell
What is covered on the programmes is: Week 1 • Using your mind to manage symptoms • Fatigue and getting a good night’s sleep • Introduction to action plans Week 2 • Dealing with difficult emotions • Physical activity, exercise, preventing falls Week 3 • Decision making • Pain management • Healthy eating Week 4 • Better breathing • Reading food labels • Communication skills Week 5 • Medication management • Positive thinking, dealing with low mood and feelings of depression Week 6 • Making informed treatment decisions • Planning for the future