Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Birth
Many congratulations to Kevin and Louise Chapman, Lisnacusha on the recent birth of a baby boy.
Community College Enrolment
Enrolments are still place at Lanesboro Community College. The college has made remarkable progress in the past number of years and with it gaining consistent high school rankings is rapidly becoming the academic school of choice. To register an interest in enrolling you are asked to contact the school 0906500140 or email Admin.lcc@lwetb.ie
No access to woodland walk
With the Shannon continuing to rise it has cut off access to the North Commons Woodland thus narrowing down our walking options. Local walkers are discovering new and varied routes to compensate for the lack of the woodlands walk. If nothing else, this lockdown is teaching us to be inventive in discovering new walks. Walking, cycling and jogging is vital for our wellbeing and our mental health. It is wonderful to see so many locals availing of all the walkways and cycleways.
Former local passes away
It is with the greatest of sympathy and heaviest heart that I record the sudden death in Galway of Brendan O’Boyle at his home on Thursday last 4th February. It is only a couple of weeks ago I recorded in these notes the death of his father,
On a personal note, Brendan, originally lived on the Green before the family moved to Ballyleague, was a wonderful friend and schoolmate in primary and secondary school. We played lots together be it football where he excelled as a goalkeeper, tennis on the court behind Ballyleague national school and pitch and putt mostly in Ballymore again two other games he was exceptionally talented at playing. The nights out, the off the road experiences are all indelibly marked in my memory. Brendan was always a warm, friendly a true confidant and as a young fell was very level-headed. Anyone that knew Brendan knew his most welcome and disarming smile. Although in recent years we did not meet very often it did not matter for it was as it was as if time stood still from our last meeting and the conversation just carried on. It was an honour to have Brendan as a friend.
I would like to off our deepest sympathy to his wife Marie, son Colm and daughter Niamh, his brother John, and sisters Joan and Anne, his grandchildren Liam and Isla, relatives and many friends. At the time of writing there were no funeral arrangement made due to Colm and Niamh living outside the country.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
The old saying that ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ seems to be creating problems with some people especially when you walk along the pathways and roadway and see the number of single wrappers, bottles and cans and a growing number of face masks discarded. This together with the amount of rubbish bags and other pieces of household furniture is really making a mockery of the vast majority of local people do in keeping their community neat and tidy. An amazing fact from last week is that from Tullyvrane Cross to the Community College there were five, yes, five bags of discarded rubbish collected on what you would think is a clean stretch of roadway and pathway.
The repetition of the story of dog soiling throughout the streets and pathways continues to be a severe problem and it is a great shame on all those that are allowing it to happen. Some regular dog owners/walkers have said to me that they are ashamed to be seen walking their dogs for fear that those they are meeting are thinking that it is them that is allowing the dog soiling to happen.
People are continually coming into the shop to me complaining and asking me to put this notice into the local notes with the recommendation that when you go for a walk and bring your dog with you and do not clean up after it soiling the pathways you are asked to leave your dog at home in future.
We all must have a pride of place and our community deserves to live, work, walk, run and cycle in a clean environment.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday also known as Pancake Tuesday is coming up on Tuesday next and with it comes Ash Wednesday the following day. Traditionally Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence and it is a day that it is customary to abstain from a little until Easter Sunday.
Onwards and Upwards
If the reaction to the new minor club executive is anything to go by then the Shannon Gaels minor club is in for an exciting time in the coming year. With a number of people volunteering for coaching and managing teams there are really exciting prospects for the young players of the club.
The club do need some new jerseys and if there is anyone that could sponsor a set of jerseys the club would love to hear from you just contact club secretary Mark Kenny 085 1744376 or mark.kenny@eircom.net. A new beginning for the young players and new executive deserves full support and we hope you will be forthcoming with your generosity.
Ballyleague NS Enrolment
Admission Application Form for new entrants for School Academic Year 2021/2022 is available as follows: To download at: www.ballyleaguens.com or you can request by email: ballyleaguens@gmail.com or by writing to: Ballyleague N.S., Ballyleague, Co Roscommon, N39 PX49
The Samaritans
There are a great number of Samaritan branches throughout the county and no matter where you are there is one close to you. If you are struggling with life and feel you need to talk to someone then the Samaritans are there for you. All you have to do is pick up the phone and discuss what is one your mind in confidence. It does not matter who you are, how you feel or what has happened to you that phone call is all you need to do. Freephone 116123, every day or night of the year as the service is available 24 hours a day. Don’t let anything fester in your mind make that call immediately.
Lanesboro Library
In line with Government Level 5 restrictions, Lanesboro Library will remain closed until further notice.
All the online services can be accessed on our website by selecting ‘Your Online Library’. www.longfordlibrary.ie
Use your library card number & pin to log in to your account.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates.
Any enquiries, please email lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Rathcline GAA Affairs
See club statement in Rathcline GAA notes
ALONE – Support for older people
ALONE who support older people to age at home have a COVID-19 support line for those who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19.
Professional staff are available to answer queries and to give advice. The support line is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. If you feel you need to call you should do so and have the chat, do not let the day pass without making the call. The phone number is 0818 222024.
St. Mary’s Church
Masses
Mass will be celebrated privately every day by our priests at the usual times Monday to Thursday 10am, Friday 7pm Saturday 7.30pm and Sunday 11.30am and Masses can be seen on the St. Mary’s Church, Lanesboro Facebook page.
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.
Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays in the church from 10.30 to 8pm. It is hoped that there will be two people in the church for each hour.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will resume on Friday evenings, starting this Friday evening and it will take place between 6pm and 6.45pm.
Contacts
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.
Rathcline GAA
Club Statement
Rathcline GAA wishes to thank everyone for their continued support and participation.
The club needed to postpone our Annual Draw due to the ongoing current restrictions. The club felt it was not workable to have one person on their own in a room pulling out tickets for such an important draw at the end of January, and in the interest of transparency, and with the assurance of being able to complete the draw satisfactorily, we have postponed our Annual Draw until Easter Sunday April 4th. With prizes of over €5,500, tickets can still be bought from club members and also online. Tickets may be bought online at: https://member.clubspot.app/club/rathcline-gaa/fundraiser/tickets
Recently we received a welcome €104k in Leader funding for a spectator walkway and barrier fencing to enhance our facilities, but we need to match 10% of that funding. We are also applying for funding to the Sports Capital Fund to bring our second pitch up to an excellent standard – this of course requires extra funds. This is why we have our Annual Draw. We encourage as many people as possible to take part in the draw.
This year we have seen less football than usual, but when the season opened early in the summer 2020, the number of supporters attending our matches was a joy to behold. We are really looking forward to getting back to playing football again. Our upcoming AGM will take place on Sunday February 21st at 7pm via Zoom. Everyone is welcome to attend. Email Micheál O’Sullivan, Chairman (mosullivangaa@gmail.com), or Jimmy Flood, Secretary (secretary.rathcline.longford@gaa.ie) for further details.
AGM
The AGM of the club will take place on Sunday 21st February.
50/50
The relaunch of the very popular 50/50 draw will be taking place in the coming weeks.
Minor club
If the reaction to the new minor club executive is anything to go by then the Shannon Gaels minor club is in for an exciting time in the coming year. With a number of people volunteering for coaching and managing teams there are really exciting prospects for the young players of the club.
The club do need some new jerseys and if there is anyone that could sponsor a set of jerseys the club would love to hear from you just contact club secretary Mark Kenny 085 1744376 or at Secretarybng.shannongaels.longford@gaa.ie A new beginning for the young players and new executive deserves full support and we hope you will be forthcoming with your generosity.