Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Disturbing event
We have photographers on a nightly basis photographing the beauty of local sunsets and the natural beauty of the area over the bay area of the Shannon. Because of their beauty and the expertise of the photographers the images are spreading worldwide on social media and on TV3 weather forecasts hence the highlighting our fantastic natural beauty.
It gives me no particular satisfaction to record what happened on Wednesday night last as a resident of our community went for a walk through the town and decided to take in the pathway along the Shannon banks going down past the monument to Ferry Boat Tragedy of 1701 to the small harbour. As the resident made their way down the pathway, they encountered a number of young people male and female at the monument beside the duck pond. At they passed along minding their own business one loudmouth from the group seemed to think that it would be a thing to verbally abuse this person. This was a huge shock to our resident as they have walked that route many times and never encountered anything like this kind of intimidation. These youngsters were a mixture from the locality and from Longford who allegedly gather to drink there on Wednesday evenings.
You have to question how youngsters can congregate and intimidate someone such as our resident as they pass by on their nightly walk without some of their peers taking issue with them. We always hear of peer pressure sending youngsters astray, but we seldom hear of peer pressure calling one that is letting down the others back into line. It is incumbent on the parents of all youngsters to know where their youngsters are how they are behaving when they are out and about in the community. We all put trust in our youth, but we must also keep a check on what is happening.
This is something that must be eradicated from our community immediately. We cannot have the wonderful name of our community being sullied by these louts and something must be done right now.
By and large we have fabulous young people in our community, and it would be a shame that they are tarnished with the same brush when they are together and having fun on the banks of the Shannon. Please do not let the actions of a few destroy all our youth.
Birth
Many congratulations to Emma Hussey and her husband Kieran O’Gorman, Ballyleague on the birth last week of a baby boy.
Lough Ree Athletic Club
Thankfully after a long break Athletics ‘return to training’ at the track began on Tuesday evening last and will continue every Tuesday at 6:30. Come along and enjoy the fun with your friends while training to compete in great events county and countrywide.
Engagement
Many congratulations to Sandra Morris, Radharc na Muileann daughter of Tom and Kathleen Morris and Gerry Killian, son of J.P. and Mary Killian, Saints Island, Newtowncashel who recently announced their engagement.
Further Great Funding
There was great jubilation at the announcement last week of a further €1.3m funding for the ambitious plans by Longford County Council and their Regeneration team creating one of the most beautiful and exciting Greenways in Ireland. The plan is for a continuous 80k Greenway connecting Lanesboro, with Clondra, Kenagh and Longford with all touching the Royal Canal Greenway creating a wonderful and exciting new linkway through south Longford.
The plan also includes the disused rail line at Kilnacarrow across the Bord na Mona bridge hence opening up the exciting possibility of walking and cycling off road from Lanesboro to Sliabh Bán. Locally this is really a thing of dreams.
It is intended to refurbish the Bord na Mona bridge and create four-way cycle and walking lanes. This not only opens the route to Sliabh Bán but can extend the Royal Canal Greenway through Strokestown, Tulsk and Ballaghaderreen and onto Westport to link with the Greenway to Achill. This route also opens up the possibility of a cycleway/walkway up to Rooskey and continuing up the line of the Shannon to Ballinamore and onto Lough Erne. This is really exciting time not only for our community which will be a major hub for all walkways and cycleways but for all communities along the mention routes.
Crossing the new revamped bridge also bring the added and much longer walk and cycle through Salmon’s Lane. Crossing the bridge will be very unique as not only has it the natural beauty of the River Shannon running underneath as you cross the bridge, but it is one of the most strategic crossing points in the country leading you from Ireland’s Ancient East through the Irish Hidden Heartlands to the Wild Atlantic Way.
All Ireland Marketing Awards
Many congratulations to Mark Fallon, Director and co-founder of specialist financial services recruitment firm Coopman Search and Selection, who was announced as the winner of the Small Business Marketing category at the Marketing Institute’s All Ireland Marketing awards 2021.
Mark who now lives in Multyfarnham is son of James and Maureen Fallon, Lismacmanus and brother to Jason, Enda, Shane and Megan attended Fermoyle National School before completing his secondary education in St. Mel’s, Longford.
Mark will always be remembered locally as a great spirited young man never without his beaming smile and an excellent footballer through the age groups with Shannon Gaels and Rathcline.
His recruitment firm has its headquarters in Dublin with another office in London. We wish Mark, his business partner Andrew Murphy much more success in the years to come.
National honours for Lanesborough and Ballyleague
After 5 years of hard work and many hours of dedication and commitment, the Lough Ree Angling hub celebrated national success last weekend when its Lough Ree Access For All Boat boat project for people with disability claimed the overall award in this year’s Good Causes Awards sponsored by the National Lottery. There were wild celebrations at the north quayside on Saturday afternoon when the announcement was made on a webcast from the Mansion House in Dublin – confirming the local group had won a cash prize of a staggering €35,000.
The angling hub was founded away back in 2015 to promote angling tourism in the area and it was within their very first year that the idea to design and produce a vessel that would allow wheelchair users and all of those with disabilities or mobility issues to go out on the river and fish like everyone else was first mooted. The idea came from keen angling enthusiast Alan Broderick who came into town to take part and film part of the very first International angling festivals. It was during a short stay that Alan met up with the four founding members of the angling hub Alan Farrell, the late Hugh Keane, Philip Gordon and Ciaran Mullooly and threw out the idea. The group asked Ciaran to co-ordinate the project and a grant was sought from the EU Leader company in Roscommon, Roscommon Leader Partnership to carry out a proper feasibility study on the new boat.
Over the course of the following 4 years Ciaran, Alan, Philip and Alan worked closely with Bill Thorne of Exodia Consulting in Kerry to successfully complete the feasibility study and it was eventually agreed that an application for funding of up to €200,000 would be submitted to EU Leader and the National Lottery. This funding application was supported all the way by our local councillors in Longford and Roscommon.
Thanks to the great advice and assistance of Denise McDonnell Roscommon Integrated Development Company in Roscommon, Emma Brennan (solicitor, Curraghroe & Ballymahon) and the support of numerous political local and national representatives from this area, the unique boat and its new trailer was funded. The key to the boat’s popularity is the access it gives to wheelchair users and anybody with a disability – the front bow lowering like the door of a small car ferry to let passengers roll on and roll off in their own time. The boat can carry up to 6 wheelchair users and a total of 10 passengers on any trip and the department of transport subsequently confirmed it is the only boat of its kind in Britain or Ireland. It was built in Estonia in 2020 after the two Alans and Ciaran visited the boat yard and it arrived here in Ballyleague last August. Waterways Ireland then agreed to lease the local building facility to the hub to allow the project to move to the next stage.
Ever since then, it has been busy with weekly trips out on the water by wheelchair users from the Irish Wheelchair Association centres in Kenagh, Roscommon and Athlone along with people with disability from the Phoenix centre in Longford, The Roscommon Resource centre for people with disabilities in Derrane and many special schools and centres. The boat crew of Alan Broderick, Liam Finnegan, Adrian Osterloh and Mary Tierney and Conor Mc Grath have trained up and been qualified as holders of P2 passenger licences to act as skippers and in recent times Lisa Fayne also carried out her training to join the crew. The team is backed up by Dylan Costello who covers all marketing needs and also helps to keep the boat on the water.
Earlier this year the Lough Ree Access For All boat project was nominated for a prize in this year’s National Good Causes awards – alongside almost 600 other projects from around the country who also received lottery funding in the last 2 years. To the delight of everyone it made it into the last 36 and the finals.
On Saturday last the full crew were already on the riverbank with Paul and Dorothy Coyle from Weakfield celebrating their win in the health and wellbeing section of the awards and a cheque for €10,000 when news came from presenter Grainne Seoige that they had also won the overall prize of another €25,000. Dorothy, who is a wheelchair user, has also been a great ambassador for this boat alongside James Cawley from Drumlish and Gary Allen from Four Mile House. For a small but highly dedicated group, this was a day to remember. The judges were high in their praise of the boat and the group for bringing down the barriers for people with disability, giving them equality with others on the water and making the dream come through.
This was great day for our town and much credit must go to the angling hub team who followed their dream. The boat will now sail three times daily for not just wheelchair users from the north harbour quay but everybody who wants to go out on the water and you can book a seat at www.loughreeboattrips.com to try it out yourself.
Tidy Towns Competition
In recent days the announcement of the National SuperValu Tidy Towns competition for 2021 took place. It was decided to hold the competition remotely for 2021 in the interest of public health and the ongoing restrictions. This year the entry involves the submission on a detailed application form. Due to the cancellation of the competition last year the Tidy town committees can include projects from June 2019 right up to the closing date in July. There are eight categories and projects are being assembled for entry in each category of Community, residential streets and housing areas, tidiness and litter control, sustainability, streetscape and public places, nature and biodiversity, green spaces and landscaping, housing areas and approach roads, streets and lanes.
The three local Tidy Towns groups are working hard to fulfil all the requirements and as a result continue to make Lanesboro, Ballyleague and Cloontuskert more and more beautiful as each year passes with the points total for each group growing accordingly.
For everyone that is not part of any of the groups we can play our part by ensuring that our own area is clean, tidy and attractive. By doing this we are allowing each working group to continue developing the categories and further enhancing the area. Please play your part and lets us continue to make our areas more and more attractive.
Death
It is with great sadness I record the death at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, on Saturday 22nd May of Bernadette Dowd, Thureen. Bernadette was predeceased 10years ago by her husband Pat. She was most definite a woman of our community coming from a family of Mc Dermott’s steeped in the history of our parish and greatly respected lady. Bernie was a great woman whose impish and cheery smile told of a great bit of devilment, and she had the happy knack of the quick retort that always brought a smile or put you right in your place. She had a wonderful interest in all the events of the parish and was always urging support of all events. She was a progressive thinker and would be very encouraging in her support of anyone prepared to be creative. She was a woman whose opinion was always sought and heeded. Bernadette was a very special neighbour and friend; no job was too big to anyone in their hour of need. Her passing will leave a great void in the hearts and minds of everyone that came to know her.
Her remains were removed to St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday last for her Funeral Mass before being laid to rest alongside her husband Pat in Clonbonny Cemetery.
To her sons Peter, Stephen, Padraig and David, daughter Siobhán, sister, Philomena (USA), relatives and many friends.
Menopause Movement
For almost two weeks on the Joe Duffy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 recently the topic of Menopause was the big discussion on how it greatly affected women’s lives.
Hot flushes, trouble with sleeping, headaches, joint pains, irregular or heavy periods, tiredness, irritability, anxiety and brain fog are just a few of the symptoms of menopause.
For a safe space to chat and share your experiences and knowledge with other women who are also going through the same experiences and to join the Menopause Movement, contact Michelle 083-0131712 for more information.
Relocated Business
Ronie Rutherford has relocated her Longford Remedial & Sports Injury Clinic back to her residence in Lanesboro.
Ronie’s business was a thriving success until Covid 19 struck and as sports are once again beginning to slowly open up, she decided to relocate back to Lanesboro. If anyone is in need of physical therapy, they can contact Ronie on 0872402323 to make an appointment.
Tidy Town Lotto Returns
The Lanesboro Tidy Towns lottery returned to play on this Tuesday when the returning draw took place in the Tourism office for a jackpot of €3,200. The committee does trojan work in enhancing our town and your weekly support will be greatly appreciated to help fund the carrying out of new projects and developing the area.
Death
It is with the greatest of sadness we learned of the death at Roscommon University Hospital on Sunday 23rd May of Anne Ryan, Aughavorney, Curraghroe. Anne, who as a youngster moved back to Aughavorney with her parents and sisters from England. She was predeceased by her parents Kevin and Bridget and her baby daughter Rachel. Anne attended Lanesboro for her secondary level schooling. She was a quiet and gentle lady whose gentleness endeared her to everyone that had the pleasure to know her. Anne was a devoted and loving mother to her daughter Laura and also to her husband Billy. Anne’s passing will sadden the hearts of everyone, and her passing will be greatly felt.
Anne’s remains were removed from Smyth’s Funeral Home to St. Mary’s Church, Ballagh for Mass of the Resurrection on Thursday. Following Mass Anne’s Cremation took place at Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan. To her husband Billy, daughter Laura, sisters Rosaleen and Mary, extended family, relatives and friends we extend our deepest sympathy.
Book your boat trip.
After a lot of hard work and preparation, the town’s new passenger boat service for trips on the river Shannon commenced daily sailings on Tuesday May 4th. This service is on board the new access for all boat which will bring out both people with disability and also able-bodied passengers on the Shannon from the bridge and the marina in Ballyleague at 10.30am and 2.30pm Monday to Friday.
This is a great and very welcome boost for the town and tourism in the locality. We have been waiting for decades for our own daily passenger boat service and here it is. Trips will be of 90 minutes duration and longer if required with angling and sight-seeing or other activities available. Weekend sailings will be available in July, August, and September.
To book a seat call Lisa or Dylan here in town at 04333 21734 or go online today and book at www.loughreeboattrips.com
Rathcline 50/50
The Rathcline club’s 50/50 draw took place in the clubhouse on Monday 24th May. The winning ticket drawn was in the name of Bríd Killian, Knock Manor who received €110.
Tickets are available online https://member.clubspot.app/club/rathcline-gaa/fundraiser/tickets or in any of the local shops and the club would encourage your support.
St. John’s Church Services
Church Services have returned to St. John’s Church Lanesboro, and they will continue on Sunday 13th June – Sunday service 11.30am and on Sunday 27th June – Holy Communion service.
Rathcline Community Walkway
Exciting new Rathcline Walkway will open at Rathcline GAA grounds, Clonbonny this September. This 900-metre walkway will consist of a two-metre-wide path and perimeter fencing around each of the club’s two playing pitches. The walkway will provide a safe, enjoyable and flat walking area to be enjoyed by all age groups and all members of our community. The project is part funded by LEADER and needs your support to make the project a reality. The club would be very grateful if you consider becoming a sponsor of this community project by contributing 100 euros. Each sponsor will have an engraved sign with their name attached to one of walkway fencing posts, to acknowledge your generous help in making this project a reality. If you wish to become a sponsor of this project, please contact a member of the club executive/pitch development committee. Contact details are available on www.rathcline.gaa.ie
Early Bird draw on Sunday.
The first early bird draw as part of the Club Longford draw will take place on Sunday next 30th May. The early bird prize is 4 Green Fees at the K Club. Tickets are priced €50 or 3 for €125 for a combined 1st prize of a Hyundai Tucson and a €2000 holiday at Center Parcs, 2nd prize is €2,000, 3rd prize 2 VIP tickets to a major concert in Croke Park, 4th prize €1,000 and 5th prize of €500.
Tickets can be bought from any of the Rathcline Club executive our county players senior and U20 or in O’Brien’s.
Lanesboro Library
Tel: 0433321291 Email: lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Photocopying & Scanning services are available
Send into the library service you’re printing, and they will print for you.
Computer & Study facilities are unavailable as per Government guidelines.
Opening Hours are
Wednesday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
Saturday 10am-1pm
Grow it Forward with free seeds from your local library
Get your #GrowItForward Seed Kits while stocks last at the Library!!
Contact us if you would like to try growing Carrots, Tomatoes, Peas, Beetroot & Oriental Greens. Included in the kits also are some gift tags so you can share your produce with friends & family throughout the growing process!
Email lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie or call 0433321291 to register for a seed kit.
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.
All our Online Services can be accessed on our website by selecting ‘Your Online Library’. www.longfordlibrary.ie
Use your library card number and pin to log in to your account.
Friendly Phone Call Service
This service is organised by Longford Community Resources. If you or someone you know would like to have a friendly chat or if you want information on local services just phone Terri 087 2915367 or email terri@volunteerlongford.ie. Peter is another person that can be contacted for information – just call Peter on 083 3051786.
Ballyboro
The next few weeks will be hectic on the playing fields as the club will be fielding in excess of 10 teams in the newly constituted Summer Leagues. The first team in action will be the under 12s who are away to Ballymahon on Tuesday 8th with the kick-off at 7pm. The following evening the under 13s play Gaels United in Abbeycartron at 7pm, and on Thursday 10th the under 14s take on Melview in Abbeycartron, 7pm start.
Following a sustained lockdown period all teams are eagerly looking forward to participating in competitive action again.
The hugely popular fun coaching sessions for the under 6s continue in this Sunday at 10am.
St. Mary’s Church
Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays in the church from 10.30 to 8pm. It is very important that there will be at least two people in the church for each hour. Of the Adoration.
Celebration of Mass
When Mass is celebrated online the first two rows of the church are clearly visible. The new system has now been fully put in place and to avail of Mass online click on Churchtv.ie/Longford/Lanesborough to join in the Mass ceremony in our church.
Weekend Masses.
Mass: the maximum number allowed at Mass will be 50.
Holy Communion: will be distributed in the hand only.
Holy Water fonts will remain empty.
Funerals: a maximum of 50 mourners are permitted in the church
Marriages: a maximum of 50 guests are permitted at the marriage ceremony
First Friday and Communion Calls: calls may take place with prior approval of the household.
Confession: the Sacrament may take place in the Church and not in the confessional
Everyone attending the Church are reminded to observe social distancing, and to avail of the hand sanitising stations in the Church.
Weekend Masses
On Saturday evening next Mass at 7.30pm we welcome those from the townsland of Aughamore, Aughaloughan, Augharanna, Barnacor, and Blenavoher.
At 9.30am Mass on Sunday the townsland of Carraroe, Carrowstrawley, Cashelbeg, Church View, Church Road, and Clonbonny.
The 11.30am Mass will see parishioners from Clonfower, Corrigeen, Cullentra, Curraghrua, Cnóc na Gaoithe and Derrygeel.
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 will resume on Friday evenings, starting this Friday evening and it will take place between 6pm and 6.45pm. Exposition will be followed Mass at 7pm. It is also an opportunity to avail of the opportunity for Confession.
Parish 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.
Shannon Gaels Minor Club
Current training schedules
The current timetables have just been announced and all players are asked to be in attendance. Wednesday – Under 15/16/17 at 6pm and Under 18’s at 7pm. On Friday Under 15/16/17 at 5.30pm; Under 7 at 6.40pm, Under 9/11/12-13 at 6.30pm (4 groups with half pitch each). At 7.30pm on Friday the Under 18’s train.
Sympathy
The club would like to extend its sympathy to the Daly family, Granard and the Granard GAA club on the death of Vincent Daly. Longford won only one Leinster title in its history and the captain of that historic 1968 team was Vincent Daly.
The club extends its deepest sympathy to the Dowd family on the death of Bernadette Dowd, Thureen, last week
Underage lead coaches
The following is the list of lead coaches with each age group. If you need to contact any of them, please contact our secretary Mark 085 1744376 or Secretarybng.shannongaels.longford@gaa.ie or call into O’Brien’s for contact details or phone me (Joe) at 086 2460840.
Under 7 – John Healy and Michelle Kelly; Under 9 – Paul Hession and Vinnie Farrell, Under 11 – Mark Kenny and Duncan Murphy, Under 12’s and 13’s – Stephen Rooney and James Casey, Under 14 and 15 – Sean Farrell and Lee Cullen, Under 16 and 17 – Padraig O’Dowd and Sean Casey, Under 18 Seadna Ryan and Sean Kenny.
Registration/Membership
With return to play, and even dates for games, we need to ensure everyone is registered with the GAA. In order to do this, we need all memberships and registrations in! You should renew your membership immediately.
Thank you to all who have renewed to date. We have seen a good uptake in people sorting memberships since we’ve returned, and we would like to be able to close out registration immediately.