Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Great Plans
The Fair Day committee met on Monday night last and they confirmed that the Lanesboro Fair would be a two day event on 2nd and 3rd May. This is a new departure from previous years not only with the date being moved forward to May Bank Holiday but also that the plans are for it to be a two day festival.
The committee have ambitious plans for a fabulous weekend in Lanesboro. The details of the weekend will be announced in the next few weeks. It is an ambitious plan and it deserves the full support of the entire community.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 24th February in Clarke’s at 8.30pm.
Dúileach does us Proud
The 8th February was a memorable day for Duileach Ryan when he competed at the Minor Schools All Ireland Finals held at the NAC and run by Swim Ireland.
Medals and finals are extremely hard come by at this event and everything is required to be right on the day for it all to come together to win a medal, reach a final or do a’ Personal Best’ at such an important event. With every swimmer here having qualified by achieving fast times from their respective Provincial finals – the standard is the highest in the country and that makes the event all the more exciting and daunting!
Having qualified from Connacht, Duileach had the 4th fastest time entering the All Ireland Gala in his favourite event the U12 Backstroke. Dúileach finished the heats in the same position as he started the day, in fourth place but he had got a great personal best time and narrowed the gap to just .05 seconds to a medal position. On reaching the final – he pulled out another faster time and won the All Ireland Silver Medal for Lanesboro Primary School.
BT Young Scientists Congratulations to Miss Nevin, Lanesboro Primary School and the young scientists from the school who exhibited recently in the RDS. The project ‘What factors influence floating?’ will be exhibited in the library for the next 2 weeks.
Sympathy
We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to Sr. Consuella on the death last week of her brother, Christy Newman, Clonrollagh, Longford.
Shame on You
After the FAS and the Tidy Towns Committee working hard to leave the town in spotless condition for the weekend, it was extremely disappointing to see the state of alcohol bottles, cans and litter under the bridge on Saturday morning after the evening and night activity of those who gathered there on Friday night.
The picture of the scene presented to tidy towns on Saturday morning, can be seen on the tidy towns Facebook page. A lot of work has gone on in this area with a programme currently taking place for the erection of a sculpture and a large flowerbed.
What has happened here cannot be allowed to happen as the community strides to make Lanesboro a better place to live in. In previous times this was an ongoing problem in this area and in recent times the problem has seemed to be gone. It is an absolute shame that we are again revisited with this disgraceful behaviour under the bridge. It is not acceptable from anyone that this behaviour should be happening again in our community and everyone should do everything in their power that this disgraceful behaviour never happens again under the bridge.
There are so many people trying to improve our town and we should not be held to ransom by those people that neither have respect for their community or themselves.
Stella has stared something special
Have you looked up old photographs for Stella? She wants the old photographs of the businesses of the town going back as far as possible. If you think you have old photographs please go and search and bring them to Stella where she will copy/scan them and return them to you.
In last week’s list of businesses I omitted to say that Mrs. Mc Nally was a travel agent and also a fishing tackle and bait shop. In Knock I left out Mike Kenny’s Garage and it is now run by his son James. Across the road Mike’s brother paddy lived and in the later years he ran his garage from there and now his son Tommy runs a Stainless Steel and Aluminum business. At Liza Clyne’s corner Mary Devlin moved from the other side of the road to run her business and she was followed a time later by Josephine Farrell who ran a launderette. In Ryan’s shop there was Eva Kennedy and Eugene O’Connor who ran a launderette. Tom Crinigan ran his plumbing business from beside Dr. Walsh’s surgery. Mentioning Winnie and Johnny Connors they also had a chipper and had the first jukebox in town. There was also a wall plaque on the wall of Clarkes bar. I am open to correction but I think it was First National Bank.
The first dancing classes that I heard of were held in the Kitchen of Ena and Ger Farrell and the dance teacher was Maureen Madden who later married Bernie Kyne and was a teacher in Ballyleague National School.
If I am missing anyone please let me know, as Stella needs to know the businesses wants the photographs if you can at all.
Céilí Returns
Following the great success of the Céilí in December the committee will hold another céilí in St. Mary Parish Hall on Sunday 8th March. The sets will commence at 4pm and the dancing will continue until 7pm. The last céilí was mighty and we are hoping that all local dancers will be advertising it at all their dance lessons and also at the celli’s they attend in the next few weeks.
50/50
The lucky envelope was drawn in the Yacht Bar on Monday night last by Tommy McCarthy. The lucky winning lucky envelope was in the name of Tommy Keenan, Cloontuskert. Tommy received €430 for his €2 investment. You too can be the lucky winner of the 50/50 draw all you have to do is to put €2 into one of the blue envelopes and next week it can be you. You will be supporting the club continue work on their development plans for Clonbonny and improve the facilities for both young and old.
Lanesboro Bridge Club
The results of the competition held on Wednesday 11th February are; N/S 1st Gemma Douglas and Katharine Harrison, 2nd Mona O’Flaherty and Bernadette Gillen and 3rd Frank and Frances Brennan. E/W 1st Brid Mc Dermott and Una Lawlor, 2nd Cyril Hussey and Kathleen Kelly, 3rd tie between Bernadette Clancy & Mary Mc Gushin and Eileen Kelly and Una Clarke.
Players are reminded that the pair’s competition is played over two nights 25th February and 4th March. Fees will be taken up on the first night. It is hoped that those playing on the first night will also be available on the second night.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
We are only six weeks away from the first major event in our community. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been growing and growing since its beginning a few year ago. This year the committee is looking forward to another record breaking year. All local clubs, associations businesses and interested parties are invited to enter floats. The committee would like you to be as inventive as you can be and to be entertaining for the thousands that line the street on St. Patrick’s Day. Entries must be made to Freda Connaughton, Longford Road, phone 086-1534232 Teresa Costello phone 086-8127560 s soon as possible.
Cloontuskert Enrolment
Cloontuskert National School will hold an enrollment evening on Tuesday 24th February from 6-7pm. All welcome to come and visit our school, meet with the teachers, pupils and parents.
Anthony Healy Card Game
The annual Anthony Healy Memorial Card Game will take place in Clarke’s bar on Friday 13th March starting at 9pm.
Friday 13th is going to be a very lucky day for one very lucky person. Tickets are on sale for an absolutely wonderful prize and it is a draw that you should definitely have your ticket in. The first prize is a heater stove that will be supplied and fitted by Shane Healy Plumbing and Heating and Gordon Heating Supplies. To buy and have one installed would be pricey but to win it in the draw would be fantastic. Tickets are only €10 each and are on sale locally in almost all business premises.
We all remember Anthony with a great fondness and his memory never diminishes and it is very fitting that the proceeds from the card game and the draw will go to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
Fermoyle Mixed NS Enrolment
Enrolment for the academic year 2015/2016 will take place in Fermoyle National School on this Wednesday18th February between 2.00p.m. and 3.00p.m.
Application forms and alternative arrangements are available on request during office hours which are Mon, Wed, Fri between 9.30am and 1.30pm you can email the school at fermoylens@gmail.com
Thank You
Cloontuskert National School would like to extend a huge thank you to all who attended the recent Pedal Power Cinema featuring the film Rio 2. The event was a great success for the school. Over forty cyclists came along and pedaled continuously to ensure the film kept running. Many thanks to all the cyclists for their generosity in raising funds and giving of their time and energy to power the cinema. A huge thank you to our fully committed and dedicated committee who worked tirelessly since last November to ensure the event was a success. Also many thanks to Raymond Cox who trained the cyclists over the few weeks leading up to the event to get them fit enough to cycle on the day. Congratulations to those who were lucky enough to walk away with one of our three fantastic children’s bikes which were raffled on the day. We are very grateful for the generosity of our sponsors: Kevin Martin Cycles, Tom Morris Hackney, Brian Scally Plumbing and Dr. David Harrison. It was a fantastic success and many thanks to all for the support.
Lanesboro Pike Angling Club
Annual membership is now available from any committee member or from the yacht bar. The fees are Adults €10 and OAP and juniors €5.
There will be a special prize for non-fishing members with details to be announced at a later date.
These coming years will be very busy and driven for the club and they seek your full support.
The recent formation of the angling hub to cater for an international fishing competition in 18 months’ time will have great benefits for the community and we would like to ask everybody to throw their weight in behind the club and the hub. This development will be very beneficial for the entire community.
Lanesboro Library
Lanesboro Library is hosting all of the following events and if you are interested in supporting any of the events below contact Stella at lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Foreign Currency Appeal Reminder The library are still collecting unwanted foreign currency and old coins/notes in aid of ISPCC. The smallest donation can make a huge difference.
Used stamps also being collected at the library for ISPCC.
Book Club continues on Friday 27th February at 11am. Contact Stella if you have any queries on 043 332 1291
Knitting & Crochet Group meetings every Monday 2 – 4pm.
Lasraí Writers Group meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month 7 – 9pm.
ESOL classes (English for speakers of other languages) continue each Tuesday evening 7 – 9pm.
Art Course is now full. We are now taking names for a further course to be run after Easter. Contact Stella at the library to book your place – 043 332 1291 or email lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Basic Computer Course at Lanesboro Library:
An afternoon and evening computer course will start on Wednesday 25th Feb from 3-4pm and 6-7pm, numbers permitting. If you are interested please call Stella on 043 332 1291 or email lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Lanesboro Community College Student’s award winning projects are on display in the library until 15th February.
Lanesborough Enrolment
Lanesborough Primary School will hold their Enrolment Day on Friday week 27th February 2015 from 1-3pm. All new pupils are invited to attend with their parents to enrol for September 2015. All queries to the Principal at 0433321545. Lanesboro 2000 Bridge Club
The results of the competition held on Monday night last are: N/S: Gross and Nett: 1st Eileen Kelly and Nancy Dolan, 2nd Renee Walsh and Mary Fallon and 3rd Bernadette Gillen and Tom Feeney. E/W: Gross and Nett: 1st Fiona Gillen and Mary Jameson, 2nd Nora Kelly and Una Clarke and 3rd Bernadette Clancy and Mona O’Flaherty.
A reminder for all: the Sliabh Ban Trophy competition is being played on 23rd February and the President, Mrs. Kathleen Kelly’s prize is being played for on 23rd March.
Shannon Gaels
Shannon Gaels U16 and Minor training continues on Tuesday 17th Feb in Co Op hall Lanesboro from 7 to 8pm. U13 and U14 training continues on Friday 20th Feb from 6.30 to 7.30pm in Grattan’s. Please bring boots and runners.
Support for the Abbey Hotel
I would encourage everyone to support one of our local hotels. The Abbey Hotel is a hotel we are all well acquainted with through weddings, social events, meetings, dining and indeed our friends and relatives and friends staying there during their visits to home. They now seek your support and I encourage your support for them. We also have a local connection as local girl Geraldine Murray is married to Tom Greally and they are doing a tremendous job in the continued development of the hotel.
You have until 22nd February to cast your vote.
St Faithleach’s
St Faithleach’s GAA in conjunction with the HSE are running a suicide awareness and first aid course on February 25th @ 6.30pm, it is open to all coaches and /or parents, if interested in partaking please contact Monica on (089)4523066 before said date to book your place. Junior Ladies: Our junior ladies had a win over St Dominic’s in their first league game on Sunday. Final score 7-08 to 5-04. Team Patricia McCormack, Ashling Ormsby, Catherine Brennan, Claire Brennan, Megan Banahan, Tara Nerney, Amy Curley, Emma Kenny, Rachael Banahan, Ellen Hegarty, Laura Mc Loone, Kellie Murphy, Michelle Corcoran. Subs – Keeley Byrne, Sarah Brennan, Joan Geoghegan, Michelle Byrne, Shauna O’Neill, Natasha Hegarty, Denise McCaffrey, Leona Hoare, Claire Cleary. Next game 22nd March against St Ciaran’s. U16 Boys: Our U16 boys were defeated by St Dominic’s on Sunday. Final score 2-09 to 1-04. Team; Michael O Donnell, Ian Trautt, Sean Farrell, Ruairí Trimble, Cathal Reynolds, Karl Nerney, Kevin Trautt, Gavin Carberry, Connel Kennelly, Daniel McDermott, Cormac Gannon, James Browne, Liam Ormsby, Daniel Cox, Joe Gill. Subs – Adam Hegarty, Cian O Brien, Ronan Banahan, Nathan McGovern. Next game is on Sat 21st at 3:30pm against St Ciaran’s in Ballyleague. Strictly Dancing over the Bridge: The DVD of this unique event will be shown in the clubhouse on Saturday 21st. An edited version will be available on the night to purchase.
A table quiz will take place on 6th March in the clubhouse. Table of four is €40 all teams are invited to attend, non-club members are more than welcome and a fun night is guaranteed. Lotto: The jackpot of €12,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 12, 18 and 27. The five €20 winners were; Elizabeth Conboy, Derek Thompson, Noel Gill, John Rice and Aidan Mc Weeney. The next draw will take place on Tuesday 24th February. Cards: Winners, Peggy/Josie .Joint runners up, Gemma/Freda, Jack/Brendan. Last Game, Padraig/Sean. Tickets, Eugene/Brendan/PJ/Michael. Congratulations to Padraig and Lorraine Wallace on the birth of their baby boy
Rathcline GAA
50/50 Draw – Congratulations to Tommy Keenan, Cloontuskert, Lanesboro, who was last week’s winner of €430 in the 50/50 draw. The draw takes place every Monday night at 9pm and envelopes are available in all local businesses.
Padraig Potts’ Guide to Walking – The play Padraig Potts’ Guide to Walking, written and performed by Seamus O’Rourke will take place Saturday March 7th at 8.30pm in St. Mary’s Hall, Lanesboro. A great night’s entertainment promised! Tickets only €10 are available in O’Brien’s and from executive members.
Membership is now due for the coming year. Players’ registration fee is €50 and non-playing members is €20. Players are asked to pay their registration to Brendan Rhatigan or James Hanley. Player registration is compulsory and players must be registered before they can play. Non playing members can pay their fee to Peter Skelly or Denis Crinigan.
Ladies Club
Church Gate Collection – The ladies club will hold a church gate collection in Newtowncashel and Lanesboro next Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of February. Please support.
U14 and U16 training continues next Sunday at 12 in Clonbonny. All new players are welcome.
Registration for all ages will take place next Saturday evening 21st of February from 6pm to 7.30pm in the clubhouse.
Clothes collection continues for the ladies club. Anyone who has old clothes they wish to dispose of please contact Madaleine or Mike.
Minor Club
Shannon Gaels U16 and Minor training continues on Tuesday 17th February in Co-Op hall, Lanesboro from 7-8pm. U13 and U14 training continues on Friday 20th February from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in Grattan’s. Please bring boots and runners.
Lanesboro Badminton Club
The Club would like to say huge thank you to all who supported our annual fundraising table quiz on Saturday the 7th of February. A great night was had by all and we raised €610.00 which is greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank everyone who helped organise the event, all who donated spot prizes and Clarke’s bar for their hospitality and use of their premises. Congratulations to the Co. Longford Division 5 team who overcame Westmeath in Moate on Sunday the 15th of February to qualify for the Semi Finals of the Leinster Inter-county competition. Also thanks to Andrew Fenner for all the coaching and dedication. Well done to the team who consist of Mark Bermingham, Frank Casey, Owen Casey, Niall Healy, Edel Mc Dermott, Regina Scally, Wendy Ferris, Jean Kennedy and Gráinne Gallagher.
New Hub Creation
At the instigation of officers of the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland a public meeting was held on Tuesday 10th February at St. Mary’s Hall, Lanesborough, County Longford. A group of 32 representatives of local community groups were in attendance with residents and business owners from the area and a new angling development hub was established in the area.
The decision to establish the hub was taken in direct response to discovery of the infestation of an invasive species of Asian Clams in the ESB hot water stretch at Lough Ree Power, Lanesborough, county Longford in September 2014 and the subsequent public concern raised over the future of angling and fishing tourism in the area due to the failure to deal with the situation.
The meeting of the new angling hub was attended by the following:
Mr. Oisín Naughton & Mr. John Devaney, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Mr. Brian Tabiner, Mr. Alan Farrell, Mr. Daniel Hoare, Mrs. Eithne Clyne, Lanesborough Pike Angling Club
Councillor Mark Casey, Chairman, Longford county council, Councillor Gerard Farrell, Longford County Council, Mr. Michael Cahill, Bord na Mona
Ms. Bernadette Clancy, Lanesborough Tourism Co-operative, Mr. Jimmy Hudson, Mr. Joe Cribbin & Mr. Ciaran Mullooly, Ballyleague Village Renewal, Mr. Jimmy Flanagan , Principal, Lanesborough Community College, Ms. Oonagh Flynn, St Christopher’s Services, Longford
Local residents, Mr. Michael Dennigan, Mr. Pat Beirne, Mrs. Kathleen Kelly, Mr. Ned Nealon, Ms. Madeline Murray, Mr. Michael Greene.
Local business owners: Mr. Joe O’Brien, Mr. Larry Leavy, Carolyn Kyne.
It was asked and subsequently confirmed that there no representative of ESB Lough Ree Power or ESB Fisheries at the meeting.
The following officers were elected from the floor to serve on the managing board of the new angling development hub:
Chairman: Mr. Hugh Keane, Vice Chairman: Mr. Gerard Farrell, Secretary: Ms. Eithne Clyne
Joint Treasurers: Mr. Alan Farrell and Mr. Brian Tabiner, Public Affairs Officer: Mr. Ciaran Mullooly, International Angling Representative: Mr. Paul Waghorn
The hub subsequently established working groups in the following areas:
Asian Clam Infestation
Local Development
Finance & Sponsorship
Public Affairs/ Marketing
Competitions – National & International
Hospitality – accommodation and catering
After a full and frank discussion on the very latest information with regard to the removal of Asian clams from the ESB Hot water stretch the new hub executive met and made the following decisions:
- The Angling Council of Ireland has very kindly offered an opportunity for Lanesborough-Lough Ree to be promoted as a top class coarse angling location at the The Ireland Angling Show- an annual event which takes place over two days in the National ShowCentre Swords, Dublin on February 21-22. It was the unanimous view of the hub board of management that, in light of the events of the last 5 months, the area needs to be urgently promoted and the clear message sent out to all present at this top Irish angling event that the coarse fishing facility at Lanesborough is OPEN for business.
Accordingly the hub is to nominate 2 members to attend this show and help distribute 2000 promotional leaflets for the area over the weekend
The leaflet is to be published in association with the latest information available from the IFI on the issue of bio security.
It was agreed that a request for financial support towards the full cost of the printing of the leaflets and the travel and subsistence of the two hub members traveling to Swords for the angling show should be forwarded immediately to Inland Fisheries Ireland, ESB Fisheries, ESB Lough Ree Power and all of the other agencies presently involved in the Asian clams project for their urgent attention. The Chairman was also mandated to take urgent steps to seek this support for the community of the area and the local businesses who stand to lose out as a result of the decline of the fishing sector.
- It was brought to the meeting’s attention that a major angling show for the attention of UK based anglers will take place at Farnborough UK on March 21-22, 2015 with thousands of coarse fishing enthusiasts in attendance. The new angling development hub formally decided to nominate 2 people to attend this show and promote the clear message that Lanesborough hot water stretch is OPEN for business so that hundreds of UK anglers who come here every year can once again book and travel to our community. It was agreed that the two people attending would also engage in media interviews with a range of UK based media outlets to ensure the message gets across.
- After a commitment was made by IFI staff present with regard to weed control and other relevant issues it was agreed by the hub to proceed with a major national and international feeder angling competition – at the hot water stretch and the new Ballyleague quay wall on the bank holiday weekend May 28th to Monday June 1st. 2015. The objective of the event is to attract angling tourists to the area and show them the local facility of completely open for business.
It was proposed and agreed by the meeting that the ESB Lough Ree Power plant be formally notified of this decision and that measures be taken to ensure hot water operations at the power station remain uninterrupted on that weekend – ending Monday evening June 1st.
It was agreed by the hub that the board of management would meet with ESB Lough Ree Power management and ESB Fisheries management to seek formal support and assistance in providing prize funding for this international angling competition at an early date. A letter is also be sent to the Chief Executive and Chairman of ESB to confirm the importance of this sponsorship to the local business community that has been affected now for 5 months by the Asian clams infestation.
Finally the new angling development hub confirmed that an invitation has been forwarded to Tourism Minister Michael Ring to meet and discuss the ongoing effect on angling tourism in the area with the hub board of management when he visits the area in the near future. This meeting will take place at the ESB Hot water stretch at Lanesborough on Thursday February 25th at 4pm.
Representatives of Inland Fisheries Ireland, ESB Fisheries and ESB Lough Ree Power are to be invited to attend meeting with Minister.
New Heritage Plan
Six months ago Ballyleague Village Renewal committee commissioned Sweeney Heritage Architects to carry out a heritage management plan for the North Shannon harbour area and produce a new vision for many parts of the village of Ballyleague. The project was funded by the Heritage Council of Ireland with grant aid of €7,000.
Over the last six months Nick and Ursula Sweeney have worked hard to assess the areas of heritage importance in the village – bringing in experts such as a conservation expert and looking closely at the tower house behind Sorohan’s and an old malt kiln nearby but their management plan also took in many other aspects of the village of Ballyleague – such as public spaces, amenity buildings and street landscaping.
The final plan has now been completed and will be launched at a very special event to take in the function room of the Lifebelt Bar in Ballyleague on Wednesday February 25th at 7.30pm.
The village renewal committee would like to invite each and every resident of the village and the area to come along and see the impressive work that has been done, learn more about the history of the village and see the aspirational vision for the future.
For more information please contact Chairman James Hudson or e mail: keepballyleaguetidy@gmail.com
Tennis
The new Lough Ree Bay tennis club was snowed in with new beginners over the last 2 weekends. The good news is we are now taking steps to accommodate everybody next week. We intend to take some of the children in the 5-10 age group from 6pm to 7pm again this week and the remainder in the 7 to 8pm slot in Ballyleague hall on Saturday. To do this successfully we need you to register all NEW members by e mail to: loughreebaytennisclub@gmail.com before Thursday evening at 6pm when we will divide up the new classes evenly with our qualified coach Richard Turner. Please send your child’s date of birth and a contact mobile number to the e mail and we will get back to you. Everybody who wants to play will be offered a coaching slot over the weekend.
Adult coaching came back successfully last weekend in the marina tennis court on Sunday morning and will now take place every Sunday at 9.30am without exception. To join the new beginners class simply e-mail to: loughreebaytennisclub@gmail.com A reminder that the weekly fee for an hours coaching remains at 5 euro for children and adults. Club membership fee are also due over the next 2 weeks so please take to Michelle, Mark or Audrey at the training.
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