Hello all,
Things as you can gather are very quiet here at the moment. Little of no news to bring to you apart from the further demise of Bord na Mona and ESB. Strange times in Lanesboro/Ballyleague. We can only hope that the presentation by John Hanley (Ballyleague) and Peter Duffy is included in the Just Transition Conmmissioner Kieran Mulvey’s report/recommendations to the Minister for Energy Richard Bruton. Their presentation offers us a lot of hope but it could, Government depending, make us the pilot town for the proposal hence offering other communities the chance to be able to create jobs in their own community.
There is great work going on with the new pathway and it is hoped that very soon we will have another exercise route opening up new avenues for us all.
The collaboration group under the chairmanship of Vinny Mc Gowan is working hard with both Longford and Roscommon County Councils to make our community of Lanesboro and Ballyleage a more beautiful place and a place that you will be proud to call home with more and more attractions.
I hope all of you and your families are free of this Coronavirus and may we all see happier and greater times when this all comes to an end.
In the famous words of Val Kirwan “stay safe”
Thanks to you all,
Joe
Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Temporary Layoffs
While I wrote last week of the possibility of a layoff announcement within Bord na Mona because of the power station being taken off load it still shocked us all to hear that the letters arrived in all workers letterboxes prior to the weekend. The limited number of seasonal workers that were brought back all received notice while the 40 odd full-time workers are now on tender hooks as to who will be let go as I believe the numbers being retained are to be in the mid-teens.
While I appreciate that the letters may say temporary the hope of the power station opening before the end of September seems remote and the layoffs will be more than temporary. We really hope that between ESB and the EPA there may be a resolution found to the problem and the dark day will be staved off until the official closing date of 31st December.
Work continuing
Amidst all the gloom it is great to know that work along the pathway through Knappogue bog to Clondra is continuing and with it linking up with the soon to be completed pathway through the bog from Kilnacarrow to Cloonbearla is a cause for great excitement.
Let’s hope that all the restrictions in relation to walking and cycling will soon be lifted and with social distancing we can all enjoy the wonder of the walks along with the many other walks through our community.
Lanesboro Library
To help contain the spread of Covid-19, all branches of Longford County Library will be closed to the public until further notice. All meetings and events have been postponed until a later date.
Just a note to say that Stella is missing you all and hopefully it won’t be too long before the doors are open again and we are back to the hustle and bustle!
In the meantime, keep an eye on Lanesboro Library Facebook page for lots of activities, crafts & story times taking place at the Libraries in Co. Longford!
There is lots of other information and Mindfulness videos for adults also.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Lanesboro-Library-432171923496634/posts/?ref=notif
During April and May the library is celebrating #SpringIntoStorytime and Stella would love all you children at home to take part!
Write a Poem or a Story or Draw a Picture, Build a Lego creation or make a Playdoh Monster, be creative with Crochet or Knitting….anything you want to do!!
Then send pictures to me at sosullivan@longfordcoco.ie
It is intended to have a big exhibition and party in the library when we reopen!
Kilgefin parish notes
Opening Times
Ballyleague church will remain open each day from 10.30am to 8pm
Funerals and burials
Call Fr. Dusmanta at 043 3321171 or dusmanta.m.n@gmail.com
Government guidelines for the bereaved
Funeral arrangements are made via phone calls or emails. A limit of 10 people attending any ceremony with social distancing and no associated gatherings. The use of condolences books is discouraged; where possible. Close relatives and contacts of the deceased should use their own transport. Families and friends of the deceased will not be able to have gatherings after the funeral service.
Mass Intentions
All Mass intentions which have been book can be rescheduled for a later date when the current situation changes.
Collections
Fr. Dusmanta would like to thank everyone that has dropped in their collection envelopes into his house. Parishioners who can afford to are encouraged to drop off offertory and priest’s dues envelopes into his house whenever you are passing.
St. John’s Church of Ireland
St Johns church of Ireland diocesan Service broadcast takes place every Sunday at 10 a.m.
You can log onto Kilmore Elphin Ardagh YouTube or http: shortturl@/drbz3 or www.dkea.ie.and follow the link.
News from St. Mary’s Church
Opening Times
The church will remain open each day from 10.30am to 7.30pm
Urgent sick calls, funerals and burials
The designated priests in this Deanery of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois are Fr. Merlyn Kenny PP Newtowncashel 086 0603433 and Fr. Turlough Baxter, Killashee 087 9972259.
Government guidelines for the bereaved
Funeral arrangements are made via phone calls or emails. A limit of 10 people attending any ceremony with social distancing and no associated gatherings. The use of condolences books is discouraged; where possible. Close relatives and contacts of the deceased should use their own transport. Families and friends of the deceased will not be able to have gatherings after the funeral service.
Mass Intentions
All Mass intentions which have been book can be rescheduled for a later date when the current situation changes.
Parish Newsletter
The parish newsletter will be printed each week and it will be available in the Church porch from Friday afternoon. The newsletter will also be available from Friday afternoon in O’Brien’s Corner Shop.
Collections
Fr. Reilly would like to thank everyone that has dropped in their collection envelopes into his house. The current crisis is impacting significantly on the Parish Financial Resources and the ability to meet responsibilities. Parishioners are encouraged to drop off offertory and priest’s dues envelopes into his house and NOT to put them in the box in the church porch.