Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Celebration time in the Donlon Household
The past few weeks and months were a cause for celebration in the household of Peter and Geraldine Donlon in Lisreevagh. It all started when their daughter Patricia and Phil Browne from Courtown, Co. Wexford announced their engagement. This was followed by the announced of another engagement in the family when Jenny and Niall Smyth from Mullingar made the announcement a few weeks back. Saturday week came the great news for Peter when his numbers came out in the Rathcline GAA lottery draw and he was the recipient of the jackpot of €2,100. We congratulate them all on their great news and we wish them the very best of luck now and into their futures.
Gathering 2013 Table Quiz
The Lanesboro/Rathcline Gathering 2013 committee will host a Table Quiz in Adie’s Swan Tavern on Friday night 14th December. Your support will be hugely appreciated. The committee is working towards a festival weekend on August Bank Holiday in 2013.
Brushstrokes 2013 Calendar
Brushstrokes as we know are a local group of local artists that come together weekly since its first inaugural meeting in 1997. They hold art exhibitions twice each year and this year they have also produced a calendar from which the proceeds will be donated to the Lough Ree Sub Aqua club’s rebuilding fund. Indeed, the 16 paintings in the calendar are of the highest quality and a testimony to the development of the group. The calendar is excellently designed by Mary Fleming and her Rustylemon design company.
The calendar is now on sale at O`Brien`s Corner Shop, Mag`s Hair Salon and Cullen’s Filling station on the Longford Road. The price is a mere €5 and proceeds and your support will be greatly appreciated.
Brushstrokes Christmas Exhibition
The group`s annual Christmas Exhibition will be held in St. Mary`s Parish hall, Lanesborough beginning on Saturday December 8th. An official opening and launch of the Calendar will take place on Sunday 9th, with seasonal refreshments around 2.00pm. So do come along and support our local group who produce so much excellent work.
Over 50’s club
The over 50’s Lanesboro mans club next meeting will take place on Thursday 29th November at 12 noon St Marys Hall, Lanesboro All are very welcome . You are invited to come for the cuppa and a chat.
Birth
Congratulations to Paul and Joanne Martin, Blenavoher on the birth last week of a baby boy.
Church Gate Collection
A Church gate collection on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December 2012 will be held at St Marys Church Lanesboro. The proceeds of the collections will go to the Christmas lighting of our town. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Fermoyle NS wins League Title
Congratulations to Fermoyle N.S. who won the Cumann na mBunscol Division 2 League title for the third year in a row after defeating Aughnacliffe N.S. by a score of 8-10 to 5 -9, last Saturday in Pearse Park.
Man of the match and team captain Oran Kenny chipped in with a tally of 5-5. He was ably assisted by Kian Gilmore, Cronan Flood, Bryn Peters and Ronan English. It was a tremendous achievement with nine members of the panel coming from third and fourth classes. Well done to all the players on the panel for their efforts and everyone associated with this success.
Death
Tuesday 20th November was another one of the darkest days in the parish of Rathcline when we lost one of our exemplary parishioners, John O’Donnell, Mahoraveen in an accident at his workplace. John, employed by Bord na Mona, was working at the Bord’s section at the power station. John was a diligent, thorough and excellent fitter with Bord na Mona no job too big or problem fazed him. He came to Lanesboro as an apprentice from his native Kilcar, Co. Donegal over 40 years ago and lived with the Casserley family in Clonfower and later built his home only 800m further down the road in Mahoraveen. John was a very quiet and reserved man but he was always on hand when anyone was in need of assistance. He was a most wonderful man, neighbour and a true friend. John was predeceased by his wife Mary over 16 years ago. John will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him and especially by his son Eoghan, mother Margaret, sisters Ann and Mary, brother in law Pat Rock, nephew Enda relatives and a huge circle of friends to whom we extend our sincere sympathy. John’s remains reposed at his residence until his removal for his Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church on Saturday. Following Mass he was laid to rest alongside his wife Mary in Clonbonny cemetery. The attendance at the reposing of his remains at his residence and again at his Mass and interment was both huge and representative.
Lough Ree 2000 Bridge Club
The results from the 10 table Howell competition held on Monday night last are: 1st Katharine Harrison and Maureen Hynes, 2nd J.J. Donlon and Joan Donnellan and 3rd Phil Chalmers and Mai Casey. Gross: Mike Flynn and Kathleen O’Reilly.
The Christmas competition will take place on Monday Dec 3rd and the prize-giving party will take place on Monday 10th December. On the Party night the club will host a short competition.
The club pairs competition was held last week, after all adjustments (i.e. percentages deducted for number of nights played), these are the results: 1st Mai Casey and Margaret Gillen, 2nd Kathleen Kelly and Mona O’Flaherty and 3rd Ann Donlon and Freda Kenny.
Gross winners were Fiona Gillen and Phil Chalmers. B Pairs: 1st Ann Donlon and Freda Kenny, 2nd Brendan Dowling and Goretti Kenny and 3rdnUna Clarke and Nora Kelly.
The Regional Pairs competition is being held in Athlone Springs Hotel on Sunday 2nd December at 1.30 pm.
This is a 2 session event for A Pairs and a 1 session event for B Pairs. If you cannot attend, you are invited to notify the club secretary, Una, as soon as possible, so next in line can be given the option to go and play.
Lanesboro Tourism Co-Op
The committee would like to thank all the community for helping out during the 2012 Tidy Towns competition. The marks for Lanesboro increased from 202 in 2011 to 212 this year. Each year and endeavour award is presented to a town or village that has gained the highest percentage increase in marks. Thanks to the efforts of the committee and all local residents Lanesboro won the award and a prize of €500.
Lanesboro Tourism Coop will launch its 2013 Tidy Towns Plan on Monday 3rd Dec at 830pm.The plan will outline the priorities for the coming year and the committee hope that you can come to the meeting to give your views and opinions. Lanesboro has made steady progress in the competition and the committee hopes that together the community can keep this progress going. It is important that as much work is completed as early as possible as judging is normally scheduled in late May 2013. The first major project for the 2013 competition has been completed, the painting of the bridge and the lighting columns. The committee would like to thank Ballyleague Tidy Towns committee, Lough Ree Development, the FAS employees, Chris Cullen, Hughie Smyth and Chris Cullen for their assistance in this project. You will notice on the Longford, Ballymahon and Rathcline approach roads, work is continuing on the building of stone flower beds under the town approach signs. Over the coming months, there are a series of projects planned for these approach roads, including hedge cutting, tree planting, derelict sites, wall repair and plastering and general landscaping. The church gate collection is for this week’s Christmas lights and your support is greatly appreciated. The Christmas lights will be erected over the coming weeks. The monies are used for ESB charges, insurance and the putting up/taking down of the lights.
Community Notice
With the impending closure of NIB bank the Ulster Bank is offering a full switch over service to customers. For further details and inquiries you are invited to contact Marie Farrell, branch manager phone 087-9313669.
Lanesboro Bridge Club
The results of the competition held on Wednesday 21st November are: N/S 1st Phil Chalmers & Cyril Hussey, 2nd tie between Frank & Frances Brennan and Elish Gray & Gemma Douglas. E/W 1st Brid Mc Dermott & Una Lawlor, 2nd Katharine Harrison & Philomena Walsh and 3rd Tom Feeney & Una Clarke.
Ballyboro Scouts AGM
The AGM of Ballyboro Scouts took place recently in St. Mary’s Parish hall, Lanesboro.
The following were elected into office for the coming year; Group Leader – Liam Kelly, Chairperson- Colm Daly, Vice Chairperson – Gerry Reilly, Treasurer – Teresa Mullooly, Assistant Treasurer Breda Mullooly, Secretary – Angela Walton, P.R.O. – Marie Cleary and Quartermaster – Tom Gill.
The group would like to note their appreciation to Ronan Collier who stepped down as chairperson and Marie English who stepped down as secretary.
Sympathy
We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Ciarán Gray, Curraghrua on the death of his father Thomas Gray, Killoe recently.
Ballyleague Christmas Lights Collection
After a magic night last December when one of the community’s special citizens switched on the Christmas Lights at the Church of the Holy Rosary in Ballyleague the locals are this week busy preparing to go again. The lights committee has the trees are up in 5 locations in the village (after a lot of hard work on Saturday) and the lights are going on this week. To cover the costs a church gate collection will be held next Saturday/Sunday December 1/2 at all masses in Ballyleague. Please support and give what you can to help defray the costs. The trees and the lights give a nice atmosphere of Christmas spirit to the village so the committee is appealing for your generous support. Donations can also be made to the committee c/o Fr Larney Shine or Jimmy Hudson, Ballyleague.
Correction
Last week I congratulated Micheál and Tracy Farrell Curraghroe on the birth of a baby girl – in fact it should have read on the birth of a baby boy. Apologies to all concerned.
Lanesboro Indoor Market
The Lanesboro and Ballyleague Indoor Market is held in St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Lanesboro, on Friday from 11am to 1.30pm. There is a range of stalls supplying local home baking, jams, eggs and mushrooms. Also jewellery, beauty products, cards, books & bric a brac, knitted items, fresh flowers, hanging baskets & flower arrangements. Fred’s Fish available – fresh fish for Friday. There is free car parking beside the playground. Tea, Coffee and light snacks will also be available. Contact 087 3965568 for queries
Lanesboro Library
New eBooks at Longford Libraries!
Winter is a great time for reading and if you cannot get to your local branch library all the time did you know that you can download an eBook from the comfort of your own home! eBooks have become very popular for many book lovers and now our library customers both adults and children can browse, checkout and download a range of eBooks or eAudio books from our digital library collection to many devices such as PCs, laptops, eBook readers( incl. Sony Readers but not Kindle as yet) iPads, iPods or mobile phone. To begin go to http://longford.lib.overdrive.com – or the eBooks Overdrive logo on our library website http://www.longfordlibrary.ie will also bring you straight there!
Multiple Sclerosis Christmas Day Run/Walk
Sponsorship cards are now available for the annual Christmas Day Run/Walk from Newtowncashel to Lanesboro in aid of Multiple Sclerosis. The walk is now in its 22nd year and throughout that time there has been wonderful support from the local and wider communities. The walkers will start out at 11.45am while the runners will commence at 12.15. As this is the main fundraiser of the year by the committee it is hoped that a record number will come along and participate in this year’s event. Sponsorship cards are now available from any of the local organisers or from O’Brien’s shop.
Lanesboro Badminton Club
The club are holding a fundraising table quiz on this night Friday 30th November 9pm in Clarkes Bar. Tables of 4 with refreshments and spot prizes on the night!!! Proceeds go towards the running of the club which has the largest Junior and Adult membership in the county. All support is greatly appreciated.
An evening with real Stars
Monday evening 3rd December promises to be a very special night for those that have a special interest in personal achievements. Three very special people will be speakers on the night and there is no doubt each of them individually are well worth listening to but collectively this is a night not to be missed. Each man has achieved so much in their lives and also had their own family crosses to bear as they reached the pinnacle of their careers.
The beneficiaries of the night will be Roscommon Disability Support Group who will maintain and upkeep the new Independent Living Skills building in Derrane which will offer many opportunities to people with disabilities in the general community when it opens next autumn.
Speakers on the night will be local man Brian Carty who scaled the heights of his profession as a journalist to be chief GAA correspondent with RTÉ, Mickey Harte, the Tyrone manager who has succeeded in winning All Irelands at Minor, U21 and senior levels and Mark Rohan, former Westmeath GAA player who suffered serious injuries in a road traffic accident in 2001. Far from letting it get him down Mark just this year won an Olympic Gold medal in men’s individual H1 road race at the Paralympics in London.
The is no doubt that this is a night not to be misses as each one of the speakers are inspirational speakers and can enlighten and inspire us greatly.
Tickets for the night are on sale in O’Brien’s Corner Shop. The tickets are priced at €10 each and the event will take place in Four Mile House on Sunday week 3rd December at 7pm. Light refreshments will be served on the evening
St. Faithleach’s GAA
Minor Club AGM: Our Minor Club AGM was held in the clubhouse on Friday last. Chairman, James Irwin opened the meeting & welcomed all. A minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to the late John O’Donnell RIP. President, Pat Joe Fallon addressed the meeting, congratulating the minor teams & managements as the club celebrated its 50th year, wishing the minor club every success in 2013. Secretary, Padraig Banahan read the minutes of last year’s AGM & gave a detailed report of the minor club team’s activities & achievements for 2012, celebrating the clubs Golden Jubilee. He congratulated the U14 boys & U10 boys on their success winning titles this year & all teams on their achievements throughout the year along with special word of thanks to managers/mentors of all under-age teams along with their supporters & the support of their parents throughout 2012. Ladies Secretary, Majella Kelly gave a detailed report of the ladies team’s activities & achievements for 2012, congratulating the U14 Girls & junior ladies on winning titles this year with thanks to their managers/mentors & all who helped out in many ways throughout the year. Outgoing treasurer Maggie Curley gave a detailed report of the minor clubs income/expenditure for 2012. Senior Club Chairman, Frank Curley, on behalf of the executive committee, thanked all members of the minor club board for their hard work throughout the year, congratulating the minor club teams on their achievements along with their management & wished all the very best of luck for the year ahead. Chairman, James Irwin thanked his fellow officers for their hard work during the year & expressed thanks to outgoing treasurer, Maggie Curley for her work during her time as treasurer, wishing her the best of luck for the future. He congratulated the minor club players who represented St. Faithleachs GAA Club at county level in 2012, congratulating Diarmuid Murtagh, recipient of the Roscommon Herald/SuperValu “Sportstar of the Year” Awards (Gaelic Football) in June. Thanks were expressed to the field committee, Henry Kenny & Jimmy Mangan & congratulating the club on receiving the award for ‘Club Ground of the Year – Roscommon, at the Connacht GAA Awards. Huge thanks to all sponsors throughout the year, all sponsorship was hugely appreciated. Thanks to all who helped out in the organisation of fundraising events during 2012 & all who supported same. Thanks to Walter Burke & his team of Cúl Camp mentors & volunteers for the hugely successful Cúl Camp held in the club. Thanks to Ray & Qona Cox for the organisation & running of the Faithleachs Fitness Challenge currently taking place within the club. Thanks to Frank Curley for his work in the clubhouse & to all who helped out in many ways throughout the year. The following officers were elected for 2013: President, Pat Joe Fallon. Chairman, James Irwin. Vice Chairman, Gerard O’Donnell Secretary, Padraig Banahan. Ladies Secretary, Majella Kelly. Treasurer, Shane Rohan. Assistant Treasurer, Padraig Kenny. PRO, Mary Kenny. Ladies Registrar, Sheila Collier. Under-Age Registrar, Sean Cox. Executive committee delegated, James Irwin & Padraig Banahan. Minor County Board Delegate, John Tynan. Ladies County Board Delegates, TBE. Children’s Liaison Officer, Jimmy Mangan. Vetting Officer, Helen O’Donnell.
Senior Club AGM: St. Faithleachs GAA senior club AGM takes place this coming Friday 30th November @ 8.00pm. Mass for deceased club members will take place at 7.30pm before the AGM. A DVD of our Golden Jubilee celebrations will be launched following the AGM.
St. Faithleachs 5K Fun Run: The inaugural 5K fun Run/Walk will take place on Sunday 2nd December @ 12.30pm. Registration Fee: Adults €10, Under 18’s €5. Register on race day from 11.00am in St. Faithleachs GAA clubhouse. Registration is also available online through www.runireland.com.
Lotto: The numbers drawn were – 6, 7, 11 and 19. There was no jackpot winner and the five €20 winners were; Fr. Larney Shine, Ballyleague. P.J. Maher, Curraghroe. Martha Thompson, Ballyleague. Colin McCormack, Gortgallon. Gerry McGann, Keenagh. The next draw will take place on Tuesday 4th December for a jackpot of €7,400.
Cards: takes place every Tuesday in the clubhouse at 9.00pm. All welcome. Last week’s results are – winners, Gemma/Freda. Runners-Up, Martin/Jimmy & M. Rogers/M. Finan. Last game, Tom/Brendan.
Upcoming Events: Bumper Christmas Draw. Lines now on sale for our Christmas Draw. 1st Prize, Hamper worth €150. €2 per line. Look out for Christmas Events at St. Faithleachs GAA club with the arrival of Santa also, details to follow.
Sympathy: The club extends deepest sympathy to Tom Mullins & family on the death of his sister, Bridie Carroll, Ballymacurley. The club extends deepest sympathy to Pat Rock & family on the death of his brother-in-law, John O’Donnell.
Benefit Social Night: In aid of “Dermot Keane Recovery Fund” will take place in St. Faithleachs GAA clubhouse on Saturday 29th December. Tickets will be available locally in the coming weeks.
Congratulations: To Yvonne O’Donnell & Coleman Cooney on their recent engagement.
Shannon Gaels Minor Club
This week is a very special one for our minor club. We have the distinct honour of hosting the county finals of Scór na nÓg for the first time and we are rightly proud of the honour.
The Finals on Sunday will commence at 3pm and the competition should be excellent throughout.
The club travelled to Ardagh on Saturday evening last for the semi-final of Scór na nÓg and throughout the evening all our entrants performed heroically in each of their events. In the end two of our groups – ballad group and Sketch group had won their way through to next Sunday’s final. The others representing the club were Recitation- Jack O’Loughlin, Solo singing – Rachael Ginty accompanied by Chloe Kenny on guitar. Question time team of Stephen O’Dowd, Aaron Farrell, Amy Webb and Laura O’Sullivan.
The club would like to thank everyone that travelled to Ardagh to support our Scór talent.
On Sunday the ballad group of Aishling Casey, Killian Flood, Ronan English, Orla Keane and Ronan English and the sketch group of Lauren Guinan, Laura Peters, Shane Kenny, Anna Peters, Niall Keane, Andrew Ward, Dearbhail Flood and Jack O’Loughlin will represent us in the final. We encourage everyone in the parish that wants to spend an evening being regally entertained to come along to St. Mary’s Parish Hall and to support our young people representing our club and parish so well.
The club wishes the county Longford Vocational schools team the very best of luck as they take on Offaly VS in Pearse Park at 1pm. The club is represented by Owen Sorohan, Jack Rooney and Shane Kenny.
The Under 18 team management team for the coming year is Kevin Hanley, Kevin Chapman and James Hanley.
The U16 team will be managed by Padraig Kenny, Padraig O’Dowd, Cathal Chapman and Mick Shortall.
The U14 team management is Michael Hanley, Sean Kenny and Ciaran Kenny.
The U12 management consists of Seadna Ryan and Pauric Farrell.
As of yet we are seeking people to take on with our U10 panel.
The management of the U6 and U8 is in the processes of being finalised and will be announced shortly.
If you as parents are interested in being part of and having your children being part of a wonderful and proactive club you should contact any member of the club executive.
Rathcline GAA
There was no winner of this week’s €100 lotto jackpot. The winning numbers were 7, 11, 25, 28, 30 and 40. The four random winners of €25 each were Seamus Nolan, Ann Mc Gloin, Brian Skelly and Michael Greene.
Congratulations to Liam Connerton, who kicked two points for the UCD fresher’s team as they won the All-Ireland league last week. Commiserations to David Mulvihill, who was part of the beaten DCU team.
Well done to Shannon Gaels sketch and Ballad Group who qualified for County Final on Sunday next 2nd December in St Mary’s Hall Lanesboro.