Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
A Sabbatical in Leipzig
Local Ballymahon artist and writer Adrian Duncan last week was shortlisted for the Kerry Novel of the Year award at the upcoming internationally renowned Listowel Writers Week.
Adrian is no stranger to success as his first books won the 2019 John McGahern Book Prize. In 2020 he was shortlisted for the Dalkey Literary Awards Emerging Writer. This, his second book has led to this prestigious nomination.
Last month Adrian had his collection of short stories Midfield Dynamo published by Lilliput Press. Not resting on his laurels Adrian’s third novel, The Geometer Lobachevsky, will appear in early 2022.
Adrian is son of Adrian and Jean Duncan Ballymahon. Jean is from Ivy Villa in Rathcline. We congratulate Adrian on his great success and we with him further success with his artistic projects and his publications.
The first prize carries prizemoney of €15,000 and we earnestly hope the Adrian will be announced as winner.
Cúl Camps
This year the Rathcline Kellogg’s Cúl Camp is scheduled to take place on the week beginning Monday 19th July.
Last year there were a lot of disappointed young people due to number restriction and all parents are advised to make their booking as early as possible, the closing date for registration is Tuesday 4th May. The boking site https://www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie is now open so don’t delay in making your booking.
The cost of the camp is €65 for the first child, €60 for the second child and €50 for the third and subsequent children.
Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy
Longford and Roscommon County Councils a short time ago commissioned KPMG Future Analytics to produce an Economic and Enterprise Development Strategy for Lanesboro and Ballyleague in the wake of the closure of the power station and the downsizing of the Bord na Mona workforce.
I believe the study is nearing completion and that there are many radical proposals that will create a vibrant community bring tourism and business to Lanesboro and Ballyleague like never before. We look forward to seeing the final completed report and what its recommendations are for our community.
Are you interest in creating a Food Business?
The opportunity below is a wonderful opportunity, and it is one that should be jumped if you have a creative personality and would like to set up your own business.
Food Hub seeks Expressions of Interest.
After four years of preparatory and feasibility work, the new Premier Lakelands food hub project in Lanesborough will go to tender shortly with new opportunities emerging for individuals or small enterprises who are looking for the space and facilities to start a new food enterprise, expand current manufacturing space, relocate with new product development in a structure that reduces carbon footprint in an energy efficient futuristic building which harnesses forward thinking processes.
The new food hub, which is being supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Government’s Just Transition Fund, will be built on the 4.5-acre site owned by Longford County Council beside the new Fire Station on the Longford road and will include a number of incubator units for start-ups, an artisan sphere, a time share community kitchen and a major enterprise space for food-related industry – creating jobs in the area.
In advance of the building work getting underway, the Premier Lakelands Food hub is this week inviting expressions of interest from people who would like to get into the food industry and establish their base is this idyllic midland location and create their own new enterprise in this Food Hub centre of excellence development.
Expression of Interest forms available by request from lakelandsfoodhub@gmail.com
A Food Starter programme is aimed at people thinking of starting their own food business or in the early stages of start-up and includes people who are hoping to progress their food hobby into a full-time sustainable business.
A start your own business course will be run in the coming weeks and all interested people are invited to take part by signing up at
Longford County Enterprise office/start your own business.
On successful completion of the programme participants should have a sound knowledge of the rudiments of food business start-up and be in a position to go about their start-up in an effective way. The programme will allow them to fully understand the legal requirements and consider the costs associated with setting up a food business.
The aim of this programme is to provide participants with the knowledge of what is involved in setting up a food business.
To include:
| Step 1: Know Yourself / Are you a Risk Taker? |
| Step 2: Generating a Business Idea |
| Step 3: Market Research /Identify your Customers and Competitors |
| Step 4: Decide on an appropriate legal business structure/ Be aware of legal obligations that will affect your business |
| Step 5: Examine Your Business Requirements |
| Step 6: Calculate Investment Requirements/Identify the Supports |
| Step 7: Developing your Marketing Strategy |
| Step 8: Developing Your Sales Plan |
| Step 9: Developing your Financial Administration |
| Step 10: Write your Business Plan |
Food Starter Programme Start Your Own Business is free
Living Well Programme
New and extra Spring Dates have been added to the HSE, Free Living Well Programme.
The Living Well Programme is a workshop for adults living with a long-term health condition. The workshop is delivered over six workshops (2.5hrs x6) and is free of charge to those diagnosed with a mental or physical illness.
You will develop self-management skills and confidence to live well with your health condition.
To avoid disappointment please book your place early by calling 086 6078950.
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
Contact Stella on 3321291 for library information.
St. Mary’s Church
Weekly Masses
Mass continues to 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.
Shrine Candles
To cover the rising cost of the church shrine candles it is regrettable to say that the cost of each candle must rise to 25c. Your usual generosity will be appreciated.
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 very important that there will be at least two people in the church for each hour. Of the Adoration.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will resume on Friday evenings, starting this Friday evening and it will take place between 6pm and 6.45pm.
Urgent 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
Thank You
Many thanks to Coaching Officer Stephen Rooney, club and county senior football star Shane Kenny for the continuing of the skills challenge. The latest skill is the art of the high catch something Shane is very accomplished at carrying out.
There are still a few more skill challenges to come and we hope that all our younger players are availing of these excellent skill challenges. We hope that all parents availed of the video and encouraged their young players to practice and to continue develop their skills.
It will not be long now before we see a return to all underage training and games, so we encourage all players in the minor club to continue working on their fitness and skills.
Cúl Camps
This year the Rathcline Kellogg’s Cúl Camp is scheduled to take place on the week beginning Monday 19th July.
Last year there were a lot of disappointed young people due to number restriction and all parents are advised to make their booking as early as possible, the closing date for registration is Tuesday 4th May. The boking site https://www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie is now open so don’t delay in making your booking.
The cost of the camp is €65 for the first child, €60 for the second child and €50 for the third and subsequent children.
Join our underage club.
With the return to training for underage players about to begin we would like to welcome all recent and new residents to the parish of Rathcline and we would like to invite you and your family to be part of our club. The club involves itself in underage games for the youngsters of the parish and integrates new people to our parish into the community and we would love to have you as part of our GAA family. Please contact Joe O’Brien in the corner shop and he will direct you to the right people for the age group of your budding footballer.
Club involvement
If you have intentions of being involved with the Minor Club, it is essential that you complete the Safeguarding course as well as completing the Garda Vetting form.
At the moment the recommended coaching courses are in abeyance due to the current pandemic. You will be notified by the club or in these notes the dates that the coaching courses are recommencing.
Contact Mark at Secretarybng.shannongaels.longford@gaa.ie for information on safeguarding and Garda Vetting.