Lanesboro Ballyleague notes
Text Alert
In 2012 Rathcline Text Alert system was introduced in the local community. For many years this system has served us greatly in getting word out about suspicious activity and messages throughout the community.
With the passage of time a lot has changed and the old system is very quickly becoming obsolete. With that in mind the ‘text alert’ group is currently investigating the possibility of becoming part of a countywide APP group that will bring all updates to your phone through this App. The notices you will receive will be specific to our local area and adding the App will be free of charge.
The benefits of this are that anyone in your household can add this App to their phones and get the notifications. This will be unlike previous times where just one person per household signed up for the service. With the convenience of this new App on your phone the text alert will be supplied with the relevant local information much quicker that the old system.
If you don’t have or don’t feel competent enough in the use of the Smartphone you still have the option to remain within the current text alert system. However, this service will require some payment and all this, along with App information, will be conveyed via the text messaging service in the near future.
Lanesboro Primary School Enrolment
Lanesborough Primary School is now accepting enrolments for September 2023. Please email the school at smgslb2020@gmail.com for an enrolment form. Alternatively you can phone the Principal at 0433321545.
Lough Ree Golfing Society
The Society had a lovely outing to Slieve Russell Golf Club on last Friday 23rd, the weather was perfect, and the course in excellent condition as expected. The scores returned were very impressive, with Peter Day scoring an excellent 41 pts to take 1st place with Paul Taylor in 2nd with 36pts, and Joe McGrath coming in with a very close 34pts for 3rd place. Nearest the Pin was won by Michael Brennan and Martin Mc Allister won the longest drive by inches. The front nine was won with 22pts by Bernie Taylor and the back nine by Jackie Mc Donnell with 20pts. The Race for Golfer of the Year is down to our last outing at Strokestown Golf Club on the 21st October. Four members are in contention, J McGrath 31pts, P Day 27pts, T Carleton 24pts and J McDonnell 22pts. All four are looking forward to possibly accepting the beautiful trophy presented for this competition. The date for Strokestown is Friday 21st October at 11.00am. The Lough Ree Golfing Society is looking forward to seeing you all there.
Wedding
The marriage took place at Villa Silvana, Sorrento, Italy of Michael Rhatigan son of Brendan and the late Pauline Rhatigan, Fermoyle, and Amy Mannion, daughter of Tony and Mary Mannion, Togherbee, Tuam, Co. Galway. Bestman was Andrew Rhatigan, brother of the groom and groomsman was Gary Martin a friend of the groom. Chief bridesmaid was Aisling Mannion sister of the bride and bridesmaid was Lynn Dowling a friend of the bride. The pageboy was Ceillum Mannion, nephew of the bride.
We wish the happy couple many years of wedded happiness.
Train how to use the Defibrillator
Defibrillators are devices that send an electric pulse or shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. They are used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, an uneven heartbeat that is too slow or too fast. If the heart suddenly stops, defibrillators can also help it beat again. That is the very reason that we need more and more people trained up in the use of this vital life saving device. The local defibrillator group is actively seeking new people in the Kilgefin, Ballyleague, Cashel, Killashee and Rathcline Lanesboro areas to become competent in the use of the Defibrillator. The group is also looking to retrain and refresh those that have already completed the course and need to brush up on its use.
If you are interested, please leave your name and phone number with Martina O’Brien personally in the shop or by phoning 086 3858934 or clynemartina53@gmail.com
Defibrillator Funding – Thank You
The Defibrillator Group would like to sincerely thank everyone that has contributed so generously to the appeal for funding to replace batteries and pads and the constant need to upgrade all the defibrillators.
The importance of defibrillators in the general area cannot be overstated. The lives it can save and has saved in recent times are well documented.
If you wish to contribute we ask that you donate by leaving money in an envelope marked with your name into Martina or Joe O’Brien at the Corner Shop.
Souvenir Programme
The official opening of the Ballyboro All-Weather Astro Turf Pitch took place before a large crowd on Saturday last – see Ballyboro notes.
The club produced a wonderful and comprehensive Souvenir Programme edited by Eamonn Bolger that without doubt a collector’s item. There are many fine articles included but the crème de la crème is the inclusion of the Ballyboro Players Roll of Honour where every player (using the weekly reports of PRO of the Longford League, the very helpful, Sean Dempsey) that wore the Ballyboro jersey over the past 22 years of the club is listed. The list was compiled painstakingly by Eamonn Bolger and it is a testimony to Eamonn to see players listed from 2000 right up to the present day.
The souvenir programme is on sale in O’Brien’s costing just €5.
A.G.M.
The Rathcline Senior club will hold their A.G.M. on Saturday next 1st October in the Clubhouse in Clonbonny at the changed time of 7pm. After what turned into a great year for the young senior team it is very important that all members and those interested in football and its development in the parish of Rathcline turn up for the meeting.
Championship
How heartbreaking can it get? St. Faithleach’s seen their fortunes fluctuate many times over the period of their game on Sunday last when they played Michael Glavey’s for a place the senior championship quarter-final.
Leading at halftime it took a superb sideline ball by Ciaráin Murtagh to draw level at the end of a hugely exciting 60 minutes. Extra time was called upon and both sides gave it everything with St. Faithleach’s just the better team and looking likely for the quarter-final place until Michael Glavey’s stole the honours with a very late goal.
The season was still very good for this young and developing side. Having won Intermediate last year this was another step up and it was a shame that they were not rewarded with another few step on their return to the senior ranks.
Visitors
Last week I made mention of all the visitors we welcomed throughout the summer season to Lanesboro and Ballyleague. This year was noted for the amount of former residents returning to the area retracing their footsteps and catching up with locals.
Last week it was about all those from the Green that returned in recent weeks. Last week past former neighbours from Knock almost crossed paths when T.J. Eivers paid his annual visit from England to his sister Patsy Donlon, Moher and brother Kevin, Longford, and as he just left for home his neighbour of two door up Seamus Ginty, again on his yearly visit, arrived home from the west coast of USA to visit his twin brother Gerry and brother Joe.
It is always great to see all the old faces returning to visit.
Sunday night Card Game
The Sunday night card game continued on Sunday night last. The results from last Sunday night 4th September are: 1st Jack Bannon & Tom Skelly, 2nd Josie & Freda Connaughton. Last game winners were Sean Parker & Noreen Gibbons. Raffle prizes were Tom Mulvihill, Tom Rock, Noel McDermott & Peggy Moran. The game continues every Sunday night where the first cards are dealt at 8.30pm sharp. Light refreshments served.
Boat Trips
Lough Ree Access for all boat is a boat built for you is offering three sailing trips a day 10am, 12 noon and 2.30pm. This is a great trip of fascination onto Lough Ree and an
Ballyleague Bingo
Ballyleague Bingo continues in Ballyleague Hall every Thursday night. The first numbers will be called at 8.30pm.
Volunteers required
Ballyleague Bingo urgently needs more volunteers to join them in the Bingo/Hall Committee. If you are interested in being involved you are asked to contact Patricia Manning for more details.
50/50
Congratulations to Eugene Kelly, Rathcline Road, who was last week’s winner of the Rathcline 50/50. Eileen won the top prize of a wonderful €435. The draw took place in the Clarke’s Bar.
The club is extremely grateful for your continued tremendous support.
Engagement
Many congratulations to Eoin Madden son of Kevin and Caroline Madden, Rathcline Road and Lorna Corry daughter of George and Ethyl Corry, Ardagh who announced their engagement at the weekend.
Sympathy
We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to our former parish priest Fr. Mickie Reilly, his immediate and extended family on the death of his brother Brendan, Colehill. Brendan passed away, suddenly, on Friday 16th September. Following his Funeral Mass at Church of the Sacred Heart, Carrickedmond he was laid to rest on Tuesday last 20th September in the adjoining cemetery.
Birth
Congratulations to Sarah Marie Donohue and her husband Stephen, Knock Manor, on the recent birth of a baby boy.
Credit Union
To facilitate the amalgamation and changeover of Lanesboro Ballyleague Credit Union to the new North Midlands Credit Union the office will be closed on this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The offices of the new North Midlands Credit Union will open for business on Tuesday next 4th September.
We wish the new amalgamated Credit Union the very best of luck and we look forward to the new added features that will be available.
Thank You
The Lanesborough branch of the Longford Hospice would like to thank everybody who made their coffee morning last Sunday a huge success. We thank Supervalu, Spar, Lanesbrew, Ciara Gillen and Geraldine Farrell for all the supplies. Thanks also to Joe O’Brien, Tom Nohilly, Rachael Burke and others for their promoting exercises. A special thanks to Stella O’Sullivan for the fabulous posters and also to Mary Kelly for great teas. Also, thanks to all who helped clean up. A final tally will be in next week’s notes. At the minute we are over €1300.
Church Services
The schedule for the Roscommon group of Parishes for the month of October is as follows: Sunday next 2nd October Service of Harvest Thanksgiving in St. Coman’s Church, Roscommon at 4pm.
Sunday 9th October Service of Harvest Thanksgiving in St. John’s Lanesboro at 3pm
Sunday 16th Holy Communion with Dean Gerald Field in St. Coman’s Church Roscommon at 11.30am
Sunday 23rd October Service of Holy Communion in St. John’s Church, Lanesboro at 11.30am
Sunday 30th October Service will take place in St. Coman’s Church Roscommon at 11.30am
Tidy Towns Lottery
On Tuesday 20th September the jackpot for the Lanesboro Tidy Towns lottery stood at €10,000 and as it was not won the jackpot rose to €10,100 for the draw on Tuesday 27th September. The winning numbers drawn on the 20th September were 1, 6, 26 and 27. The winner of the €50 prize was Martini c/o Mags, and the three €20 winners were Hughie Smyth, Main Street, Anne Farrell, Lanesboro and Claire Murphy c/0 XLNTEE.
The funds raised from the lottery is providing the financial support to do lots of planting around the town where the most recent is the ongoing creation of the orchard and the shrubs and roses planted on the recently renovated footpaths around the corner on the Longford Road and the flowers on the Ballymahon Road. Your continued support is enabling all the ongoing work and we encourage greater support for funding of these and other upcoming projects.
Family Art Day
A Halloween Family Art Day will take place in St. Mary’s Hall, Lanesboro on Sunday 16th October from 1pm to 4pm.
Go along pick your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch take it away to the painting station and decorate your pumpkin.
When the pumpkin is painted you can head over to some of the other stations and make some creepy spiders, Halloween masks, gravestones, fabric pumpkins and even heads on sticks.
There will be a demonstration on some Halloween face painting and SFX that you can do at home.
It promises to be a wonderful day hosted by Hanlon Artworks. See attachment
Times Past in Pictures – see attached photographs
L to R. Terry Carroll, Clonbonny House, Kathleen Kelly, Carraroe, and Mary Walsh, the Green/Longford Road, in December 1972. The ladies represented Lanesboro ICA at the Make & Model Christmas Fair Longford Arms Hotel. The ladies emerged winners on the night.
In the picture below you will see the first class to enter Ballyleague Secondary School for the 1957/58 academic year. How many can you recognise?
New CD continues to sell well
Frank Nelson has just released a new CD called ‘I’ll Put the Kettle On’. Frank has been very active on the music scene for over 30 years and the quality of his music and dances/shows is testimony to the reason he has been so popular. Frank is inexhaustible when it comes to releasing high quality CD’s.
This time he has really hit the high times with the quality and songs included. It is a must for followers of Frank and lovers of country music.
CDs are available in O’Brien’s costing just €15
Ballyboro FC
After the Opening Day festivities of the previous week League action resumed last weekend. The under 16s were involved in close encounter with Stonepark. Two well taken goals by David Cox and Cody Phelan put the Ballyboro boys in front but Stonepark responded with two of the own. The game ended all square 2-2 which was probably a fair outcome. Ballyboro: Paulius Rasa, Jack Brogan, Aidan Kelly, Jack Casey, Billy Murray, Cody Phelan, Luke Johnston, David Cox, Euan Cullen, Wesley Hughes, Ben Murphy. Subs: Michael Nolan, Shane Gavigan, Conn Maxwell, Daniel Hogan.
Harry Brogan scored early on for the under 14s in their encounter with Newtown, but that was as good as it got for the home team as the highly impressive Newtownforbes boys went on to record a comprehensive win. Ballyboro: Evan Rooney, Sean O’Dowd, Leon Malkowski, Mikie Sorohan, Ciaran O’Dowd, Eoghan Mullooly, Jake Rice, Sean Collins, Harry Brogan, Eoin Beattie, Emry Kaya. Sub: Cillian Carberry.
Though they tried hard and played some very good football the under 12s found a physically stronger Inny Rovers team a tad superior though the 4-0 scoreline flattered the Inny boys somewhat. Ballyboro: Jack Donoghue, Rian Morrissey, Éanna Kenny, Tom Hession, Jake O’Shea, Darragh McGloin, Ethan Donnellan, Darragh Shanley, Michael Hogan. Subs: Conor Kilcoyne, Eoin Collins, Patrick McDonagh, Ethan Carberry, Adam Greally, Senan Dermody.
The under 12 girls got off to a great start in their game with Gaels United going 4-0 up. The lead was maintained throughout the game with great performances from all the squad as the girls ran out 7-2 winners. Squad and scorers: Hannah Farrell (3), Saoirse Feeney (3), Zoe Hassett, Sadhbh Neilon, Rosie Farrell, Chloe k
Kilcoyne, Ava Donohoe, Niamh Casey, Saoirse Dillon, Faye Hogan(1), Millie Cassidy, Ellen Cox, Emma Farrell, Kallie Herbert, Sinead Murray, Penelope Kennedy.
In the Combined Counties League an under strength Ballyboro went down 3-1 to Ballymahon. Team: David Rooney, Ryan Fallon, Greg Cassidy, Daniel Foley, Stephen Ormsby, Greg Masterson, Aidan Dooney, Chris O’Loughlin, Ben Hussey (1), Jordan Donlon, Mark Tarmey. Subs: Dean O’Reilly, Max Webb, Dylan Donlon.
Copies of the Special Opening Day booklet are available at Casserley’s and O’Brien’s Corner Shop. The booklet features an article by our international star Christian Donlon Goncalves on his career to date. Roscommon star footballer Ciaran Murtagh reflects on his time with Ballyboro. The club’s first Chairman Pat Hussey writes about the formation of Ballyboro football club, while Development Officer Ciaran Mullooly covers in detail the development of the new grounds. The participation of the under 10 team in the Solar Cup in Stoke City in 2009 is covered and there is a special photographic feature of various Ballyboro players who played in the Kennedy Cup over the years. There are articles by club Chairman John Tynan and Sean Dempsey PRO of the Longford League. Absent Friends are fondly remembered and there is a special Ballyboro Quiz. All Ballyboro players, boys and girls who played for the club since its formation are listed. In addition to all of that there is a trip down memory lane with archival coverage of various Ballyboro teams over the years. The programme is great value for only €5
Fixtures: The under 8s have a home blitz versus Ballymahon on Saturday next Starting at 10am. Both under 10 teams are away on Saturday; Team A play Ballymahon at 12.30pm while at the same time Team B play UCL Lakers in Dernafest.
The under 12s have a home fixture on Sunday v UCL Harps at 1pm.
The under 13s play Abbey Rovers in Ballinamore on Saturday, 1.30 kick off.
The under 14s play Abbey Rovers at home on Sunday at 11.30am.
The under 12 girls are away to Kenagh on Saturday at 10am while at the same time on Sunday the under 14 girls play UCL Harps in Dernafest.
Dinner Dance
The Longford Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, Longford branch will hold their annual Dinner Dance on the Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule on Friday 14th October. The music will be provided by the very popular J&S Sound. Dinner will be served at 9pm and there will be a lot of spot prizes won on the night. Tickets cost €30 and
can be bought from Breda Moran or O’Brien’s shop.
Traditionally this is the night out of the year where a great night out is assured.
Healthy Communities
Free Stop Smoking Service available in Ballymahon. Get the help you need to stop smoking for good. Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy will be provided for non-medical card holders. Available on Mondays 10am – 4pm in Bridgeways Family Resource Centre; Dean Egan Library Main St Ballymahon; Please contact Catherina (HSE Stop Smoking Advisor) on 087 4435256 for more information.
Support line for older people
ALONE manage a national support line and additional support for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to Covid-19. Professional staff is available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week from 8am until 8pm. Text TALK to 50808 to begin.
Alcohol Anon Meetings
Relatives and friends of alcoholics are welcome to attend meetings in the Family Centre building at the back of St. Mel’s Cathedral on St. Mel’s Road, any Tuesday evening at 7pm.
Smart Recovery
SMART recovery is an evidence based addiction recovery support group where participants learn self-empowering techniques to aid their recovery by overcoming addictive behaviour.
There is a meeting every Friday evening from 7pm to 8.30pm in Vita House, Roscommon. For information you should phone Conor 086 1702912 or info@smartrecovery.ie
GROW
Grow is a Community Mental Health Movement which meets every Monday at 11am in the Community Mental Health Centre, Dublin Rd., Longford. If you are feeling lonely, isolated or suffering from stress, please feel free to attend. You can call Assumpta for any further information on 086 8114135.
Lanesboro Library
The opening hours of Lanesboro are: Monday 2pm-8pm, Tuesday 2pm-6pm, Wednesday 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm. The library will be closed all day on a Thursday. Friday 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm and Saturday 10am-1pm
Photocopying, printing and scanning services are available at the library. Enquiries: lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Kilgefin Parish
Parish Priest: Fr Dan (089 2706060)
Mayo Roscommon Hospice Coffee Morning in St Faithleach’s GAA clubhouse on Saturday 24th September from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. Come along enjoy a cuppa and support this worthy cause
Adoration will take place in Ballyleague Church every Friday morning 10.30a.m. – 11.30a.m. and every Friday night in Curraghroe Church 8.30p.m. – 9.30p.m.
Volunteers Wanted
Ballyleague Bingo and Hall committee need more volunteers to join them in the Bingo/Hall Committee. If you are interested you are asked to contact Patricia Manning for more details.
Ballyleague Church: We urgently need volunteers to take up the basket collection in Ballyleague Church at mass on Saturday and Sunday. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Fr. Dan.
Newsletter
Any articles for the newsletter must be in by Wednesday nights at the latest. Details to be emailed to Kilgefinparish21@gmail.com contact number 0862626639
St. Mary’s Church
Rosary Group meet in the church on Monday to Friday at 9.30am and on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.
Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays in the church from 10.30am until 8pm. It is very important that there will be at least two people in the church for each hour of the Adoration.
Parish contacts
Fr. Merlyn Kenny, Newtowncashel 0860603433 and Fr. Turlough Baxter, Killashee 0879972259 who as you know are assisting in our parish.
Rathcline GAA
The club AGM will take place on Saturday evening next 1st October in the clubhouse at 7pm. Following what was a great year for the club we expect that there will be a big attendance in Clonbonny showing their support for the club executive.